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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not call this tradesman back?

70 replies

BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 12:21

Getting some landscaping done in the garden. Had a man coming round between 9-10 this morning to quote. At 10:15 he hadn't areived so I went out. At 10:55 I get a text and 2 missed calls (although I didn't see them until about 20 mins later) saying 'sorry I'm late, have I missed you?' I get home and he has left a card in the door.

AIBU to not get him to quote now, based on the fact that he is not punctual (one of my pet hates) and therefore unreliable? He did turn up eventually but in my book he should have let me know he was going to be so late.

I don't think I want someone like that carrying out work for me but DH says get him back another time.

OP posts:
EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 14:41

If I'm expecting a tradesperson to call, I will always give them a couple of hours to arrive before getting a bit anxious.
Sometimes texts don't arrive on time. DD can send me a text sometimes and it won't arrive for hours (if at all, depending upon network).

YABU to give up after 15 mins (the time slot was between 9-10). 10:15 is too soon to give up. If your person was stuck in traffic, it can be tricky to send a text or make a call. Could you not have called him to find out what had happened?

If you are expecting someone to call, don't make other arrangements, or you could let them know you are not now going to be there.

DP went to a person's house to do some work just recently. He arrived at the allotted time, she was late. He waited for half an hour, no sign of her, so left to get to his next job. She was cross with him for not waiting for her (yet she couldn't be bothered to let him know she was running late). Works both ways . . . . .

DianeLockhart · 10/04/2015 14:42

Yanbu

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 14:50

If he had called before 10 and said I'll be there at 11 then I'd have either waited in or told him to come after 12 so that I could pop out and do my errands first.

For all I knew he wasn't coming, so I went out. I don't think that's unreasonable?

So, if you'd known beforehand he would be late, you could have postponed your errands until after 11:00am, but because you didn't hear from him within 15 mins your errands suddenly became more important than anything else? Is that right???? Hmmmmm Hmm

Presumably you had his telephone number. Did you try calling him to find out if he'd been held up?

I think YABVU

BodleianLibrarianook · 10/04/2015 15:14

Ignoring things like this is exactly why we get such shocking service from tradesmen!
I would call if I was going to be five minutes late because I'm polite.
I wouldn't wing it and presume my appointment would wait for me.

Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 15:14

No evans it wasn't that my errands couldn't wait, it's that I don't like hanging around for people for unspecified amounts of time.

Anyway, thanks for all of your responses, I've decided to give him another shot. He is supposed to be here at 8am tomorrow so we shall see.

OP posts:
EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 15:48

Sooo, 15 mins is an unspecified amount of time Confused
And you admit your errands could have waited for a little while. So you basically wasted that Landscape Gardener's time by making a point of not being there because you were expecting him 15 minutes sooner. YABU

Again, I ask - if you were at all concerned, how would it have been so difficult for you to call him? I would have called him if I had to go out, to save the poor chap a wasted journey. Do you know how difficult it is for small businesses to survive these days? He wasted petrol and time. You may have had to postpone some errands.

Personally, if I have very important errands, I run them first, THEN arrange for a 'tradesman' to come - when I know I will be there to greet him. It's really not that difficult.

YWVVU, but glad you've given him another shot. Hope he works out, I really do.

Bodleian - you really think 15 mins late is shocking? Shocking? Really??

BodleianLibrarianook · 10/04/2015 16:01

Not shocking. Unacceptable.
I work with tradesmen, and so many have no regard for their customers at all. Acting like they are doing them a favour by turning up at all, never mind on time.
The ones that turn up on time and call when they say they will are worth their weight in gold. They will be proud of the job they do for you.
(By the way, if a plumber tells you that a part is going to take a week to come in, it's more likely that they don't want to do the job in the next day or two. It will be done at their convenience, not yours. It's rare that an item is unavailable next day or same day)

OnlyLovers · 10/04/2015 16:06

how would it have been so difficult for you to call him?

More to the point, how difficult was it for a tradesman who (presumably) could have done with the OP's custom to send a quick text or make a quick call to say 'sorry, running x minutes late'?

She's not the one who should have been doing the chasing up. It's his responsibility to get there on time or to keep people informed if he isn't going to be on time.

Do you know how difficult it is for small businesses to survive these days? He'll find it even more difficult if he can't get himself organised to let people know when he's running late.

He wasted petrol and time. Because he didn't let her know he would be late! His fault, not something to guilt-trip the OP for.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 16:08

Bodleian - not all tradesmen are the same, and you shouldn't tar all with the same brush. You used the term "shocking". My DP is a tradesperson - he has a wonderful reputation and is very well known and respected in our area for being conscientious, helpful and reliable. Sometimes things happen, though. If he is held up at a job, it can be a bit tricky for him to call his next customer (whilst clinging to a ladder or scrambling about on someone's roof) to let them know he may be a bit late.

Some tradespeople are shocking - BUT not all. Things happen, sometimes - give someone the benefit of the doubt; first time!! Grin

Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 16:20

No, 1ins is not an unspecified amount of time but if he couldn't keep to the time he originally gave how was I supposed to know what time he would turn up. And he wasn't 15mins late, he was AN HOUR late. At what point would it have been acceptable for me to go out then?

Yes I could have called him but it's not my responsibility to make sure I'm in for him at any time of the day. And by your logic if he was unable to get to his phone to call me then I wouldn't have been able to get hold of him anyway would I?

OP posts:
Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 16:21

*15 mins

OP posts:
BodleianLibrarianook · 10/04/2015 16:25

Your DP has no doubt built his reputation up by being on time, honest, and good at what he does.
People like him will call or not be late generally.
The OP didn't get a call until nearly an hour after her appointment time ended. I can't imagine a landscape gardener being stuck on a roof either.
I'd not give him another chance, and I'd not hire 95% of the traders I work with either!
Word of mouth is truly the best way to find the right person. I'd guess your DP doesn't even have to advertise due to reputation. Those are the guys to look out for without a doubt. Wink

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 16:32

You said, though, that you went out 15 minutes after you were expecting him. And you could have left him a text (or voicemail) so he could have read (or heard) it when he could get to his phone. Words along the lines of: "Sorry, you're now 15 mins late ( ) have to go out as can't wait any longer and we'll rearrange if necessary."

You said you had a text and two missed calls from him, but didn't notice them for 20 minutes. So it appears he did try to contact you.

With British Gas and similar engineers, you have to wait in all day long for them - now THAT is annoying, but I can see why those companies don't try to pinpoint an actual time Wink

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 10/04/2015 16:35

You're right, actually Bodleian - but I do also try to give other small businesses the benefit of the doubt, where possible. Things beyond your control do happen, sometimes Smile

(Gardener could have been up a tree)???

PtolemysNeedle · 10/04/2015 16:38

YANBU.

It's normal for most people to want to create a good first impression when they meet people for their job, and if this guy didn't do that he won't be professional when he's doing the work.

limitedperiodonly · 10/04/2015 16:38

If you don't want to employ him, then don't.

Congratulations on thinking of a variation on 'AIBU to hate lateness?' though.

I get so bored with those threads about being abandoned in Starbucks by bastards who not only value their time much more than yours, but probably calculate what margin of lateness will best show you how much they despise you.

They never miss planes btw.

Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 16:53

limited Grin

That has just made me smile on what has been a pretty bad day.

OP posts:
Casimir · 10/04/2015 17:52

I am relentless on this. 1.15 window is plenty. Has already wasted your time, please name so he can be put out of business/get his act together.

Fleecyleesy · 10/04/2015 17:57

Don't employ him if you don't want to but personally, I think going out 15 mins after the 1 hour window was arsey of you. You just made the situation worse.

FuckingLiability · 10/04/2015 19:35

casimir You want to name him and put him out of business? Jesus Christ, there are some overreactions here today.

Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 20:22

casimir I think that would be a bit harsh. He hasn't flecced ME for my life savings, just wasted a bit of my time!

OP posts:
Original poster
BasinHaircut · 10/04/2015 20:22

*fleeced me

OP posts:
Original poster
BasinHaircut · 11/04/2015 08:23

Well, he was due at 8am this morning and he isn't here yet...

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 11/04/2015 08:38

He would be on his final chance with me and be pretty close to blowing it!

Bumpinthenight · 11/04/2015 08:42

So annoying! I am still waiting for my landscape gardener to turn up; he was due between 4 and 5 yesterday! The 6pm one turned up at 5 to!

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