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AIBU?

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Plumber in toilet for ages when I got home

115 replies

Amberkitten7654321 · 19/05/2025 18:38

Had a boiler service today - was on school run when he wanted to arrive so left the garage key accessible and opened door from garage into house so he could check what he needed. It wasn’t the usual one we have, someone who worked for him, so not sure what message was passed on. Arrived home after drop off and went to offer him a drink, but no sign…until I realised downstairs bathroom was locked. I have a 2 year old so he would definitely have known we were home, and front door is right next to toilet. He came out about 15/ 20 mins later!!!! He immediately shut door behind him and I didn’t dare open it for hours but window had also been left wide open.
I am totally totally ok with being asked to use bathroom, I understand people need to go. But I felt so freaked out to come home, know he was in my house and him not appear for SO long?!! Is that ok?! He hurriedly said he’d needed the bathroom and rushed to garage. I think it’s just the weirdness of never having met him and him walking through my house and being in the house without me having a clue who he was.

would this freak you out?!

OP posts:
SwanRivers · 19/05/2025 22:47

Gustavo77 · 19/05/2025 22:14

Please tell me you're being sarcastic and you're not really that insensitive to people's situations and/or health problems

I was hoping for sarcasm rather than such ignorance about the human body.

AJLOAL · 19/05/2025 22:31

Gustavo77 · 19/05/2025 22:14

Please tell me you're being sarcastic and you're not really that insensitive to people's situations and/or health problems

We all have different standards.

Ottersmith · 19/05/2025 22:15

Amberkitten7654321 · 19/05/2025 19:04

lol i thought while writing. HOWEVER I would say - I fully agree with him not walking out with trousers round his ankles. That would’ve been ever so slightly more awkward. However - 20 minutes?!! I don’t get men’s obsession with needing so long on the toilet - I don’t think I’ve ever spent 20 minutes having a poo in my life. 20 minutes when you’re in a strangers house when you know they’re outside?!

I doubt he did it on purpose! Poor guy.

Gustavo77 · 19/05/2025 22:14

AJLOAL · 19/05/2025 20:59

I wouldn't be happy about this at all. I'd complain to his boss. It doesn't take 20 mins to have a poo. And don't leave someone to enter your house when you're not there. Re-arrange or ask the to wait until you're home from the school run.

Please tell me you're being sarcastic and you're not really that insensitive to people's situations and/or health problems

Firefly45 · 19/05/2025 21:57

Maybe he had a bad stomach? It happens? Maybe he has stomach issues?
Just cos you have no bowel issues doesn't mean other people dont.
Stop judging people for their bodily needs

derxa · 19/05/2025 21:52

UnctuousUnicorns · 19/05/2025 18:57

Another day, another tradie using my toilet gripe on MN...

Exactly

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 19/05/2025 21:51

HunnyPot · 19/05/2025 21:42

A 20min shit isn’t normal. Have you ever worked in an office where someone disappears for 20 mins during the working day to take a crap?

Yes. I used to work with a man who'd print off reading material every day to take to the toilet with him (many years ago).

MereNoelle · 19/05/2025 21:43

HunnyPot · 19/05/2025 21:42

A 20min shit isn’t normal. Have you ever worked in an office where someone disappears for 20 mins during the working day to take a crap?

Yes

HunnyPot · 19/05/2025 21:42

A 20min shit isn’t normal. Have you ever worked in an office where someone disappears for 20 mins during the working day to take a crap?

DefinitelyMaybe92 · 19/05/2025 21:38

SO much ignorance in this thread.

SwanRivers · 19/05/2025 21:32

queenofthesuburbs · 19/05/2025 21:07

Well it does appear that their mothers never taught them to "go" before they leave the house.
Without fail, it's the first thing they do at my house!

Very strange for a grown man or woman to have their bowels trained by their mother?

I could no more squeeze a shit out on demand than I could a baby.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 19/05/2025 21:29

chunkyblighter · 19/05/2025 19:47

Well, it's probably more than you really wanted to know about him but the main thing is did he leave it in an acceptable state?

Precisely. I had a tradie visit this week. Asked to use the bathroom, no problem at all. I made myself scarce in the kitchen whilst he did what he needed to do in our cloakroom fairly efficiently , but absolutely not a problem. I thought, yet again, as I often do, how tricky it must be to be on the road, appt after appt. To be fair however I haven't yet checked the cloakroom. But I'm sure it's fine.

Livingthebestlife · 19/05/2025 21:20

He probably ate his lunch while in their, kill 2 birds with one stone.

Hellohelga · 19/05/2025 21:14

He needs to eat more fruit and veg

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 19/05/2025 21:13

I am totally totally ok with being asked to use bathroom, I understand people need to go.

What difference would it have made if you'd have been there and he asked? You'd have both been embarrassed is all. Please don't tell me you might've refused if he'd been able to ask!

Rtato · 19/05/2025 21:11

Amberkitten7654321 · 19/05/2025 19:04

lol i thought while writing. HOWEVER I would say - I fully agree with him not walking out with trousers round his ankles. That would’ve been ever so slightly more awkward. However - 20 minutes?!! I don’t get men’s obsession with needing so long on the toilet - I don’t think I’ve ever spent 20 minutes having a poo in my life. 20 minutes when you’re in a strangers house when you know they’re outside?!

You’re very lucky you don’t have bowel disease! Unfortunately for many of us 20mins can be a common occurrence!!

Whiteflowerscreed · 19/05/2025 21:09

We’re all humans. If you gotta go you gotta go. I would hate anyone to feel awkward about needing a wee or poo at my house.

susiedaisy1912 · 19/05/2025 21:08

Yuck a strange man having a 20 min shit in my bathroom 🤮

queenofthesuburbs · 19/05/2025 21:07

SwanRivers · 19/05/2025 18:59

The obsession with tradesmen's bowels remains oddly strong.

Well it does appear that their mothers never taught them to "go" before they leave the house.
Without fail, it's the first thing they do at my house!

SwanRivers · 19/05/2025 21:05

AJLOAL · 19/05/2025 20:59

I wouldn't be happy about this at all. I'd complain to his boss. It doesn't take 20 mins to have a poo. And don't leave someone to enter your house when you're not there. Re-arrange or ask the to wait until you're home from the school run.

🤣🤣🤣

ruethewhirl · 19/05/2025 21:02

OneAmusedShark · 19/05/2025 19:41

YABU.

It’s entirely your fault.

What you should have done is left a detailed list of rules for the tradesman, which should have included the following:

  1. Toilet visits are to be booked in advance and logged in writing
  2. A notice must be placed on the front door, back door and toilet door announcing that the toilet is in use
  3. Under no circumstances whatsoever should a toilet visit exceed seven minutes
  4. Should the allotted time be exceeded, you reserve the right to enter the toilet without warning to demand an explanation
  5. After the toilet visit, a minute by minute account of the visit must be provided, in writing
  6. Time spent in the toilet will be deducted from the final bill on a pro rata basis
  7. Paper will be charged for At a rate per sheet.

No exceptions. Otherwise the tradesman will spend all day in their, with their copy of “The Sun” at your expense!

Seven whole minutes? Surely it’s drop, plop, wipe and out? 😄

AJLOAL · 19/05/2025 20:59

I wouldn't be happy about this at all. I'd complain to his boss. It doesn't take 20 mins to have a poo. And don't leave someone to enter your house when you're not there. Re-arrange or ask the to wait until you're home from the school run.

chunkyblighter · 19/05/2025 19:47

Well, it's probably more than you really wanted to know about him but the main thing is did he leave it in an acceptable state?

NoTouch · 19/05/2025 19:44

I wouldn't be keen to enter the toilet after, but then I am not keen on entering the toilet after anyone else has been there for 20 minutes!

Some people, men and women, take longer to shit that others, it isn't odd or unusual.

OneAmusedShark · 19/05/2025 19:43

PrettyPuss · 19/05/2025 19:24

‘Harry? I hope you’re not using the toilet?’

WTF??!

I can’t unsee that!!!!

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