To wonder if we are on some kind of trades person blacklist?!

[RozDoyle]

Arghhh I am so frustrated 😡

Ok, to keep a long story as brief as possible, I need a bedroom redecorated before Christmas. I also need various bits and pieces done around the house e.g. new internal doors, mirrors hung, a stairgate fitted etc.

I cannot get a decorator to do the room for love nor money. I just repeatedly let down. They don't turn up to give a quote. They give you a quote and then don't text you back or answer the phone. I'm starting to panic now. The room really needs done, I have a new bed ordered for it and new furniture cluttering up the landing.

Same story with joiners and handymen re the other jobs. Just having no luck at all. Handyman was meant to be here at ten o'clock today to do the gate and the mirrors and he isn't here yet. I have a feeling he's just not coming. I hope I'm wrong.

I just really needed to vent. I am making absolutely no progress with this house at all. It is stressing me out. Does anyone else have this issue?!

I think a lot of the time it's communication skills. I arranged with someone who is recommended a lot on local FB groups to redecorate two bedrooms and the landing. But I said that one bedroom would have to be done at a later date because I didn't have space to clear out two bedrooms at once. Fine he says.

Anyway he turns up and it turns out that he's not actually doing the job, he's sub-contracted it. The guy is good and works hard, no worries. Does the one bedroom and then starts the landing on day two. And then says "we need to clear that room so I can get onto that later today and tomorrow". I say I've explained that's not possible because I've nowhere to put anything. He doesn't look too pleased but gets on and finishes what he needs to do. We agree that he will come back to do bedroom two and a bit more work on the landing in a few weeks.

Next morning he's there at 8am. "Boss" wants him to finish landing that day. We might not have been there! Anyway, he finishes landing.

Next morning I go out to parkrun. "Boss" appears on doorstep to DH asking to be paid because he needs to pay his contractors. He had sent me an invoice but it was only the night before!

They are coming back on Monday to do bedroom two. We will see if there's any more drama.

My mum tells me tradespeople and communication skills do not go together. They are good at what they do and you have to get over the rest of it.

But the quoting and then not turning up - or turning up to quote but not actually quoting - it's bizarre. And the OP's job is quite a big one, it's not just a couple of hours to redecorate a room properly and hanging new doors is a skilled job too.

I have had someone let me down over fitting a sink though. He said he'd come and then didn't come on the day because he was overrunning on a bigger job. Two weeks later he contacted me, by which time I'd found someone else to do it. He had done a couple of jobs for me before and been really good, it's a pity when you've got so much work you can let down existing customers.

Roz just text "Hi it's Roz. You gave me quote A few weeks back (or however long it was) I'm just checking if you are still able to do the job? Thanks "

It's a nightmare ! I'm a single woman who is fairly practical but can't be assed to do stuff myself - and I don't have time as I'm self employed and busy myself. I want my patio relaid. Quite a big job. Partner of a girl I know was starting up on his own doing general building/paving/fencing type work (having worked doing this for someone else for quite a while and so experienced). He came to measure up to do a quote, showed me photos of work he's done. I've never heard a thing back. I've followed up with her and no response. And what makes me laugh is she's still advertising his services on all the local selling sites as available. WHY ????? Makes me so mad 😀

After a dispute with our builder I wondered if he'd put the word out but it turns out the plumber who didn't turn up has a drug problem and others are busy. The electrician told us how hard he finds it to be on the tools and doing admin simultaneously, there just aren't enough hours in the day etc.

Have you tried looking at a site like Checkatrade, finding all the appropriate folk (w good feedback obvs) in your area and sending them all the same email? Whoever quotes first can come out first, then if they don't turn up just work your way through the list. This is how we got the lock on the side gate fitted after being messed about for months.

Good luck!

I have a different angle. Had my bathroom done a few months ago and he did a great job. Before he left, and after we'd paid, I asked specifically asked if he would come back if we had a problem. Of course he said yes.

The sealant has started to come away (only 2-3cm) in the shower cubicle and needs to be redone. We have tried to contact him several times. He even sent a text saying that he would call in a couple of days. That was 3 months ago, heard nothing. Have texted and emailed again; nothing.

Friends of ours would love to use him as he did such a great job but unfortunately I cannot recommend him due the lack of aftercare, he will therefore lose out on potential future business. These tradespeople seem to have no understanding of customer service and how it can eventually impact their livelihood. They are either ignorant or too arrogant to care it seems!

I think it's inevitable, because it's a likely part of the mindset of the people who go into trades. Think about the people you went to school with who then went on to apprenticeships for trades. Were they the ones who turned up on time and always did their homework? No, those people are now mortgage advisers, or call centre managers. The tradesmen are the ones who were disorganised and casual about things. It's not surprising that it carries through into the way they run their businesses.
This is not me being an intellectual snob- I'm not saying one kind of person is superior to the other. It's the difference between "J" and "P", if you're into MBTI analysis. Most tradespeople are "P"- admin and organisation is not their strong point, no matter how good they are at actually doing the work you want them to do.

Do it yourself! Honestly, it is easy, especially if it's a bedroom - if you make a crap job of it no one is going to see it.

We started doing DIY ourselves because a)trades never turn up, b) cost and c) we do a better job.

My MIL got her regular painter in to do her woodwork. Every time I go up and down her stairs I can feel 'bits' in the gloss handrail. I painted my own and it's as smooth as a baby's bottom.

We started doing DIY ourselves because a)trades never turn up, b) cost and c) we do a better job.

Especially c). If you DIY it will probably take longer. But you will concentrate on getting a good finish because you will be looking at it every day. The tradesman knows he won't see it again after he's paid. If he's good that's fine, you'll be happy too. But if he's done a poor job you are stuck with it.

I've had three different gardeners who promised to come and cancelled due to "sick mother". Never heard from again.
Why say they'll do it in the first place.
Handy man who advertises no job too small is obviously after bigger jobs as he never even rang back.
I am now at the stage of buying a drill and getting DS(19) to watch DIY YouTube videos.

Could you do the painting, stair gates and mirrors yourself?

Think of it this way.

You'll get several quotes for doing the job. You aren't giving the work to everyone, you'll choose the single best quote.

The tradesman is doing just that same. He's giving out several quotes for using his time, but doesn't intend to do them all. He will take the offer that suits him best. That will probably be the biggest and most profitable job.

I had this recently. Found a carpenter to adjust a few internal doors. Booked him in, then he rang to say he had a puncture on his work van, we rescheduled for the next day, fine.

The next day he rang to say he was very sorry but he wasn't feeling well, so we rescheduled for the following week.

The following week, the time he was meant to arrive came and went. I sent him a text asking if he would arrive soon, no reply. I briefly thought of sending a snarky text about being messed around but decided to let it go, found someone else and forgot all about him.

Then a couple of weeks after that, I had a call from his phone, a woman spoke and said that her dad had died suddenly from a heart attack the day before he was due to come and do the work for us. She had noticed my message on his phone and wanted to explain why he never turned up 😟.
I was so glad I never sent a snarky text after all.

Not everyone has the time, skill or ability to DIY.
I used to do the decorating years ago, never had time after DC.
I never really had the skill for putting up curtain rails or anything that needs a screwdriver and now I have arthritis and physically can't do the jobs.
So everything in our house is wonky or only half screwed in.
They should teach basic DIY at school.

I also wonder if they treat women differently

I have noticed this. We have a cesspit and whenever I ring to get it emptied, they don't turn up, but when my husband rings them (same company) they do turn up. MIL had the same problem after FIL died, so DH had to ring them for her too.

The plumber today asked me if I wanted him to come back for payment when my husband was here - like I wouldn't be allowed access to money. Funny thing is dh is hopeless at DIY whereas I'm alright.

Did he ever appear OP?

Wow, I'm just stunned at all these awful tradespeople out there.

I've recently started my own painting and decorating company and I make sure I turn up on time (in my uniform) for every quote which I send back to the client promptly and I would never dream of giving someone the runaround - a bad review can kill a business overnight these days.

I've met a few people who have been let down by p&d's, it always surprises me that someone is willing to let possible work go without explanation rather than be honest and either say it's not something they can do (ie I can't hang wall murals so I would be truthful and decline such work) or admit they are fully booked until xyz but can do the work then if the client is still agreeable. Much better than ghosting a person!

I'm so glad to read this thread. Thought it was just me! I was actually getting paranoid that a sociopath in my life was ringing 'round all the local tradespeople to try to blacken my name. But I have a leaking shower that has damages the ceiling below to such an extent that we are even getting fungus growing! I've already had someone 'round but they seemed to cause more problems than they solved. I really don't have time for this.

@Purplemeddler

I think a lot of the time it's communication skills. I arranged with someone who is recommended a lot on local FB groups to redecorate two bedrooms and the landing. But I said that one bedroom would have to be done at a later date because I didn't have space to clear out two bedrooms at once. Fine he says.

Anyway he turns up and it turns out that he's not actually doing the job, he's sub-contracted it. The guy is good and works hard, no worries. Does the one bedroom and then starts the landing on day two. And then says "we need to clear that room so I can get onto that later today and tomorrow". I say I've explained that's not possible because I've nowhere to put anything. He doesn't look too pleased but gets on and finishes what he needs to do. We agree that he will come back to do bedroom two and a bit more work on the landing in a few weeks.

Next morning he's there at 8am. "Boss" wants him to finish landing that day. We might not have been there! Anyway, he finishes landing.

Next morning I go out to parkrun. "Boss" appears on doorstep to DH asking to be paid because he needs to pay his contractors. He had sent me an invoice but it was only the night before!

They are coming back on Monday to do bedroom two. We will see if there's any more drama.

My mum tells me tradespeople and communication skills do not go together. They are good at what they do and you have to get over the rest of it.

But the quoting and then not turning up - or turning up to quote but not actually quoting - it's bizarre. And the OP's job is quite a big one, it's not just a couple of hours to redecorate a room properly and hanging new doors is a skilled job too.

I have had someone let me down over fitting a sink though. He said he'd come and then didn't come on the day because he was overrunning on a bigger job. Two weeks later he contacted me, by which time I'd found someone else to do it. He had done a couple of jobs for me before and been really good, it's a pity when you've got so much work you can let down existing customers.

I had that my painter to do 75% of the house, big job, she brought her father along - he spent his life painting schools - I knew that did not sound good - he was very slap dash. Basically she took on too much and postponed me several times - when she finally did the job it was so shit, paint spilled everywhere, no dust sheets - too much effort - the snag list ran into 2 pages - that's how she said she liked to do things. I ended up finishing the job myself. Why don't more kids go into the trades - they are always in demand around here.