Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that my dp shouldn't have to do the council's job for them

16 replies

LEMmingaround · 30/08/2014 15:35

My mum lives in a council property. Has done all her life. Always paid rent etc.

She recently had a new boiler fitted.

When the workman was there she expressed concerns that her washing machine wouldn't go back if they fitted the pipework where they fitted it. This was dismissed and when the washing machine was fitted. Lo and behold she couldn't push it back. This is a problem as she cant open her food cupboard with wm in place.

She called contractors and was told that someone would be out on the thursday to have a look. They didn't turn up. I called them and was told appointment not made and no avail appts til 1st Sept. After an argument on their part i managed to get a visit booked for wed of last week. Again after some persuasion a worker was booked to arrive the following morning. Pipe was moved

Bugger me, the washing machine STILL doesn't go back.

My mother is difficult (understatement) so she called me ranting about it yesterday. I said wait until dp can have a look as he said it is awkward.

He has just come back eyes rolling saying that they moved the pipe but were basically too lazy to run it the other side of the kitchen unit and of course it wont bloody fit Hmm

He has taken his tools and will move the pipe (water not gas) himself.

I don't think he should.

  1. My mum pays rent. A proportion of this is for repairs/maintenance.
  1. It is a council property and therefore not for him to touch. They wouldn't even leave filling loop for boiler so if system ever needs to be drained (due to air) you have to call council rather than do it yourself.
  1. If he fixes problem can't complain to council about total incompetence of contractors.

The trouble is if we leave it she will be stuck for ages waiting for it to be fitted Angry

feel like contractors have taken the piss because she is a cantankerous old biddy to cover up being vulnerable old woman

OP posts:
awsomer · 30/08/2014 15:50

If he's already taken his tools around to do it then surely he's already started the job? So... Err.... Isn't it a bit late for AIBU to help you make the decision?

User100 · 30/08/2014 15:56

If he does it and anything goes wrong they'll get very funny about it too so he's leaving himself/mother fairly vulnerable!

fluffyduffydoo · 30/08/2014 16:05

Is this her first boiler?

fluffyduffydoo · 30/08/2014 16:06

why does he need to move the water pipe?

HappyAgainOneDay · 30/08/2014 16:22

You called your mother 'an old biddy'?! What a lovely description from a daughter about her mother! Cantankerous or not, how old is she?

You are right though. It's the Landlord's problem and landlord = council. If your mother can still use the washing machine, it will not be classed as an emergency imo.

magimedi · 30/08/2014 16:24

YANBU in thinking the council, in an ideal world (HA!) should do this job.

But YABU not to let your DP do it, as I remember your DM from other posts & quite honestly if it keeps her quiet it's worth it!

Nearly Wine time, LEM - everything will seem better then Grin

ArabellaTarantella · 30/08/2014 16:29

She sounds like my sister and her Council House. My sister will do NOTHING at all to enhance her living accommodation. She endured, and constantly moaned about, 20 winters of cold coming in through the windows when she could have put in secondary glazing and been warm/saved a fortune on heating bills. The Council eventually replaced the windows, yes - but 20 years of being cold?

The first thing I did in my HA house was to put in secondary double glazing because I knew it would be a looooooooong time before they put in DG.

LEMmingaround · 30/08/2014 17:08

Happy -are you having a little joke with me? What is wrong with old biddy? Even if that was a derogatory term (i honestly don't think it is - maybe its a dialect thing?) It would be a tame way to describe the dragon that is my mother. But anyway thsts beside the point. Whilst i agree that its not an emergency its a cock up. If my dp cocked up a clients job they would be a priority to put it right.

Awsomer - it WAS a rhetorical question, but it has turned out now that she wouldn't let him do it so she can put in a complaint.

Fluffy it needs moved because its preventing the washing machine now doesn't fit.

User -you are quite correct so am glad she changed her mind.

OP posts:
Littlef00t · 30/08/2014 17:17

Could he just take the door off the cupboard for now so she can no get into it ok, and leave the wm out. I'd leave it to the council.

LEMmingaround · 30/08/2014 17:37

Little you are right and anyone else that would be fine. My mother is getting in a real state over it.

The fact remains that they took short cuts fitting the boiler by not routing the pipe behind the unit. They should put it right. If I had a boiler fitted and the pipework caused me a problem id expect them back quick smart to sort out their mistake.

OP posts:
redexpat · 30/08/2014 17:51

Fucking hell icall my mother much worse things than old biddy! I thinkim going to head over onto one of the sweary threads now.

MammaTJ · 30/08/2014 18:07

Old biddy is an affectionate term where I am.

YANBU to think the council should do their job but not necessarily realistic to think they will. Grin

If you have someone wiling and able, let them sort it rather than making the 'old biddy' wait.

Nancy66 · 30/08/2014 18:11

our mother is 'the old bat' - said with love, of course

ICanSeeTheSun · 30/08/2014 18:20

My late nan was an old biddy :)

I hope it's sorted ASAP so you don't have the headache every day of your mum phoning to say they still haven't done it.

LST · 30/08/2014 19:24

My nan is turning into an old biddy.

LEMmingaround · 30/08/2014 20:22

LST I Fear i am turning into an old biddy!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread