can you pay a stranger to break up with your partner for you

That's exactly what 28-year-old Trevor Meyers did.

"I felt like it was easier for someone else to take care of an awkward situation like a break-up," says Trevor, who lives in Canada.

He has used the services of a company called The Breakup Shop more than once to end relationships.

You can choose to pay a stranger to send a text, email or good old-fashioned letter to the person you are breaking up with. Or they can call your soon-to-be-ex to tell them it's over.

"I used The Breakup Shop to end a couple of short-term things when things just didn't mesh with the way I live my life," says Trevor.

"Overall I think they [those broken-up with] get it - it's pretty simple. I haven't had to use it often but I'm glad there is a service for it now."

Ghosting

The Breakup Shop was founded by Canadian brothers Evan and Mackenzie Keast in November 2015.

The idea for the site came about when Mackenzie was "ghosted" by a woman. This is the term for when someone disappears from the life of a person they were previously dating or in a relationship with.

"She stopped responding to messages and phone calls, she totally disappeared. She didn't have the courage to break up with him herself," says Evan.

Within a week, The Breakup Shop was launched.

Prices range from 10 Canadian dollars (£6) for a text or email, to C$80 for a "Breakup Gift Box", which includes cookies and wine.

While the messages can be personalised, Evan is keen to stress the company would never relay anything "offensive or damaging".

Over the past 18 months, the brothers have ended "hundreds and hundreds" of relationships while also working full-time jobs in technology and property development.

'Violation of norms'

Evan acknowledges that some people are uncomfortable with the idea of The Breakup Shop but says times are changing.

"We're living in an age of fast communication," he says. "Everything is sudden and abrupt, it's how the next generation communicates.