ARE YOU SEEING AN UPSWING IN OVER-CHARGING BY SERVICE PEOPLE?...I Am and I Don't Like It!!!

ARE YOU SEEING AN UP SWING IN OVER-CHARGING BY SERVICE PEOPLE?....I am and I don't like it one bit!!!

In the past week, I have had the following happen with my regular service people:

1. My lawn, which has been totally neglected by the landscaper since May, has suddenly become a place for him to make more money--he mowed twice last week without me telling him to.
2. My landscaper went and bought 12 flats of white impatiens for my house when I asked him to plant a few flowers for my July/August tenants--normally he would buy 4-5 flats.
3. My pool company was at my house for 4 hours on 2 occasions last week and I saw for the first time, huge filters pulled out and put right on my patio to clean--never saw that before!!..Nor the bill which was double what it was last year at this time.
4. My house keeper has asked for more money to do what she has always done---telling me that she does not have enough time to finish cleaning in 4 hours.

Now, I know I live in a resort area and it may be very different from where you live--but I dread calling the plumber for work I need to have done because I know his charges are going to be prohibitive!

What is going on??? Is it inflation or just plain over-charging??? What are you finding right now? Are your costs going up too? Your lawn care? Your plumber? Please comment here and let me know what you are finding....I am ready to take a class in plumbing and electrical work and any other training I can do to avoid the huge increase in service and maintainance costs.....