Can a lone, older woman indulge in a 'fucking tradespeople!' tirade?

[SerenityNowInsanityLater]

I've had scaffolding left up. The company was fabulous when I needed it put up. Taking it down though has been another story. I became their storage.
Calls, messages, emails, all ignored, left unread.

So, this morning, I sent a final text: Thanks so much for sending the guys around. They're dismantling it now. Great stuff! I'm making them coffee!

How fast did the company call me? I barely hit send when they were blowing up my phone.

I hate that I've had to resort to manipulative tactics. I've had to lie and make a huge fake drama in order to get this company to remove their scaffolding.
I'm about to put my home on the market and the last thing I need is to become a scaffolding company's long-term storage.

The scaffolding will be coming down today. Result. Yes. But I feel like utter shit. I hate lying. Hate it. I hate that the guy couldn't just deal with me in a respectful, professional, direct, honest manner, And I hate that I didn't deal with him in a respectful, professional, direct, honest manner in the end. God knows, I tried.

It's really upset me, the whole thing. More than it should.

I don't know if this is a rant or what. But these are the moments when I find being a lone, older woman kind of hard. Maybe I'm making a thing out of this. But I do feel so much more aware of how much I need to protect myself from being taken advantage of.

You are much cleverer than me. I would have just fummed internally about being ignored. I totally agree though. People should just not be shits in the first place.

I thought this was a completely different thread from your title 😁 well done though, that's really clever!

Similar experience with scofffolders delaying removal but it was the male owner of flat abode me that was dealing with it

i don’t think anything to do with single female

just shite scaffolding companies

This is amazing..in awe of you!

I’m a married, younger woman, and I can assure you that scaffolding companies are just as much fuckers in my experience.

Your action was pure class. Well done!

I understand OP I was alone for many years. It does make you feel a little vulnerable at times especially when tradespeople take the piss. I would just say that having had dealings with scaffolders as a single and married person it was no different.They always leave the scaffolding up for ages after the job it was needed for. As you say using your property as a sort of storage facility. I wouldn’t feel at all bad if I was you about your ruse. In fact I think it was a genius idea! I hope you feel better soon and your property sale happens quickly and smoothly.

Well done! All (nearly all) tradespeople are a bag of shite - lying, delaying, deceiving lazy twats.
I have 1 person I know I can rely on to turn up and do what he says when he says. He's a general handyman and consequently gets all our jobs.
God forbid we need to find a specialist trade, impossible it would seem.

Scaffolding companies are renowned for this. They just leave it till they need it so they don’t have to pay for storage.

You played them at their own game and won. Don’t feel bad for that! Did you have to pretend you chased the other people off to give them a chance to come get it, whilst laying it on that you can’t watch it all the time so if they don’t take it then it could still end up stolen? It’s actually kinda funny that you basically had to play out a little skit to get them to move their arse!

Omg, you are a genius. That is bloody epic.
Yes, it's crap that they messed you around. Just think how huge a spanner you have flung into their planned day though! Karmatic chaos. Hats off to you.

Oh thank you so much for the appreciation!!! 😁And yes, you know what, in my heart of hearts, being a lone, older woman has very little to do with it. I think I've been through such a tough few years, that I'm left feeling so down about myself... like, I am the reason negative situations happen. Getting older at a time when a lot of life stuff has happened has given me this sense that being 'alone', 'older' and 'female' has left me vulnerable. When actually, they're just shit, right? When were scaffolding companies EVER the pinnacle of moral standards?!

Me too! I was just reaching for the popcorn 🍿

This is genius. Utter genius. I would never have been so clever - would have just lost it ranting. I do think tradespeople are often worse with women. Well done for getting one over on them!

Well, I think you should pat yourself on the back for pulling this one off. Nicely played!

Did you have to pretend you chased the other people off to give them a chance to come get it, whilst laying it on that you can’t watch it all the time so if they don’t take it then it could still end up stolen? It’s actually kinda funny that you basically had to play out a little skit to get them to move their arse!

I did! I think I'm full of self loathing because I really overegged the lying. I really leaned into it. I was even shouting, "Oh my god! These aren't your guys?! Oh my god, they're madmen... no I won't call the police. Call your men! They'll get here faster. oh my god!"
It kind of scares me how I really got into character. I still feel awful. And lying makes me feel so dirty inside. But in the moment, I went all the way. I fully embraced dishonesty.😳

This!

You are brilliant! I'm sorry you're upset, but I think you should be giving yourself a huge pat on the back for being a legend & making shit happen. 🙌

Don’t feel like shit. You’re a genius.

Exactly @SerenityNowInsanityLater it’s most definitely not you it’s them! I love a PP’s idea of you saying you had chased off the potential scaffold thieves😂.

And yes, you know what, in my heart of hearts, being a lone, older woman has very little to do with it.

So don’t perpetuate the myth then

Scaffolders are notorious for this because they want to avoid storage

You are a legend!
Honestly, do not feel anything but pleased with yourself. They're not feeling guilty for leaving you to deal with their crap weeks after it should have gone, are they? Nope, head up. You dealt with it.

I honestly thought this was something else entirely 🤣

Oh I see you did say you were seeing off the ‘thieves’. Brilliant OP!

Result. They were taking the piss so you did what you had to do. Well done you.

If they had been even reasonably professional about it you wouldn't have had to be "creative". That's on them.

I think I've been through such a tough few years, that I'm left feeling so down about myself.

Just spotted this - I think it's key.

I get it. I've had a very tough time dealing with my abusive ex. And it's hard not see everything through the lens of 'it must be me'

As you say, this is just crap service by a trade, and you cleverly found a solution.

See this as the win it is & hopefully there's a bright new chapter ahead for you 💐

I’m having this exact issue with scaffolding a month down the line and all the excuses they can’t collect. I might have to try this.