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Original poster

Workmen AIBU

22 replies

Starbeach · 15/03/2022 12:32

I have a builder in at the moment who is taking forever to redo my bathroom it’s not huge but with electric prices as they are, AIBU to expect him to have his tools charged at his own expense in his house before he comes here. everyday, and we are on week 5 with no end in sight, hes charging the batteries for his tools hasn’t asked me and is treating this place like his own. Even putting all his dusty dirty stuff in our back bedroom without our knowledge until I stumbled across it on the weekend, it could have been our room he dumped it in if he had asked I would have told him to put it in the junk room.

I really want to ask him to leave but I can’t as I’m pregnant and workmen are hard to come by where I live 😭

OP posts:

EBearhug · 15/03/2022 12:40

I would expect him to have his tools charged ready to work. I wouldn’t be happy if he taking time I was paying for waiting for them to charge, unless it needed recharging due to use on the day.

Original poster

Starbeach · 15/03/2022 12:43

@EBearhug no he comes in and charges them straight away if it was in the afternoon and it had gone flat through him using it I wouldn’t have a problem.

OP posts:

ukborn · 15/03/2022 13:25

Five weeks! What's he doing??? I hope you have a price for the job and are not paying a day rate!
I'm renovating my house and the bathrooms took three weeks for one four for the other. We had to reinforce the floor and replaster before tiling the first and in the second we moved the toilet and sinks to different walls. So do not understand what is taking your guy so long.
Regardless, tools should be charged and ready to go, he should ask if he can store tools and he should ensure they are safe.

mamabeeboo · 15/03/2022 13:33

Are you able to close/lock doors, or use the sockets for yourself? So they are not available for him? Also maybe ask him for a timeframe and when he thinks he will be done? As above, are you paying a day rate?

I suspect he's well aware of the electric prices, which is why he comes into work with flat batteries. I bet he charges his phone too.

LaraDeSalle · 15/03/2022 13:37

Yes it’s cheeky that he comes in and charges his tools using your electricity but many small businesses have gone under thanks to the stupid lockdowns and with electricity prices rising he may see it as being a shrewd/canny thing to do.

However, from your point of view it feels like he is taking advantage.

People will get away with things unless you tell them not to.

You can say that you have only just noticed that he’s charging the tools and can he not do this in future, please.

catfunk · 15/03/2022 13:41

Why on earth is it taking him 5 weeks, what ok earth is he doing?
New tarrifs apply from April I believe so I would ask him how much longer he thinks he'll be, as you can't afford the extra energy to charge his tools come April. That should kill 2 birds.

Original poster

Starbeach · 15/03/2022 13:46

I hope he’s finished before then!! I just want to cry about it sadly I can’t lock those doors. More than anything I don’t like the fact he’s even gone in those rooms the doors were shut and there is no reason why he couldn’t store his stuff in the bathroom. I feel like sorry I know from stuff hes said he’s snooped around I’ve moved all valuable items and never leave him here on his own I just confine myself to the living room so the dogs don’t eat him 😂

OP posts:

WeCouldBeSpearows · 15/03/2022 13:59

If his tools weren't cordless, would you have an issue with him having them plugged in?

user1497207191 · 15/03/2022 14:03

@WeCouldBeSpearows

If his tools weren't cordless, would you have an issue with him having them plugged in?

They'd only be plugged in when he was using them though. It sounds as if he's charging them at the OP's house but using them elsewhere if he needs to plug them in as soon as he arrives each morning, so sounds as if he's using her power to use the tools elsewhere.

dumdumduuuummmmm · 15/03/2022 14:07

You could see it that he uses nails and you pay for them. He uses adhesive and you pay for it. He uses power and you pay for it 🤷🏻‍♀️. Like pp asked, if they were corded and not cordless would you complain that he was using your power?

user1497207191 · 15/03/2022 14:19

@dumdumduuuummmmm

Thing is, though, that if he charged you for a box of nails, used a few and then took the rest of the box away to use for another customer, you'd be pretty annoyed, wouldn't you?

Workmen usually either just charge for the materials actually used (or include consumables in their hourly rate), or they leave whatever surplus you've paid for which they've not used.

BeanStew22 · 15/03/2022 14:39

He sounds a bit cheeky tbh: the mess would annoy me & that’s a really long time to do the bathroom (it should be a 2 week job normally). Is he continuously working at your house or on other jobs?

I’d suggest:

talk to him about the mess
talk to him about what is still to be done & give him a deadline
query the tools : check they are being used at your house!

Sadly, because he sounds like a total CF, I think you need to rope in a man to do this talking: your DP/brother/dad/a neighbour, anyone really : and get this man to deal with the money too, you will probably get fobbed off less

Do you know anyone ‘handy’ who can estimate how long the remaining work should take? (I’ve had trades I trust check on new ones before)

For what it’s worth, my painter/decorator decided to charge his (new) electric car at my place as I have an outdoor socket… a bit cheeky really but he hadnt sorted out his own charging yet plus he does a good job/fair prices

This guy sounds like he is just chancing it

Tell him the job needs finishing because you’ve got people coming to stay

worriedatthistime · 15/03/2022 15:11

I expected to sAy you were being unreasonable but as he charges when he arrives i assume daily thats taking the piss
My dh charges his tools at home ( in middle of hallway but thats another aibu)
5 weeks does seem a long time for a bathroom but has that been 5 weeks every day or in and out whilst waiting for other trades
Re: storing his stuff I would ask him to leave in bathroom and not go in the other rooms
My dh would not do this without asking even if leaving in bathroom and certainly wouldn't walk into someones bedroom

WeCouldBeSpearows · 15/03/2022 15:38

Thing is, though, that if he charged you for a box of nails, used a few and then took the rest of the box away to use for another customer, you'd be pretty annoyed, wouldn't you?

There's no mention of him using the power elsewhere..... and even if he had, op would be okay with him charging up if he had used the power elsewhere during the morning...

CannaBelieve · 15/03/2022 16:26

Most power tools have 2 batteries so he's likely charging the spare ready

They don't last that long!

FairyCakeWings · 15/03/2022 16:30

Five weeks for one bathroom? Is that what you meant? If so, that’s fucking ridiculous.

I think you need to go full on crazy pregnant lady at him to make him sort it out.

Original poster

Starbeach · 16/03/2022 07:07

I told him yesterday afternoon my boss is becoming shitty with me for not doing visits so see if it gives him a kick up the backside.

But like yesterday he only had to fit 2 more full floor tiles for that job to be finished but instead he chose to finish them today 😭🤬

OP posts:

HowlongWillThisTakeNow · 16/03/2022 07:12

@CannaBelieve

Most power tools have 2 batteries so he's likely charging the spare ready

They don't last that long!

^^ almost certainly this

Cherrysoup · 16/03/2022 07:17

Ask him for an end date£has he gone past when he said originally? Tell him you need him gone and if can’t finish the job, you will find someone who can.

Mindymomo · 16/03/2022 07:29

My husband is a bathroom installer and will ask if there is anywhere to store tools and everything else that’s needed. It’s so much easier having somewhere for this than having to pack up and take things home each day, but he definitely should have asked first before using one of your rooms. His power tools are probably getting old so maybe need charging more often or he maybe just leaving them plugged in so when he needs to use them, they are charged. My DH has never had anyone complain about this. With regards to time frame for completion, you really should have asked him how long it was going to take to finish beforehand. 3 weeks is usual for my DH to do a full bathroom and tile both walls and floors. He will get other tradesmen to do electrical work and plastering.

Original poster

Starbeach · 16/03/2022 07:40

@Mindymomo thank you, I don’t mind him storing his tools here far from it (at least I know he’s coming back!) but if he had asked I would have told him where he could store them ie either the garage or our current junk room. He told me 3 weeks which I though was more than enough time. The electrician came yesterday to do that. My dad used to install kitchens and bathrooms but he’s too ill to do it anymore and I can’t have him come round or even know this is being done until after it is finished as it will make his illness worse

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 17/03/2022 07:40

I do know that getting stuff is really hard at the moment, so maybe he’s waiting on some things, or maybe you’ve just got a worker who works at a slow steady pace, which it sounds like. Someone actually moaned to my DH once that he finished 2 days early, after that he never gave exact days. Sometimes things go well and you can get ahead, but things like uneven walls, floors etc can cause problems. I hope you will be pleased when it’s finished.

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