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Original poster

To be furious with workmen?

128 replies

Moocherbot · 09/01/2017 15:45

My mother (mid 70s) had workmen in from Carpetright laying vinyl. 3 of them turned up. They told her they had run out of silicon and made her go out to a DIY shop to buy more, leaving them alone in the house.
She has told me this now and is clearly feeling guilty that she didn't put a stop to it at the time, so she's backtracking and telling me maybe this is normal.
Normal to get an elderly woman to go out to buy supplies (which she knows nothing about) that you ought to have brought, when there are 3 of you, and leaving you alone in her house?
I think it's outrageous, I want to complain about it, but she doesn't want to. I really want her to understand that you can say no to people or make an excuse but it's so hard to get through to her.
Any tips or advice please?

OP posts:
kindlemanic · 09/01/2017 16:05

Carpetright fitters are usually self employed and have to provide their own materials for fitting and finishing. This is why big carpet firms charge to remove carpets, door bars, gripper bars and glues etc. Definitely complain so Carpetright can take action ie not give these cowboys more work!

Inertia · 09/01/2017 16:11

That's outrageous!

Definitely complain and do not be fobbed off, and check very carefully for valuables and documents.

I'd also be tempted to put something on their facebook and twitter pages, so that other customers are warned that this is going on.

user1483699375 · 09/01/2017 16:11

As Kindle has just said, Carpet right fitters are self employed. Most are great but these guys sound dodgy incompetent and lazy at the very least. The manager of the Carpetright store would most definitely want to know about this. Consider it your civil duty before they take advantage of another vulnerable customer.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 09/01/2017 16:12

If anything workmen are usually keen to bugger off to "get more materials/another part" so they can disappear for a couple of hours, look at another job and eat their sandwiches in the van, whilst charging you for their time. Hmm

I can't really fathom workmen concocting an errand to get the homeowner out in the hope of robbing them? The company would have all their details and be aware they are at that property. They would be staggeringly stupid to attempt a burglary in those circumstances.

confuugled1 · 09/01/2017 16:18

I would also be making sure that all keys were there and maybe changing the lock barrels in case they took a copy of a key to use at a later date.

I would also put a flag on her bank accounts and credit files to say that she may be the victim of identity theft to stop anyone taking out anything in her name - there were lots of details on another thread just this week. They could have easily gone through her stuff and found out enough info to answer the standard security questions, either for now or later use, not to mention all her account details.

I woukd also report them to the police on 101 and see if the community officer could give them a talking to. If they did do it with ulterior motives then maybe that will be enough to stop them from going any further and if they were just thoughtless cheapskate idiots then it might make them realise that not only have they freaked out an old lady but that if anything did happen they coukd be laying themselves open to accusations of assorted crimes due to their actions.

cx5221 · 09/01/2017 16:20

Everything confuugled1 said

SpermThroughASashWindow · 09/01/2017 16:23

I had lino from Carpetright. It was a while ago, but they just out-source their work to anyone. The fitters aren't actually Carpetright employees, and they are paid direct. I'm not sure whether that alters anything. My lino was fitted so badly, my dad thought I'd done it myself!

FruJustFru · 09/01/2017 16:26

"While I understand that you are furious (as I would be) if she doesnt want to complain then I think its up to her"

Don't be ridiculous, suchafuss, the OP's mother is in her mid 70s and possibly trusting and possibly unaware of such scams - or other unpleasantness. Of course the OP is concerned. And of course the OP wants to make sure her mum - and her house - is secure and OK.

UnbornMortificado · 09/01/2017 16:27

DH is a fitter (not carpets)

His opinion (he got a shock when asked it) is definitely dodgy.

He said the same as Illost most would jump at the chance of a bit skive.

Even if it wasn't dodgy it's bad form.

EpoxyResin · 09/01/2017 16:29

What the bloody hell were they playing at? I do hope it wasn't something as sinister as it sounds...

100% complain to Carpet Right. Complain all over their social media. Get the money back for the silicone she bought; it should have been provided and will have been a part of the quotation she was given. I would be absolutely complaining about this, even if your mother didn't.

Serialweightwatcher · 09/01/2017 16:31

That is really terrible ....... hopefully they're just being lazy beggars but not right at all - how dare they!! You have to ring and complain and make sure they give her an apology with money off - that's no way to carry on

StarryIllusion · 09/01/2017 16:31

I'd complain too. That really dodgy and if any of our fitters did that our management would go mad.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 09/01/2017 16:35

the fitters are self employed
This is everything that is wrong with a lot of the big trade companies these days.
The company cut corners by out sourcing the work. They have none of the overheads of taking employees onto their books (sick pay, holiday, pensions) can get rid of them at a moment's notice and are not liable for any problems because the workmen are independent "self employed" workers. It's a joke.

ladymariner · 09/01/2017 16:35

Right now, I'd be down at Carpetright going absolutely ballistic at the store manager. I'd then be on the phone to head office, and then on to their Facebook page detailing everything you've written here!

Totally wrong. I'm another one who would be checking the house from top to bottom.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 09/01/2017 16:36

As Confungled posted, I would ask your mother to keep a close eye on her bank account and credit card accounts, and would alert the bank and credit card companies, and see if you can get alerts from credit checking companies in case someone tries to apply for a new card or loan in her name. I'd be more worried about identity theft rather than them having stolen something from the house.

I have had tradesmen in that have run out of stuff. They have told DH they are leaving to buy stuff and he's made a run up to the hardware shop to get it for them to save them time, they certainly have never told us to go and get it for them, that is ridiculous.

In an ideal world you would let the company know, but these people sound dubious, they know where your mother lives, and that she is on her own, and it would be obvious who the complaint came from.

ladymariner · 09/01/2017 16:37

And regarding the pp who said they wouldn't complain......really????? You'd allow your mother to be treated like this?? My mother is elderly and also wouldn't like to make a fuss, that's how these workshy toe rags get away with such shit behaviour, it's a generational thing. They rely on the elderly not wanting or being able to say anything. Sod that!

KittyandTeal · 09/01/2017 16:39

My mum chucked her carpet right fitters out before they started. They waltzed in and the main guy said to her 'why don't you rustle us up a ham sandwich love' in that horrendous patronising tone.

After an 'excuse me?' to double check she to,d them to get out. They shit themselves and back tracked but she wasn't having it. She complained as well and didn't even get an apology, just and 'oh right'

alwaysthepessimist · 09/01/2017 16:39

Complain and do a thorough check of the house.

FannyWisdom · 09/01/2017 16:42

Check how she paid please OP.

Sometimes they ask for direct payments to fitters on the day and other times take payment in store.

Maybe a bit ott but hope she hasn't paid twice iyswim.

Beeziekn33ze · 09/01/2017 16:42

What did CarpetRight say?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 09/01/2017 16:44

I too would be complaining to Carpetright - I would be copying in the MD as well as the store manager.

I would also change the locks - the OP's mum probably took her keys with her, but there will have been other keys in the house - spare set, back door keys etc. They could easily have made a copy, or nicked a key.

WicksEnd · 09/01/2017 16:45

That's outrageous! You must complain, they're probably scamming loads of vulnerable customers. They really deserve to lose their jobs over this.

TitaniasCloset · 09/01/2017 16:47

Yep, everything confuugled said.

outabout · 09/01/2017 16:48

Hi
Complain like crazy, this is not right at all.
You need to have a good talk with your mother, but without making her paranoid that she should never have left the guys in there alone.
Tradesmen going off to get stuff is one 'annoyance' but to get a householder to do it is outrageous.

JAPAB · 09/01/2017 16:49

I would never leave strangers alone in my house. I would suggest that one of them go and get whatever they forgot to bring, or didn't bring enough of. Definitely make a complaint.