Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Builder 45 minutes late with no text or call and now wants to come

88 replies

rosecin · 26/06/2025 15:47

I had a small job in the garden that needed doing and the builder was booked for 3pm.
No text or call to say he was running late etc.

I deleted my address from WhatsApp as he hadn’t read the message yet at 15:39 and then he calls.

I didn’t answer as I have kids to look after etc and this has caused me a massive inconvenience today and my whole day was arranged to accommodate this.

AIBU to block him and find someone else?

OP posts:
Hotflushesandchilblains · 26/06/2025 16:54

Its infuriating, but if there was a chance he was coming on the same day I would say you did well.

Hyperion100 · 26/06/2025 16:53

First time dealing with tradesmen eh?

sweetpickle2 · 26/06/2025 16:53

rosecin · 26/06/2025 15:57

I have had jobs done in the past as had no issues.

The text language doesn’t seem very professional saying “true say” and calling me “blood”, I posted an add on My Builder and was desperate to get the job completed and he said he was free today.

I just spoke to him via text and he says he isn’t free now until Monday.

Edited

It's 'blud', not 'blood'. Had he actually text you that then you'd know how it was spelt (although I suspect he didn't).

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/06/2025 16:51

It annoys me alot that tradesmen are so often like this - I agree it’s not acceptable.

There is a lot about the way tradesmen function that would be unacceptable in any other profession.

I think it’s rooted in the fact they are predominantly male and the customers doing the waiting etc are so often female. They expect no end of accommodation.

Problem is you might not find anyone else!

anareen · 26/06/2025 16:45

Are they typically on time.....?

DildoSaggins · 26/06/2025 16:43

I agree with the majority of other posters. When you want work like this done by a builder/handyman they often have several other jobs in the day and not just yours. Sometimes these jobs will run to time and plan and sometimes they will run a little over. You have to allow for this overlap/delay and be flexible.

If you had just let him come 45 mins late he would be well into the job or finished by now. Instead you now have to wait until he can come on Monday. So you did yourself no favours there at all by being impatient.

ShodAndShadySenators · 26/06/2025 16:43

You need a gardener for improving soil and putting plants in, not a builder. Most gardeners have basic DIY skills like drilling for hanging basket brackets. I would look again for gardeners/horticulturists or similar. It's a rare builder who understands horticulture and you'll be wasting your time and money getting the wrong tradesperson to do the job.

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 26/06/2025 16:41

Sadly OP this is typical and to be expected. I once had a tiler want to come a week late because he'd missed an appointment as he'd gone fishing instead!!

Littlemisscapable · 26/06/2025 16:41

araiwa · 26/06/2025 15:51

Do you often cut off your nose?

This

CoralOP · 26/06/2025 16:38

I don't think I've ever had a tradesperson come on time, like ....ever!

FuzzyPuffling · 26/06/2025 16:36

Next door's roofers are already three days late.

Normandy144 · 26/06/2025 16:17

Good luck finding a builder or tradesperson that turns up exactly when they say they will.

Original poster
rosecin · 26/06/2025 16:16

I think he is handyman but is described as a builder.
All I wanted was some hanging basket rails erected with some hard soil softening as having children me or DH just simply some have the time.

The soil is rock hard full of stones and we wanted some plants put in.

He isn’t free until Monday anyway now.

OP posts:
businessflop25 · 26/06/2025 16:13

I disagree that it’s acceptable. 40 minutes is only acceptable if they pick up the god damned phone!
Funnily enough I can manage to factor getting from A to B on time for my clients there is fuck all reason why tradesMEN can’t. It’s just laziness and lack of consideration. If there is any risk of a job taking longer than anticipated then you don’t book appointments then. Simple!

susanandlucypevensie · 26/06/2025 16:13

Yeah, you are being unreasonable. Are you sure he said 3pm? they normally give a window of time - 3-5pm or something, or "after 3pm".

They can't guarantee 3pm on the dot, it's just not possible. You never know exactly how long the job they're on that day is going to take, if they are going to finish early or late, or if there's traffic or a queue at the suppliers. Sometiems the last customer they went to quote is what's called a "talker" who yap yap yaps about their garden flowers and their grandkids and they have to be polite and listen because they want the job but would rather measure up and leave.

If they really did give you 3pm instead of a window, you probably should sack them for being clearly inexperienced.

And why are you getting a builder to do a small job in your garden, anyway?

ChandrilanDiscoDroid · 26/06/2025 16:05

45 mins late? Good luck finding a replacement who meets your standard.

VirginaGirl · 26/06/2025 16:05

Probably using the toilet in the last customers house.

Cadenza12 · 26/06/2025 16:03

People get delayed. You are going to have a very stressful life if things like this, that are really of no consequence, get to you.

doodleschnoodle · 26/06/2025 16:02

At only 45 mins and I’d think I’d lucked out and got a really good one Grin

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 26/06/2025 16:00

Good luck in finding someone, most are 45 DAYS not minutes late

Kipperandarthur · 26/06/2025 16:00

You say you are desperate to get the job done. Hmmm then why did you cut your nose off to spite your face when he was running a bit late?

He can't just down tools mid way through a job and 45 minutes really is not much.

Last time I visited the dentist I had to wait for over 30 minutes for my appointment that was booked at a specific time. That's just life.

Rayqueen · 26/06/2025 15:59

Well coming from a building family the amount of times your on a roof and can't take messages or there's no phone signal and it's very rare to be spot on time if your jobs over run which they pretty much always do

GoFaster83 · 26/06/2025 15:57

Jesus. Love you need to get an actual grip. Perhaps he has read notifications off. Also if he were in the middle of your job would you be happy he was stopping his work to text his next client because they wanted his attention? Hope you have a big pair of scissors to cut that nose off.

Original poster
rosecin · 26/06/2025 15:57

I have had jobs done in the past as had no issues.

The text language doesn’t seem very professional saying “true say” and calling me “blood”, I posted an add on My Builder and was desperate to get the job completed and he said he was free today.

I just spoke to him via text and he says he isn’t free now until Monday.

OP posts:
CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 26/06/2025 15:54

Yabu.

They often run late over the course of the day as many jobs have unexpected elements that make it take longer. Plus traffic etc.

If they said 3 to me, I’d be expecting them from 3 ish onwards. I’d tell them I’d be out on school run at x time but that otherwise I’d be in.

Swipe left for the next trending thread