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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let the tradesman in?

57 replies

MummysBusy · 13/07/2017 20:08

I had recently emailed our lettings agent about a few things, including some very overdue repairs on a window that I'd like completed. Heard back from the lettings agent today via email, but they didn't mention anything about repairs.

6pm comes and there's a knock on the door. A man says he's been sent from the agent to look at the window. I've not heard anything from the letting agent about it, it's too late to ring them and check that they've sent him out. He doesn't seem to know what the repair is. He has no tools and I can't see a van. I told him that I wasn't expecting anyone and I'd rather have confirmation before I let him in the house, could he come back tommorow?

At this point he gets very pissed off and tells me he'll have to report that I'm being awkward and won't let him in. I tell him that's fine and shut the door.

Was ibu? It was just me and the baby at the time, I know it's probably all fine but it really put my back up. We've had a post-it on the window saying "do not open" for ages, so it's not exactly hard to tell it needs fixing. I feel really stupid and I'm dreading talking to the letting agent tomorrow.

OP posts:
GivePeasAGo · 13/07/2017 22:52

Twice I've had them let themselves in the house, that was a shock.

WhenWasThat · 13/07/2017 23:11

Sods law says he was legit and they'll want to send him back round tomorrow

My bet is that he won't be rushing back anytime soon. 😂

(I still can't believe anyone genuinely believes he wasn't legit)

SunnyCoco · 13/07/2017 23:24

Yeh I'm with you WhenWasThat

It'd be a pretty big coincidence! What a waste of his time

Annie592 · 13/07/2017 23:37

More than likely he was legit. But doesn't matter. You didn't feel right about it, you should always go with that gut feeling. It's your home, you're alone with your baby, you are absolutely 100% entitled to turn someone away if you don't feel comfortable.

Original poster
MummysBusy · 13/07/2017 23:46

sunnycoco if he was legit you'd think he would call and make sure I was actually at home before he came round. He wasted his own time, really.

OP posts:
chipscheeseandgravy · 14/07/2017 00:04

If would be a massive coincidence if some random person knocked on your door and knew that a) you had an issue with the window, b) knew your Lettings agent were aware of this problem and c) knew who your letting agent was.

It's not uncommon (in my experience) for tradesmen to pop round to price up a job with no notice (they may have been in the area - hence the lack of van/tools). Again it's also fairly common for them to only have a brief understanding of the job before hand. Especially when instructed from another person/company.

I've also dealt with Lettings agents for years and aside from a few time where they have said right we will send someone out very few have ever given details of who was coming.

I can't imagine why (as one person mentioned) you would feel the need to complain about him just because he called you awkward. You WERE being awkward. You asked for a job to be done and then didn't let someone in to look at the job. He popped round on the off chance you were in and then didn't let him in. What were you expecting him to do case the joint and take of with the silverware Confused

Don't be surprised if it's take a few days for someone to actually come out.

For all of those saying would you let some random person do a repair? Yup! I was delighted when after 8 months of waiting the tiles in the bathroom got repaired. He just turned up because he was in the area and the company that built the house had finally passed my details across. He did a lovely job and even cleaned up. He didn't have a van, just turned up in his car. If he does rob me later down the line I'll ask him to be careful in the bathroom, don't want them tile being broken again. :)

MeltorPeltor · 14/07/2017 00:12

It's tricky, you obviously want the work repaired but with some random bloke just turning up out of the blue you are right to be cautious. When we deal with letting agents they typically email us a job sheet so if we were in that situation we'd have just shown you the email or called the office. Tradesmen don't get paid for driving to properties and not doing any work so it's in our interest to be helpful. Usually!

CoarseConcepts · 14/07/2017 02:34

Of course you did the right thing. He was almost certainly a murderer. You had a lucky escape!

Alternatively, you're paranoid and difficult.

Hmm
araiwa · 14/07/2017 05:24

I dont get it.

You request someone comes round to fix your window, someone comes round and you dont let them in

Your job will now be at the bottom of the pile and its your own fault

cricketballs · 14/07/2017 06:01

The last tradesman I had sent by the EA also fixed a window, when he first called he had no tools by his side as he needed to look at the problem first to assess what was needed

RainbowPastel · 14/07/2017 06:59

You reported a problem. The guy turns up to fix it and you turn him away. They won't be in any hurry to help you again.

GivePeasAGo · 14/07/2017 07:37

I'm surprised so many people would just let in a tradesman who didn't know what repair he was there to do. We've had people burgled around this way for letting people in for that. I would have let him in if he'd known the repair, otherwise he could just be anyone.

We've had warnings of fake gas men, fake roofers, fake drive way people and electricians...

strawberrygate · 14/07/2017 07:43

Yes, YWBU.
As pointed out, you ask for a window repair and a guy turns up saying the (correct name) agency have sent him to look at a window repair. How on earth could that be a scam? i think you've been awkward and a bit thick

Notreallyarsed · 14/07/2017 07:44

DP is a sparky and he always checks with customers over the phone before he goes to their house. He had one elderly lady who had just fallen victim to bogus workmen and was in great distress and he put his card (with his bosses number and the office number) through the door with a wee note saying that he understood her distress and was happy for her to satisfy herself he was legit before rearranging the appointment. (I'm paraphrasing because I can't remember exactly what he said) What I mean is the tradesman was a bit arsey for getting arsey and the letting agent should have warned you.

Notknownatthisaddress · 14/07/2017 07:49

I can understand people saying 'but what about scammers and shit?' However, the OP had reported the repair, and the man who turned up knew about it and knew the letting agent etc, so he was obviously not a scammer.

Thing is, sometimes workmen/tradesmen fit stuff in when they can as they have busy schedules. This man was probably popping around to see what the repair was exactly, as the LA probably hadn't made it too clear as they may not have been sure themselves.

I can understand why the tradesman was a bit irked, and the OP shouldn't be surprised if she is shoved to the bottom of the repairs pile.

That said, she should have really been informed that he was coming. If only by text. I mean, she may not even have been in at the time!

But I would say that YAB a bit U. And you will probably be made to wait a lot longer now for your repairs to be done.

Ring the LA today and tell them you were uncomfortable with letting a man in when you had had no notification that he was coming. Say he was abrupt with you too. Make sure you get your side in first OP.

HipsterHunter · 14/07/2017 07:52

I think you were U.

He knew you needed a window repair and the letting agent name.

Obviously it would have been better if the letting agent had let you known in advance but you were a bit ackward!

GivePeasAGo · 14/07/2017 08:11

Where are people getting he knew what the repair is? Op says He doesn't seem to know what the repair is.

GivePeasAGo · 14/07/2017 08:13

Plus she's had this before with a scammed At the same time though, he wouldn't be the first scammer at the door and it was quite scary last time

Therealslimshady1 · 14/07/2017 08:20

I am with Whenwasthat

MN is like a (fascinating) parallel universe to me Grin

araiwa · 14/07/2017 08:26

Repairs on a window could mean anything. New glass? Lock broken? Broken frame?

He came round to see what exactly the problem is so he can come back with correct tools and parts or measure up.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2017 08:27

(I still can't believe anyone genuinely believes he wasn't legit)

I'm also with you! Wtf?! Confused

OP, technically you're in the right re: notice, but I do think you've cut off your nose to spite your face.

SlothMama · 14/07/2017 08:38

I think you were right to turn him away, first off the agency by law have to give you 24 hours notice. If a workman turned up at my door with no prior notice for him being there I'd not let him in.

I don't know why people are saying he came saying he'd come to fix the window when OP's post said he didn't know what the repair was?

CupOfTeaAndAGoodBook · 14/07/2017 08:45

Only on MN would people think that burglars pretending to be tradesmen is an "only on MN" thing. #meta

He probably was legit. The odds are that most people you meet are legit. But the letting agent should send details in advance, so that the OP doesn't have to make that pressured 5-second decision on whether to let someone into her home.

SheSaidHeSaid · 14/07/2017 08:46

Though he could have been legit there is no way I'd have let him in my home. You did the right thing.

Call the agent first thing and explain what happened. When I arrange repairs for tenants I tell them company names and get the contractor to call the tenant first to arrange a mutually agreeable time for the visit, not just turn up whenever.

Bluerose27 · 14/07/2017 08:54

You put your safety and your child's safety first. Maybe he was legit- he probably was tbh. But so what? He didn't know enough details to make you comfortable. Better you feel a bit foolish and he and the letting agent think you're over sensitive or whatever than he burgles you or worse.

Sensible people don't let strange men into their house