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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that builders are recharging their mobiles and using the toaster!

99 replies

chocolatekimmy · 20/09/2011 21:46

I woudn't mind but one of the guys plugged his mobile in as soon as he arrived, before I had even left the house.

The other day the toaster (in the front room at moment) was left plugged in.

What a bloody cheek - they could at least cover there tracks and be more discreet

OP posts:
onepieceofcremeegg · 20/09/2011 22:33

gapants I did that as well. tea, coffee plus a bottle of squash and pack of biscuits per day. (I had quite a small baby at the time). I also bought 6 identical mugs from Wilkos; told them I would wash them at the end of the day if they would kindly leave them in the sink and not on the building site which our upstairs had turned into. It worked well; on occasion they would make me a coffee as well. :)

winkyslink · 20/09/2011 22:35

Next time make sure there are plenty of tea bags and lots of bread, cheese and ham. NEVER GIVE A BUILDER A REASON TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE! They'll be gone for fucking hours, i ' d rather make a four course meal with amuse bouche and keep them here working than provide a reason for them to 'pop out' for a few minutes...not to be seen until the next Lunchtime...

dearprudence · 20/09/2011 22:36

I wouldn't have a problem with what you describe, tbh. We've had a lot of building work done and I hope I'm quite accommodating.

We had plasterers in once who used to eat their packed lunch in a room that was sealed off to protect it from brick dust, then leave their sandwich wrappers, kit kat papers and empty cartons of milk all over the sofa. I was a bit Hmm at that.

I love the idea of leaving a single fork to be washed.

eurochick · 20/09/2011 22:37

It wouldn't bother me. I always left out tea, coffee & biscuits for our decorators.

42day · 20/09/2011 22:39

YANBU and don't think that it will make them work any better either.
I was gobsmacked when I saw someone plug in their phone at a cafe today wire trailing across a gangway too.

Sirzy · 20/09/2011 22:41

My nan used to make builders sausage or bacon butties each morning!

I don't see any problem with them charging phones etc while at work. For most it is now how they get jobs so they don't want a flat battery and potential customers unable to get hold of them!

TrillianAstra · 20/09/2011 22:43

they could at least cover there tracks and be more discreet

So you'd be okay with it if they were sneakily using the toaster?

YABU

tries to resist urge to write [sic]

AhsataN · 20/09/2011 22:44

my oh uses clients electricity to charge his phone as he has to use his phone to ring in orders for materials and deliveries. you know being nice to a workman pays off as they are willing to go the extra mile to help you out when they dont need to.
many a time i have had my oh walking though the door at nine at night because he has stayed behind to help a client with something he is not being paid for. example fixing plugs and curtain rails.

babynamesgrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 20/09/2011 22:45

Your TOASTER?!

how very dare they?

Is nothing bloody sacred

sand12 · 20/09/2011 22:47

So what do the builder's think about this and what experiences have you had?

cat64 · 20/09/2011 22:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sand12 · 20/09/2011 22:54

They don't charge their phones as most of them r in the pub most nights after work until lock out or lock in (soz 4 the builder's who go home after work).

twankie · 21/09/2011 06:35

I came home to find one of them had had THE MOST ENORMOUS DUMP in my toilet..house stunk to high heaven..took several flushes to get rid of it

diddl · 21/09/2011 07:18

TBH I´d expect them to charge their phone at their place in the evening.

And if for some reason they hadn´t then to ask-and to ask to use the toaster.

DooinMeCleanin · 21/09/2011 07:23

We actually bought a toaster and a kettle and tea bags, milk, bread, butter and biccies for our builders. Our house was not lived in and had none of these things.

happystory · 21/09/2011 07:28

YABU

LoveInAColdClimate · 21/09/2011 07:29

This wouldn't bother me at all - I always leave liberal supplies of snacks and drinks for builders and would be happy for them to use the toaster/microwave etc. Don't give them an excuse to leave - they will start another job elsewhere and you'll have half a kitchen (or whatever) for six months! Good workmen need to be looked after.

iliketherain · 21/09/2011 07:33

I would not like it as it is rude and cheeky.

As for the person who charges up their phone at work 'cause it does not cost much'' I hope you don't work for a tax paying government office and the whole workforce is doing it cause that is a lot of money for the tax payer to pay out.

I cannot understand any of you who thinks this is ok......

Proudnscary · 21/09/2011 07:34

Next they'll be stealing water from your taps and leaving with fibres from your carpets on their shoes!!

Unreasonable. And weird.

CiderwithBuda · 21/09/2011 07:38

Well I wouldn't mind if builders charged phones. Might think it a bit funny if they used the toaster but wouldn't be annoyed.

We have just had loads of work done but we were overseas for 6 months of it so the builders got into their own routine. I did lose a few mugs but they have their own kettle etc and had a microwave. When we eventually moved in they decamped from the house to a shed and just boil their kettle from the house.

I do make them tea and coffee when they get here in the morning and whenever I am making one.

Don't do biscuits or anything. Have offered but they said no and always seem to have their own stuff.

Deflatedballoonbelly · 21/09/2011 07:39

My OH is a tradesman. It really surprises me how often he meets people who wont let him use the loo for a pee and expect him to trot about aimlessly for a cafe somewhere and then moan he has been gone for 15 mins?! He has never used a toaster but most sites have a kettle and microwave. In the winter he has soup and heats it himself.

Weird thread.

SansaLannister · 21/09/2011 08:42

Oh, yes, we had them stink out our loo more times than I could count.

Next time, I'd hire a portaloo and put an outside lock on the bloody toilet.

ggirl · 21/09/2011 08:59

I was pissed off that plasterers were smoking in the house even though we weren't living in house at the time.

madeupme · 21/09/2011 09:21

Iliketherain. Dont worry you tax payers arent getting a raw deal. I charge my phone at work, sometimes I even charge my kindle! But compared to the unpaid overtime, the use of the heating, electric to do extra hours from home and charging the mobile which we are now issued instead of a land line I think the taxpayers do ok!

Builders are just people. A bit of courtesy goes a long way!

Dancergirl · 21/09/2011 09:35

YABvvvU

and petty. Our builders charged their phones when they were here, it wouldn't have even occured to me to bothered. Perhaps they should have asked to use the toaster but it's hardly the end of the world.

Your home is their place of work so make it comfortable for them. Be nice to them or you may find they don't want to work for you again.

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