To tell you to do this when hiring a builder/trader

Yes a plasterer told me this years ago also!

How nice of you to tell people about this to be warned because no matter how much people want to berate your BIL honestly he can do what he wants and if he gets away with it then hey ho. I bet he's not the only one who does this.

sorry you are now being abused for this!

My DH wouldn't dream of doing this!

What does he charge a trans woman? Time and a half

The age tax is a super tricky one. On average I would say much older people are a lot more work and it can be a really painful and time consuming process. We do have to price that in but are really aware we don’t want to be seen as ‘scammers’. So often we refuse to quote. It’s just not worth it.

My partner is an electrician and almost always deals with women. He charges everyone exactly the same. Don't tar everyone with the same sexist brush.

Whenever we need a tradesman for something, dh does all the calling up, organising quotes and talking to them when they come round to price up. I have no interaction with them regarding the actual work.

When hiring a builder or tradesperson:

1. Ensure you have a written contract with them with fair terms and conditions

1. Ensure you get a detailed specification for the work with each item costed.

1. Don't assume. Ask. Ie don't assume if you're getting doors fitted that that the trims are included. Ask.

1. If you make a change to the specification - get the variation written down and costed.

1. Remember a warranty provided by the company for the works is only worth anything as long as the company exists.

I'm sure lots of other things to consider but I've seen people get loft conversions for £60k with a contract written on A5 page

Well you can rest easy because they don't... except, that is, your BiL

Good god no!!

This is now the third house I’ve renovated as a single woman, each time I’ve secured great prices and good builders and used my intuition for it.

Don’t make a mockery of men and women today by suggesting people do this.

Could you send me your BIL's number please OP? I'm BigTits McDopey and I really, really need someone to plaster my lav.

You messed up this sentence so I've corrected it for you, OP:

The reason for this is because a lot of them my brother in law charges more if hired by a woman

The local independent garage has different charges such as WAT - woman added tax,
PAT - for Asian customers FAT - literally as it says

some places and people are still reminiscent of the 1970s

I get this in motorcycle dealerships, car dealerships, garages (mechanics), builders, any other Tradesman. Until I tell them to cut their shit or they'll lose the business. Out of the two of us my husband is the indecisive one and pisses me off let alone Tradesman. Thankfully he is out at work whereas I'm at home and can deal with Tradesman and their questions.

,No way & from a franchise too?? I honestly, naively obviously now, thought that was a throwback to a bygone era, what utter arseholes 😡Good for you I'd most likely have been oblivious

There used to be a program on Sky (I think?) called "Rogue Traders" & some of the things they caught on camera would curl your hair but I think they were more the exception rather than the rule

I know a lot of people including my OH who are in the Trades Industry & they wouldn't dream of being anything other than professional because with the exception of contractual work they rely on word of mouth, recommendations etc for their next job, that said it's awful for the posters who have received this sexist treatment be it with builders, mechanics or whatever 😡

I think your brother in law must have been joking with you. How can he possibly know what other trades charge?

It’s usual to get several quotes for building works how would he ever get work if he does use his ridiculous two tier costing?

Please don't do this. One arsehole does not represent all builders and my DH would never do this. He works with lots of women. Female architects, surveyors, building control, structural engineers and project managers. Difficult clients are either male or female, as are great clients. He's expensive but doesn't discriminate and if anything single mum's and elderly clients would be more likely to get a discount than the other way round.

Your BIL represents a dying breed of man and is purely a scammer and preys on people he considers vulnerable. Get more than one quote when looking for a builder and don't be afraid to ask questions. The good ones are happy to explain their prices.

This made my morning ... 😂

It’s not bilge. I work in property management and use trades for that all the time. Good relationships and fair prices.

If I get a domestic quote by myself and then compare it to the trades i use in business they are always significantly higher. I don’t think it’s to do with sex though I think it’s because they don’t think I know what I’m talking about.

What’s your brothers company name? We’d rather like to know who to avoid. Amazed you’re not entirely ashamed of him.

This is bilge.
I was a trades person before I retired (I'm a woman) and worked with many different trades people for years. I've never heard this and found most (not all, but most) of the tradespeople I encountered were honorable, decent people.

The trick is to get personal recommendations when possible - ask the older people locally who will have been using good tradespeople for years. They might even know semi-retired tradespeople who will be experience yet perhaps not charge as much. My electrician retired from the local nuclear power station so I think I can trust him to rewire my back bedroom😀

Use local established tradespeople (people who work locally don't want to get a bad reputation). Also, when you find say a good plumber, ask them for recommendations...they'll know all the reliable joiners, landscapers, electricians etc locally.

When you get a good trades person treat them well. Be clear about what you want, pay on time and a cuppa or cold drink is really welcome when someone is doing hard physical work. Trades people remember their good customers like customers remember their good trades people.

Another good way to find good trades people is to ask at your local volunteer fire station or lifeboat station. Lots of self employed trades people volunteer there (as they can just drop tools and dash to the station when on call) and you know you're getting someone who's been vetted and is a good community person.

All of the above applies whether you're a man or a woman.

I'd be amazed if any builder quoted a job without seeing it.

That still happens. Kwik fit did that two
me two months ago! Lucky I wasn’t taken in