To wonder how this Tradesman can possibly think I'm unreasonable...

[HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone]

I have been getting people to come and quote for some work over the past few weeks, not a huge job but still going to cost us over £500 so not a small job either.

One of the people who I arranged to come and quote was meant to come on Friday after I'd finished work, we agreed after 6pm. I didn't check my phone all day and after finishing I saw he had messaged me at 12 to say he was at the house. I rang him after work a few times and had no answer and he did not turn up that evening.

I'm home today and he's just turned up at my door expecting to come and quote for the work, no prior message or call to say to expect him, I've heard nothing from him since Friday's text.

I explained I did not want him to quote for the job as I no longer feel he is reliable and I've had several quotes already which I am happy with. He then erupted into a very loud rant about how unreasonable I was, why did I bother asking him to come and how I have wasted his time!

How the hell does any rational person come to the conclusion I am unreasonable in this situation, or am I seriously missing something?

@HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone

Personally, I took a bit of a view. It's hard getting tradespeople where I live, and 2 of them were recommended. Also, my dad's a retired plumber and I understand how a job can over-run due to unforseen circumstances which can put you massively behind. He worked in the days before mobiles, though, and he would have gone round the next day, not days later, and with a different attitude....

It sounds like your circumstances are different, though, and it's your choice. I still wouldn't FB though.

I've had very similar reliability problems to several here and have reached the conclusion that as tradesmen are so sought after they can afford to be unreliable if they choose to be. I can't think of any other job (although I'm sure someone now will) that would tolerate this kind of behaviour.

I wouldn't leave a review online though OP.

I understand how a job can over-run due to unforseen circumstances which can put you massively behind.

I'm sure this happens but these days if you have someone's mobile number, there cant be any excuse for not letting someone else know you wont be able to turn up due to unforeseen circumstances. It takes seconds to send a message or a few minutes to call and apologise and rearrange.

they can afford to be unreliable if they choose to be.

Well lets hope he has lots of work to do because review or no review I'm not using him and I will be warning people I know who need similar work completing to stay clear.

I am sad to see so many people have faced similar situations, it's little wonder that so many people hire cowboys when those who would do a good job also act in this way.

OP,

I agree your tradesperson should have called if they had your mobile. I’m not making excuses as it winds me up too, but having lived through my dad stressing about fitting quotes in amongst doing the jobs, I try to sympathise. Again, only on personal experience, but some tradespeople go into this because they are not good ‘9 to 5’ people, they aren’t good at diarising, etc. Some are just crap, it is true.

My tree surgeon turned up a day late but worked through driving rain. My patio guy was 4 hours late starting, but since lent me some marine plywood to protect the patio from the falling trees. He told me I was the first person in a fortnight to let him use the loo, FFS!

Good luck with your projects everyone.

I'd not be too judgemental about organising time to do a quote, tradespeople have to fit them whilst carrying out paid work and so can't always plan for definite times. It's better that he tried to come to you during the day when he had a free hour or so. Most tradespeople I've used have done similar and never had a problem with the work they've done or the way they've conducted themselves.

Most recently, the men who did our patio were difficult to get a quote from. They did come round a few times when I was at work on the off chance, they were very honest with me and said that they were fitting it in on their break from paid work. The work they did for me was outstanding, the were fast but precise and showed the utmost respect for me and my family whilst they were there.