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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
harderandharder2breathe · 09/01/2017 16:52

Definitely complain, never heard of tradespeople sending the customer off to buy supplies!

ArcheryAnnie · 09/01/2017 16:52

I agree with whoever said that it might be a good idea to have a quiet chat to the community police on the non-emergency number 101. This all sounds very dodgy, and I bet it's not just your mum that they've done with this.

I don't have any problem leaving workers in my flat, but the idea one of them would send me - and I'm not in my 70s - to fetch something they were responsible for fetching, while three men sat in my home doing fuck-all, just rings every alarm bell with me. (And I am not particularly suspicious - I'm currently on another MN thread arguing that a worker shouldn't have been reported!)

SILfoundmyusername · 09/01/2017 16:55

I'd phone the store now on behalf of your mother, and go round and help her check documents/spare keys/ no windows have been left so they're not locked etc.
She probably feels stupid and gullible for doing so so is trying to down play it, but would be grateful if your input to help her out it right

eurochick · 09/01/2017 16:56

We had a family flooring business. This is dodgy as fuck. There is no way they should have asked her to get supplies. Please check all valuable, keys and make sure they haven't left a door or window open.

Fitters have always been self employed. It's how the industry operates. However good fitters will typically just work for a couple of shops for years. My dad used to train them up.

AQuietMind · 09/01/2017 16:58

This sounds extremely dodgy op.

MyNewUserNameIsSecret · 09/01/2017 16:59

Wow, that's awful. I'd encourage your mum to complain.

McCunty · 09/01/2017 17:01

I would definitely complain, it sounds dodgy, also if you find something has been stolen down the line, you have your complaint as backup.
Man tradesmen nowadays don't like to be left in people's properties, this is to guard themselves so no one can make an accusation that something has been stolen/damaged.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 09/01/2017 17:01

I don't like the sound of this at all. I think the firm in question may be a franchise, I'm not sure. We went to one of their showrooms once and I was aghast at the unprofessional attitude of their salesmen.

DJBaggySmalls · 09/01/2017 17:03

I would change the locks and contact the local police and Trading Standards. Then go round the house and take an inventory

SquinkiesRule · 09/01/2017 17:05

Wow I hope all her stuff is still there and she makes a complaint to the shop.

Ohdearducks · 09/01/2017 17:12

Your poor Mum, I expect she felt quite intimidated to feel she had to do that. YANBU, and definitely complain.

iwasyoungonce · 09/01/2017 17:22

We had carpet fitters from Carpetright and they stole a guitar pedal from us (worth about £50).

JigglyTuff · 09/01/2017 17:26

I'm afraid I too would be very suspicious about why they bullied her into going shopping for them :(

Original poster
Moocherbot · 09/01/2017 17:33

Thanks for comments. Especially Cookingongas v good points.
If she didn't want to complain because of the hassle I'd get it, but I don't feel I can let it lie if it's because it "might be normal". Feels like that would be slippery slope to saying it's ok to do what any bloke that comes along tells you to, even if you have a bad feeling about it.
Sometimes I think there's no middle ground between people who complain at the slightest thing (cf the holiday complaints thread...) and people like my mum who would cut their own arm off with rusty shears if someone in hi vis told them to, then apologise for the blood on the carpet....

OP posts:
JigglyTuff · 09/01/2017 17:39

I'm afraid I too would be very suspicious about why they bullied her into going shopping for them :(

Daisyfrumps · 09/01/2017 17:40

This is dodgy as hell and I'd be straight to the police via 101. I'd let them advise you.

Marynary · 09/01/2017 17:41

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Creampastry · 09/01/2017 18:14

Has she checked to see if anything has been stolen?

FruJustFru · 09/01/2017 19:03

Oh come on, Marynary. Do you have parents who are getting on a bit in years? Who might be a little confused by this scenario? Who might go along with something like this?

If you don't, then you have no idea - no idea - what something like this can be like for them and for their adult offspring (when they find out). Cut the OP some slack - and cut her mum some slack too.

CoraPirbright · 09/01/2017 19:07

OMG! Definitely complain!! It all sounds incredibly dodgy to me. I would be checking if stuff had been stolen, raising merry hell at the company, changing the locks and appraising the local coppers of the situation.

gamerwidow · 09/01/2017 19:09

My carpetright vinyl fitters were a load of cowboys too. Changed the legs on my kitchen island to get the vinyl under but then didn't readjust so the whole worktop ripped away from the wall. I was furious! They turned up with stuff missing as well.

suchafuss · 09/01/2017 19:17

FruJustFru if she has capacity then it is up to OPs mum what she does. You can't assume that she doesn't have it on the basis of her age!

StandardNameHere · 09/01/2017 19:22

I'd also be changing the locks!

happymumof4crazykids · 09/01/2017 19:30

Don't bother complaining to the store go to head office, all the fitters are registered and have to pay a bond as they are self employed. The store will fob you off saying silicon isn't included in the fitting price and that's why they asked her to supply her own.

DarthMother · 09/01/2017 19:37

I used to work for CarpetRight (many moons ago) and organised the teams of fitters to go to the customer's houses - my fitters always checked they had everything they needed for the day's jobs before they left the store. This is very wrong for them to send her out, please do complain to the store, this needs to be addressed.