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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that houses do not come with an after sales service??

240 replies

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 13:42

I'll try to keep this short. We sold our old house and the buyer moved in at the end of June. He's a single guy, just a couple of years younger than us. During the run up to the sale he was a bit of a PITA, we had to do lots of hand holding etc and his parents kept coming to the house to 'measure up' (never measured a damn thing) and would spend HOURS chatting with me and not showing any interest in the house at all.

We put up with it because he was willing to wait for our new build to be ready before he moved in, so that saved us the cost and hassle of renting. We also felt a bit sorry for him as he's just starting out for the first time, so left him quite a lot of extras not included in the sale of the house to help him out, chased up his solicitor for him when things stalled because he 'didn't know how to', left him loads of info about the area, who his neighbours are, when the bins are collected, left him food and a welcome to your new home present and card - basically anything we thought would help him settle in - he was very pleased!

Now I'm begining to wonder if being so nice was a mistake. He has my mobile number and has sent texts on and off all summer asking daft questions about the house, all of which I've answered and have even called him to talk explain stuff in more detail when he's been confused. He's also turned up unannounced at our new home which we didnt give him the address of and we dont know how he knows where it is for no particular reason, dropping off junk mail that he 'thinks is for us' Confused so far, irritating, but no big deal really.

until monday night, when his mother turned up at our house unannounced and barged in asking me to come and sort out his bloody heating! Shock There's nothing wrong with the heating, just he's not sure how to programme it to suit his working shifts.

me: "didn't he read the manual?"
her: "there is no manual"
me "err, yes there is - we handed it to you along with everything else - and I left written instructions because you asked for them - and there are instructions on the control unit itself"
her "oh, yes, so there is - well, can you come and do it anyway?"

now, this woman was not taking no for an answer so I stupidly agreed that DH and I would nip down for 10 MINUTES tonight to sort it. This was after me offering several days that I could come down and her saying that no, that time/day wouldn't suit. He wanted me to come then and there, or preferably on saturday evening, because that would suit her best. When I told her I had plans this weekend and couldnt come, her response was "well, that's not very convenient for poor DS" Confused ffs!!

The house, by the way is in great condition, heating system is only a few years old as as simple as they come - its not like he's struggling in some old run down house with quirky appliances!

AIBU to think they are extracting the urine, or am I just being a bit of a Caah? I'm of a mind to set the damn timer for him and then make it crystal clear that we will not be coming back and he needs to sort things out himself from here on in - what do the MN jury think?

OP posts:
BOOareHaunting · 13/10/2011 22:07

kungfu I now have coffee splattered over my laptop. Grin

PigletJohn · 13/10/2011 22:08

MNutters, surely?

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 13/10/2011 22:09

Oh I love the idea of a drip feed mob. Can I do "point your willy into the toilet when weeing and you won't get wee all over the seat and floor"?
I say it enough times to DS at the moment, so it would be no problem.

Onemorning · 13/10/2011 22:12

A week or so. Apparently it's going to get cold soon Grin

Onemorning · 13/10/2011 22:15

Can I do 'Here's a tip: don't drink and drive. You'll spill it. Kthxbai.'

KatieMorticiaton · 13/10/2011 22:23

I am not wiping his bum or cutting up his food. Which no doubt his mother still does for him.

I could show him how to bleed his radiators. I taught DH so I expect I could teach a monkey him.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 13/10/2011 22:43

he might break a nail, or a sweat
How about you show him how to boil water? You will need

  • one kettle
  • running water
  • an electricity supply

oohh hang on, already getting complicated

thederkinsdame · 13/10/2011 22:55

I vote for tearing round there at 5am with a "really really important piece of advice" when he asks you what it is, slap a pair of headphone on him and play the words " breathe in... Breathe out... and in... And out..." then tell him your work is done.

ZillionChocolate · 13/10/2011 23:15

I can't wait for the next request!

I saw the woman I bought my house from in April in the doctors this week and was very tempted to 1. ask for their forwarding address so I don't have to take her post to the estate agent and 2. ask what the f-ing hell they were doing when they were letting the house slowly and secretly fall down. I'm probably glad I resisted.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/10/2011 23:15

Thederkinsdame - that made me laugh out loud!! And the drip feed flash mob is pure brilliance!

How about:

Water from the hot tap may be hot.

This is a vacuum cleaner - you use it to clean the carpets. First you plug it in ...... nope - same problem as SHRIIIEEEK - getting way too complicated.

This is a broom - the end with the bristles goes on the floor, and you can push the dirt around.

My dad went to college with a chap like him. Several weeks into the first term, the other students noticed that this chap was smelling a little ripe, so they questioned him, and found out he hadn't had a bath or changed his clothes AT ALL! Apparently his mam had told him when to have a bath, when to put on clean underwear/socks/shirt - and in the absence of her telling him, he'd simply not done it. Dad and the others made him a big chart, with what he should do each day written carefully on it, so he could tick off clean shirt, bathed etc!

ReebleBeeble · 14/10/2011 00:53

I have nothing amusing,insightful or profound to add to this thread.

I just wanted to mention how hard DH and I have been laughing for the past 10 minutes at this :D

Jux · 14/10/2011 01:33
Grin

Drip feed mob sounds wonderful. Do it do it do it

fridakahlo · 14/10/2011 02:31

This is funnier than getting Zombies Out of Carpets was and that was pretty bloody funny.
I think they will next be in touch Sunday at around 5PM.

Beaverfeaver · 14/10/2011 03:53

The lady who bought our place was just like this.

Would call my OH up on his mobile to get him round to set the heating and call when there are leaks.

OH's parents live next door to our old place and when OH hasn't been available she has knocked on their door for help.

It's been 16 months since we moved and when we go back to visit the parent she tries to corner us and get something else done.

We just ignore it as it has got ridiculous.

At one point she wanted us to contribute towards a new boiler as it had broken down agee months after moving in. She had the survey done and we had got the boiler checked and served for her before we moved.

When weoved into out new (current) place the boiler stopped working 2 weeks in, but there was no way we would have contacted the previous owners.

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 14/10/2011 08:38

Oh I love the idea of the drip feed mob!

I could continue the heating lessons:
"the red tap is burny! the blue tap is brrrrrrrrr!"

STDG perhaps we should make a copy of that chart for him too - can't speak for man-child as he wassn't there, but the house was waaaay worse than any student house I've ever been in (which was a lot back in the day!) Grin

OP posts:
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 14/10/2011 08:41

Ok, the bets on next 'request' from man-child and the loonies so far are:

KatieMortician Thu 13th when he gets home (thankfully wrong!)
ScarahStratton - 2 days ? 15th
caramelwaffle ? 2 days ? 15th
PrivateBenjamin7.30pm on Sunday ? 16th
WitchesBrewIsMyFriend ? next wed ? 19th
bintofbohemia ? a week ? so 20th?
Onemorning - A week or so ? around 20th

Signed copy of heating manual for the winner Shock

OP posts:
BlueCat2010 · 14/10/2011 08:51

Today (14th) - you didn't finish setting the heating did you? [hgrin]

Just a random thought, they can read can't they?

soandsosmummy · 14/10/2011 08:58

Tiamaria - a plea from me to you. Our electricity cut out over night and the heater timer has gone to a very weird setting. Please be kind and pop over to fix it. Its flashing at me wildly...

ScarahStratton · 14/10/2011 09:10
TandB · 14/10/2011 09:15

I'm going with Sunday between 12 and 4. My logic is that that will give him long enough at home at the weekend to figure out that the heating is not set to his satisfaction, but he won't call on Saturday night as he will be going out, and then he won't get up will lunchtime the following day. He will then go to mummy's house for lunch and she will tell him to call you.

Which he will do.

empirestateofmind · 14/10/2011 09:21

Be firm TiaMaria, or you will be fixing everyone's soandsos's boiler.

Bows to KungFu (and keeps copy of The Letter for future reference).

ToriaPumpkinLantern · 14/10/2011 09:28

I thought our buyers were cheeky bastards! Thank you OP, I've had a long week and this had made me smile again Grin

Our buyer knocked us down on price until we were actually in negative equity by a few hundred pounds, but we were so desperate to sell as we were also renting in the new city that we accepted it. We signed everything over and were having a drink to celebrate the fact we could get out of rented accommodation and start looking to buy again.

He called us at 8pm that night to ask us where the furniture had all gone. He expected everything that had been in the house when he viewed to be part of the sale! (needless to say we checked the listing and with our solicitor that the contract had not included any furniture before telling him where to stick it)

We, on the other hand, were left with a gas leak, a leaking shower, a kitchen that had clearly been put together by hedgehogs and a conservatory that leaked following more than a fine drizzle. Unfortunately we live in the Highlands... Could the vendor be contacted to ask about any of these issues, specifically the potentially life threatening gas leak? Could he buggery...

Oh, and my bet is Monday night. When he gets home from work and realises the temperature is not perfect for his man-child needs.

happyAvocado · 14/10/2011 09:30

haven't read the whole thread but Iwonder how would that sound if you gave them your hourly on-call price for such favours :)

TurkeyBurgerThing · 14/10/2011 09:37

Turn up next time with a battered old sports bag, bin liner, latex gloves, crowbar, scarf to put over your face for the "stench" and some air freshener.

Immediately run into the house in a panic with mad eyes declaring there's "Someone..er..I...mean thing, someTHING I forgot to take with me!" Then order them all out (Man-child will probably jump into mummy's arms Scooby-Doo style)

Run into a room and shut yourself in there for a while, make lot's of noise. Make sure they hear the sounds of floorboards by jumping up and down lots, plastic bags, zipping sports bag.

Burst out of room and run like fuck out of house whilst spraying air freshener and make sure you make gagging noises from underneath your scarf.

Have OH sitting in car ready to make quick exit complete with wheel-spins.

They won't be in touch again.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/10/2011 09:52

Toria - he thought he was getting all the furniture as well??? Do you think his brain cell ever got lonely in there? I am speechless (but not typeless, obviously) at such mind-numbing stupidity.

Please [insert deity of choice] , by all that is holy, keep that man out of the gene pool - even the shallow end!!

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