Tradesmen - are they all the same?!

Percypigfanatic · 2022-10-09T13:36:04+00:00

Just as the title says really. Another day wasted, tradesman meant to come this morning to finish off a job I’ve been waiting 4 weeks for (already paid for materials) , third time the guy has let me down and no excuses this time and won’t answer the phone. If I hadn’t paid him already I would have told him to do one! He’s done work for me before and it’s pretty good standard but he’s just so unreliable this time. Just as a background, I’ve had various works done to a house I’ve just moved into. Got several tradesmen in for different things and I’ve noticed a pattern. Half the time you book a quote in they never show up (or apologise) . Then when they are booked in they don’t show up when they say they will (and need to be constantly chased) I’m talking 5-6 different companies here and they are ALL the same. I find it really rude and exhausting. The last lot of tradesman chipped my kitchen floor and pebbledashed my toilet 😞😑 I do the research before I get someone in and all these companies have 5/5 reviews on Facebook or similar. I don’t understand this, is it just me they are treating badly or are people used to them being unreliable? Or am I just very unlucky?

FourTeaFallOut · 09/10/2022 14:41

You need recommendations, rather than good reviews online. If you know anyone in a trade then they can usually point you in the direction of people who do a good job in all the trades.

Original poster

Percypigfanatic · 09/10/2022 14:47

These are recommendations from local
people as well as 5star reviews. I just don’t understand why it seems to be just me it’s happening to.

OP posts:

TheMousePipes · 09/10/2022 15:01

No, they’re not all the same. But you need to find a good one (in pretty much any trade) and ask them for their recommendations for the others. My dh is always very busy, never advertises - it’s all word of mouth. We have a trusted network of excellent reliable tradespeople and customers ring to ask for recommendations all the time.
Good luck.

ChilliBandit · 09/10/2022 15:07

No they are not all the same but why had you already paid him? I have never paid a tradesman before the job is done. The only time I’ve paid anything in advance is for materials to our trusted joiner who has worked for us for years and that’s only in the past couple of years now trust has been built up.

Unicorn2022 · 09/10/2022 15:12

I have the same issue. It doesn't matter how many people recommend them or how much due diligence I do beforehand, all tradesmen seem to turn bad the minute they cross the threshold of my house. Currently having a loft conversion which was meant to take 6-8 weeks and is currently in week 27 with no end in sight.,

goldfinchonthelawn · 09/10/2022 15:24

I know a brilliant plasterer and a few reliable electricians (they tend to be reliable.) On time, clean and tidy, good at their jobs, don't over-charge.

But I've had my fair share of dodgy ones. To the extent that last time I was told they couldn't come tomorrow because they had to attend a mate's wife's funeral, brain cancer, I just said, 'Yeah there's a lot of brain cancer about,' because I've heard that excuse so many times. He looked pretty shocked but he also looked a bit shifty.

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/10/2022 15:32

Never pay up front. A dodgy tradesperson will think his/her Christmas has come early. A reputable, established one will have a line of credit organised with their bank.

Unicorn2022 · 09/10/2022 15:46

goldfinchonthelawn · 09/10/2022 15:24

I know a brilliant plasterer and a few reliable electricians (they tend to be reliable.) On time, clean and tidy, good at their jobs, don't over-charge.

But I've had my fair share of dodgy ones. To the extent that last time I was told they couldn't come tomorrow because they had to attend a mate's wife's funeral, brain cancer, I just said, 'Yeah there's a lot of brain cancer about,' because I've heard that excuse so many times. He looked pretty shocked but he also looked a bit shifty.

Awful if it was true! I've not had the brain cancer excuse but have had a lot of vans breaking down, child in A&E, grandparent death, wife needing emergency operation. All of those used by different tradesmen several times.

Snowberry3 · 09/10/2022 15:49

Yes, I’ve been seriously messed about. But I’ll have the last laugh as their work will dry up with the recession.

Christmaslover2022 · 09/10/2022 15:50

Yes this is! I've had most of those excuses. Why say they are coming? Why take on the job if they can't do it?! Anyone I mention this to says oh yes well they are busy atm so you just have to wait and I'm like well that doesn't excuse the shitty behaviour! They are lucky they are busy with their attitudes...!

Unicorn2022 · 09/10/2022 15:57

Snowberry3 · 09/10/2022 15:49

Yes, I’ve been seriously messed about. But I’ll have the last laugh as their work will dry up with the recession.

Do you think so? At the moment they are all still swamped since the pandemic and massive increase in people WFH and needing more room, or more people having staycations. I was thinking fewer people would be moving house with the mortgage rates skyrocketing so even more people would be improving or extending.

Babdoc · 09/10/2022 16:06

One of the advantages of living in a village is that the tradesmen are all local and very well known. If any of them behaved like this, word would spread rapidly, and they would be out of business.

I have never had a “no show” for a job in forty years of living here.
I always pay immediately on receiving the invoice afterwards, but never in advance.
My chimney sweep once turned up apologising for being 15 minutes late as he’d had to go to his GP for fasting blood tests that morning - the poor chap hadn’t eaten for sixteen hours, and when I gave him tea and toast he even offered to pay for them!
My handyman turned up three days after his mother’s death, still in a state of shock, and insisted on doing the job as booked. I spent the morning trying to gently persuade him to take compassionate leave, which he eventually did, poor lad.
And my lovely plumber once went nearly three days without sleep, turning up white faced with fatigue, to fix everybody’s burst pipes after a particularly vicious Scottish winter freeze.
I have twice trusted my builder with my keys, and gone on holiday - once while he demolished an internal wall, and once while he built a brick chimney and cut through into the sitting room to create a fireplace. I came home to not a speck of dust, and the jobs done perfectly.
You really need
a) personal recommendations
b) to never pay in advance
c) to treat your workmen with consideration and courtesy and
d) if possible pick older, experienced guys with a good work ethic.
It’s never failed me yet!

Original poster

Percypigfanatic · 09/10/2022 16:09

I paid for the materials in advance as it was a bespoke cupboard he a building from
scratch and as I’ve said, he’s done work for me before which has been great so didn’t think it was unusual to do this, I just didn’t think he’d be like the rest of the tradesman I’ve had so far.

OP posts:

ScarlettnotOHara · 09/10/2022 16:09

It’s the not turning up that’s really annoying! A quick text I am too busy and at least you know where you are with them .

Original poster

Percypigfanatic · 09/10/2022 16:13

Agreed @ScarlettnotOHara ive been up since 8am this morning just in case he came early, he assured me yesterday evening he would be here this morning. Have done nothing all day in case he turned up. Got absolutely nothing from him until this afternoon when I repeatedly chased and he has now messaged to say he had an emergency “but may or may not show up later” . Grrr!

OP posts:

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/10/2022 16:36

Unicorn2022 · 09/10/2022 15:46

Awful if it was true! I've not had the brain cancer excuse but have had a lot of vans breaking down, child in A&E, grandparent death, wife needing emergency operation. All of those used by different tradesmen several times.

Show quote history

Yeah and they always start the sentence with “you’ll never believe it but…”

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/10/2022 16:37

ScarlettnotOHara · 09/10/2022 16:09

It’s the not turning up that’s really annoying! A quick text I am too busy and at least you know where you are with them .

Well, most are men, what did you expect? They are not organised. A female tradesperson would never treat you like that.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/10/2022 16:39

Babdoc · 09/10/2022 16:06

One of the advantages of living in a village is that the tradesmen are all local and very well known. If any of them behaved like this, word would spread rapidly, and they would be out of business.

I have never had a “no show” for a job in forty years of living here.
I always pay immediately on receiving the invoice afterwards, but never in advance.
My chimney sweep once turned up apologising for being 15 minutes late as he’d had to go to his GP for fasting blood tests that morning - the poor chap hadn’t eaten for sixteen hours, and when I gave him tea and toast he even offered to pay for them!
My handyman turned up three days after his mother’s death, still in a state of shock, and insisted on doing the job as booked. I spent the morning trying to gently persuade him to take compassionate leave, which he eventually did, poor lad.
And my lovely plumber once went nearly three days without sleep, turning up white faced with fatigue, to fix everybody’s burst pipes after a particularly vicious Scottish winter freeze.
I have twice trusted my builder with my keys, and gone on holiday - once while he demolished an internal wall, and once while he built a brick chimney and cut through into the sitting room to create a fireplace. I came home to not a speck of dust, and the jobs done perfectly.
You really need
a) personal recommendations
b) to never pay in advance
c) to treat your workmen with consideration and courtesy and
d) if possible pick older, experienced guys with a good work ethic.
It’s never failed me yet!

I think it’s different in a city to be fair. The crap ones can hide their rep easily . The good ones have too much demand so can pick and choose jobs.

marmaladepop · 09/10/2022 16:45

I'd guess lots of 5* Facebook ratings are friends commenting when it comes to ratings. We have a really helpful App called Nextdoor in my area and people recommend tradesmen on there and likewise will name and shame if they've had a terrible job done. It's really useful.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/10/2022 16:49

Unicorn2022 · 09/10/2022 15:57

Do you think so? At the moment they are all still swamped since the pandemic and massive increase in people WFH and needing more room, or more people having staycations. I was thinking fewer people would be moving house with the mortgage rates skyrocketing so even more people would be improving or extending.

Show quote history

I really really don’t think that more people will be extending. Far from it. Most people extend their mortgage to cover the cost of an extension. No-one will want to take on the huge extra risk of rising interest rates to cover that, as well as watching house prices fall, while cost of materials is still also so high. Plus extensions usually mean more space to heat, and energy costs are silly as we all know. Work WILL dry up.

Then in a few years’ time we will have our young 20 somethings paying a fortune to rent a teeny tiny flat and wondering if they will ever be able to afford to have a child, and retired people rattling round in over-extended houses.

RedWingBoots · 09/10/2022 16:54

ScarlettnotOHara · 09/10/2022 16:09

It’s the not turning up that’s really annoying! A quick text I am too busy and at least you know where you are with them .

I've had plumbers tell me they are too busy.

Other trades don't do the death excuses either. They are either ill themselves - which I suspect is due to overindulgence the night before - or because my job has over run due to unexpected things e.g. plaster not drying they have taken on shorter jobs.

silverclock222 · 09/10/2022 16:54

Snowberry3 · 09/10/2022 15:49

Yes, I’ve been seriously messed about. But I’ll have the last laugh as their work will dry up with the recession.

With a disgusting comment like that it's nowonder you've been messed around. What normal person wishes destitution for others?

Badbadbunny · 09/10/2022 16:55

You need to get referrals from trusted friends/family. The decent tradesmen don't need to advertise as they're busy with repeat customers and referrals, so pointless to rely on advertisements/online rating sites etc.

It's taken us years, but we've got a full set of reliable tradesmen, most of whom were recommended by other reliable tradesmen - they all know who is reliable/quality and who isn't, so if you get one tradesman who's good, they'll probably be able to give you recommendations for other trades.

Badbadbunny · 09/10/2022 16:56

silverclock222 · 09/10/2022 16:54

With a disgusting comment like that it's nowonder you've been messed around. What normal person wishes destitution for others?

Show quote history

Sorry, but workmen who are unreliable, shoddy, etc don't deserve to be in business.

bigbluebus · 09/10/2022 16:56

I agree with what @Babdoc says. I live in a village too. Tradesmen always turn up when they say they will and if they have to cancel (usually the plumber who does my routine boiler service who will prioritise an emergency callout) they do at least communicate and rearrange.

The only time I've handed money over before the job is complete was when we had someone building our patio and he needed to pay for the paving slabs. He usually works for another builder so didn't have spare funds or a trade account to buy them. But - he lives around the corner, came recommended to us by a builder who usually does work for us but couldn't take on this particular job and he is well known in the circles we mix in - so was unlikely to be ripping us off. He didn't ask for any labour costs until the job was completed though.

I accept that it is very different in a city though. Much easier for them to hide.