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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

chandellina · 21/09/2011 09:36

YABU. they are working in your house. My employer provides me with a kettle, electricity outlets, toaster and loos - why should they not get these very minor benefits?

ChooChooWowWow · 21/09/2011 09:40

YABU. My most recent builders got bacon butties every day. I keep them supplied with hot and cold drinks and biscuits. even bought them all Dominoes pizza one day.
During the last job I added loads of extras on as we went, like recessed lighting in bedroom and living room, new plugs sockets in three rooms, I asked for several doorways to be turned into arches. They did it all at no extra cost. It pays to keep builders sweet, especially on big jobs.

SansaLannister · 21/09/2011 09:42

Now smoking in my house would bother me.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 21/09/2011 09:43

YABVU! I make tradespeople bacon butties, homemade cakes etc & leave a generous supply of tea, coffee & soft drinks. I want them in my home; I don't want them messing about trying to find food/drinks locally. I also like having a list of reliable people who I can call on at short notice I something goes wrong (and, presumably because of the bacon butties, they do always come when I call - and sometimes do small jobs for free)

Yummygummybear · 21/09/2011 09:47

When we had our garden done it took over a week. We made endless cups of tea & coffee & only once did 1 of them ask to use the toilet .

I am more than happy to allow builders the use of my kettle, toaster & microwave but what annoys me is when they expect me to do all the tea making when I have clearly said 'help yourself!'.
I don't drink it myself & work at home so was a little put out when the plasterer kept asking me if I was making tea.

YABU

Someonesnotinbed · 21/09/2011 09:48

YABU AND EXTREMELY UPTIGHT

LaBag · 21/09/2011 09:54

I don't imagine it's the cost of electricity that's concerning OP - more the fact the builders don't have the decency/manners to ask first. Ignorant builders.

SansaLannister · 21/09/2011 09:57

We were both out of the house during the day whilst builders were in as we both worked FT days. So I just left out cheap mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, plastic spoons, biscuits, kettle on the table in the kitchen.

flyingcloud · 21/09/2011 09:58

I think staff at Ryanair aren't allowed charge their mobiles at work as they worked out the saving in banning this practice was hugely significant over the course of a year.

However unless you have 500 builders in your home and you like Ryanair type working conditions I am not sure that this would bother me especially as they often do need to call in for supplies or be easily contactable for deliveries.

wonkylegs · 21/09/2011 10:00

I'm a bit of a stickler for this as I tend to treat builders at home as I would at work (i've been dealing with builders professionally for over 10 years) but with a bit of discretion added in to make life run smooth
If a builder/ tradesman is doing a short or emergency job - tea & coffee is made in copious amounts often with the offer of a biccy thrown in.
If it's a bigger job - give access to water, electricity and wc but lay down ground rules 1st i.e. Please leave in a good state after use.
No smoking on my property - it's a place if work (for them so technically illegal anyway)
Music ok as long as it doesn't get too loud or annoy neighbours
Keep the working area and any access ways clean and tidy at the end of the day as this is basic H&S, building sites (even the minor one in your home) are dangerous places and it is easy to slip, trip or fall.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 21/09/2011 10:04

A mobile phone is a tool of a builder's trade - you wouldn't expect them to bring their own generator to power a drill, would you?

The toaster however - they ought to ask to use it, as a courtesy. If you had a platinum plated Dualit you might be a little peeved if they left crap all over it. But you'd be ridiculous if you declined their request.

Overall however, YABU.

ps How come so many people are able to say "I always leave xyz for my builders..." How often do normal people have builders in then? Are we weird in that we've never had any work done?

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 21/09/2011 10:06

pps if I did have a platinum plated Dualit, I'd leave out a £5 Argos value alternative for the builders' toasting pleasure.

SansaLannister · 21/09/2011 10:09

Oh, yy, I hid/locked up all my good stuff.

diddl · 21/09/2011 10:12

"A mobile phone is a tool of a builder's trade"

What do they use it for, building-wise?

woowoo2 · 21/09/2011 10:14

YABU and pretty miserable

Dancergirl · 21/09/2011 10:30

diddl - are you joking? My builders have spent loads of time chasing up stuff for us - doors, tiles, you name it.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 21/09/2011 10:30

Ordering supplies and generally being contactable, diddl.

I suppose they could charge their phones at home, but battery life ain't what it used to be.

addictedtofrazzles · 21/09/2011 10:35

YABU - however, we never budgeted for use of mains for 6 months of lighting, cement mixers and other builder equipment. We were not living in the house at the time and I was horrified by our electricity bill!!!

Makes use of a charger and toaster rather irrelevant!

smartyparts · 21/09/2011 10:36

I wouldn't have a problem with this, in fact I'd like it as it would mean I wouldn't have to make them snacks.

ShowOfHands · 21/09/2011 10:45

What did the police say?

OTheHugeRaveningWolef · 21/09/2011 10:54

Are you a relative of the OP who fired an au pair for leaving her laptop charging all day? At least in that case there was some business about sausages in a cupboard as well.

BeerTricksPotter · 21/09/2011 10:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/09/2011 11:03

YABU, tight and a bit silly!!

If you find a good builder and you are happy with their work treat them well......if you ask them to pay towards electricity at the end of the job (like some tightarse has suggested) if you ever have another job you need done, they wont bother with it and you will have to find someone else.

DH is a builder and most of his customers are fab.........if he works for someone he doesnt like he doesnt go back! He never takes the piss though and is prob one of the tidiest builders ever :)

I charge my phone at work, put my stuff in the fridge, use the microwave and their cutlery........hopefully they wont invoice me for it.

diddl · 21/09/2011 11:13

Yes I know about ordering suppplies/being contactable.

Was trying to make a joke as in you can´t actually build with it.

God, you know you´ve failed when you have to explain

nagynolonger · 21/09/2011 11:15

I wouldn't mind in the least about them charging their phones but not sure about them helping themselves to the toaster without asking.
I would offer them tea and biscuits. What I didn't like was their 'mates' (other builders, plumbers, plasterers etc. just turning up for a chat while they were working. One lunchtime we had four extra workmen sitting in our garden eating their packed lunches.

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