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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Utterly fed up of tradespeople not showing up

54 replies

DizzyFizzyLizzy · 08/02/2017 11:19

Asked a painter/decorator to come and give me a quote. Set up for 9am today. He even texted on Sunday to double check stil suited. No sign of him yet 🙄 No reply to my text as yet. Now I don't want to go out in case he turns up. DD (2) climbing walls.

Not the first time this has happened. About six months ago we needed a plumber. Phoned two in the local area and neither turned up when they said they would, texting later to apologise.

Is it me?! I don't get it!

OP posts:

BadKnee · 08/02/2017 13:42

I know that you have to get quotes if it is a new contractor and certainly I'd get more than one for a big job but for a medium sized job I probably wouldn't as long as I knew the guy/women.

I now have two plumbers and a builder and an electrician who I use for everything and recommend. I ask for a ball park and then book them. It shows I trust them and they trust me.

CoodleMoodle · 08/02/2017 13:53

We've been waiting to get a shed put up since we moved in last Summer. Landlord sent a guy round to look, he said no problem and he could be over in a week to do it... We're still waiting and our lawnmower is still in the kitchen. The bottom of the garden (where the shed should be) is just a big pile of rubble and it makes me depressed just looking at it. LL keeps saying he's asked him to do it but...

I feel your pain OP.

dietcokeandwine · 08/02/2017 14:06

We completed a major house renovation project last year (two storey extension, plus total refit of the original 4 bed house, duration around 6m). Architect assured us that all the builders on their suggested list of contacts would be keen to do the job due to its size, location of our property etc.

We contacted seven builders to go through the tender process. All keen to come round and look. All enthusiastic about project on meeting them, I spent a good 45 minutes with each one talking about our requirements. Each confirmed they would quote and asked for a tender pack.

We duly sent off seven tender packs and heard back from....two of them. Two. Not a bean from the other five, despite chasing. So much for being keen to take on the job!

WaitrosePigeon · 08/02/2017 14:25

This is really bad. My DH would never do it.

ExplodingCarrots · 08/02/2017 14:30

Yes yes yes. It seems to be rife around here. Between electricians, plumbers and marquee businesses it's been a nightmare. It's for work in the thousands not hundreds, I really don't understand why they come across so keen and then either not show up or not get back to you with quotes.

isitspringyet · 08/02/2017 14:30

Day after the referendum - asked a builder who was working on neighbour house to pop over at end of day. Needless to say they never even showing up

isitspringyet · 08/02/2017 14:31

Showed

Picklesandpies · 08/02/2017 14:38

This drives me nuts. I have had several come to do a quote and then never get in touch again to actually give me the quote. And that's if they turn up to actually do it in the first place. Rage!

atheistmantis · 08/02/2017 14:39

They are nightmares, really really annoys me - our kitchen is unfinished and so are the new gutters because they did a part job

Aeroflotgirl · 08/02/2017 14:44

Unfortunately not everyone knows a good tradesperson, as experiences on here, and when having a job done, have to find new ones. I will probably have to use Checkatrade, if I need anything done, as I don't know anybody, they have all been blooming unreliable.

Stopandlook · 08/02/2017 14:46

I have this all the time. The weirdest one being a guy who phoned me on the way to say he'd be there in 10 minutes? Bizarre.

TheNoodlesIncident · 08/02/2017 14:47

I have long suspected, after the same treatment on numerous occasions, that the majority of decent tradespeople - the ones who turn up, on time, do the job properly and for around the amount quoted - are booked up solidly for years via word of mouth and repeat business and therefore don't need to scout around for new work.

We are left with all the rest of the dross.

ijustwannadance · 08/02/2017 14:49

We need our old house re-wiring. It would actually be cheaper for me to pay for the intensive 6 month course at local college then do it myself! Job for life.

WaitrosePigeon · 08/02/2017 15:05

the ones who turn up, on time, do the job properly and for around the amount quoted - are booked up solidly for years via word of mouth and repeat business and therefore don't need to scout around for new work

You are very right. My husband is booked up until August next year!

isitspringyet · 08/02/2017 15:11

There's supposed to be a massive shortage of tradespeople

Ewock · 08/02/2017 15:18

We have had this so many times that I have got utterly fed up with trades people and never believe any of them. I find it so frustrating when they turn up, give a quote, then when you agree to the quote they disappear never to be heard from again. We recently had work done and managed to get 3 quotes. We chose the 1 that actually got back to us when we asked a question about the quote. The other 2 did not answer.

charlestonchaplin · 08/02/2017 15:53

WaitrosePigeon Do you follow your husband during all working hours? How would you know if he doesn't turn up to booked appointments and avoids the customers thereafter? He's unlikely to broadcast any bad behaviour, is he? On Mumsnet we always get wives/partners/girlfriends saying the same as you, but I think the partners of these badly-behaved tradesmen are generally clueless.

hearyoume · 08/02/2017 15:59

I hire via mybuilder.com as they have reviews etc. If they don't show up then they get slated. I don't mind "no I'm busy" or even a last-minute cancellation but do not leave me waiting in all day with 2 young children bouncing off the walls!

LurkingHusband · 08/02/2017 16:06

There's supposed to be a massive shortage of tradespeople

or according to the tradespeople, there's supposed to be a massive shortage of work ...

NamelessEnsign · 08/02/2017 16:08

We phoned our excellent builder/window guy recently about quoting for an extension and some French doors. He's done a lot at the house and has been very responsive. He didn't answer the call.

His wife phoned back later and told us he died unexpectedly a few weeks ago and . The poor poor woman - she will be getting calls for years from everyone.

DoItTooJulia · 08/02/2017 16:09

DH is also a tradesperson. Booked up for the best part of this year already. Because, like WaitrosePigeons DH he is a decent person. Avoid those that can't communicate at all costs-imagine what kind of job you'll get!

charlestonchaplin · 08/02/2017 16:20

Being booked up well in advance is probably a good a good indicator that the work done is good, but I wouldn't say it's a guarantee of overall good practice and behaviour. Customers are so desperate for someone who will do a good job they will put up with a lot.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/02/2017 16:22

Oh no Nameless, how sad . Lurking, is it any wonder when they treat their customers badly.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/02/2017 16:24

TheNoodles that is what I have found, all the good ones recommended to me by friends, are so busy, but the ones that are not, that say they are coming, and let you down and treat you like rubbish, are not. When you get a decent reliable tradesperson, you hang onto them, that's why they are so busy.

NamelessEnsign · 08/02/2017 16:31

aeroflot it is really sad, but I realise hardly a response to the OP. Sorry OP.

We took a lot of recommendations when we moved here and I think a lot of people use the same companies, so they know the houses and the area. We have been really lucky in general, but my folks have had terrible experiences and are at their wits' end trying to get anything done.

It is incredibly rude not to respond or not turn up, and terrible for business. I do think tradespeople probably do have a nose for when they are being used as one quote of many and may not get the work, but I suppose that's just part of the business.

I am eternally grateful that FIL and DH are very handy with lots of tools. We are teaching our DD and DS how to to do it all!

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