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AIBU?

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Original poster

advice about washing machine man

67 replies

skybluee · 23/01/2019 09:38

hi,
will try to make this quick.
mumsnet have given me really good advice in the past.

today i am having a washing machine delivered and fitted.

i removed the skirting board by the washing machine myself in advance.
when the man got here he was grumpy.

he said he neeeded to remove the other panel and pulled it hard and ripped it out before i realised what he was doing.

he has broken the other skirting panel in half vertically.
there is a hidden screw that you need to unscrew not just pull it.

i have lived here for 10 years, it is my home, i don't have much money, i am incredibly houseproud. i have not damaged my home.

every time someone comes in they vandalise or do something shit to my home.

i am really upset.

i was scared to raise it in case he did a shoddy job of installing the washing machine.

OP posts:
Porridgeoat · 23/01/2019 10:31

Just see what it looked like when finished and take it from there. Nobodies died, it’s something easily fixed by the company

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 23/01/2019 10:33

Correcting the OP with the terminology will help if she has to complain to the company as it's a completely different thing and to call it a skirting board is wrong ordinarily it wouldn't matter but in this case it's best to correct to help the poster with her complaint

RhiWrites · 23/01/2019 10:36

I’m sure he didn’t mean to “rip” it. He thought it would easily lift away. As others have said, speak to the company later.

It was an accident. Albeit one that could have been avoided by asking. But still not intentional vandalism.

Jens303 · 23/01/2019 10:36

sorry but you say he damages something every time he comes - why do you keep hiring him?

userschmoozer · 23/01/2019 10:40

No, OP did not say that. Go back and read the OP again.

DarlingNikita · 23/01/2019 10:44

Is the washing machine safely installed now?

If/once it is, take a picture of the damage. Phone the company. Tell them he tore out the board before you had a chance to explain to him how to do it safely. Tell them you can send them a picture of the damage and you'll send them a bill for repairs. Stay calm and firm.

user1474894224 · 23/01/2019 10:47

If he has a form to sign at the end of the job please write on it plinth damaged....then when you call company to complain there is a record of the incident. Be nice to the guy as a) he can't fix it and b) it was probably an accident as lots do just pull off.

Confusedbeetle · 23/01/2019 10:51

Plinths can be easily repaired at low cost

Justaboy · 23/01/2019 11:04

Plinths can be easily repaired at low cost

As long as that type and colour of wood is still around unlike a house we rent which has one of these integerated machines which can be a PITA to install.

The machine is non standard as the wooden kitchen door has to be screwed to the machine there''re a pig to service as well.
Best bet for the OP is to take some pictures (worth a thousand words) and complain to the supplier who I exect will have contracted this job out to the fitter.

But IMHO its still the suppiers responsibility.

CoperCabana · 23/01/2019 11:09

Sorry you are upset. I know how you feel as I would be similar.

But he has said he will make it good hasn’t he, per your second post?

Notwiththeseknees · 23/01/2019 11:13

I would ask him to stop what he is doing and please leave. I would take photographs and speak to their head office and explain what he had done. You clearly feel intimidated by his attitude towards you, so I would be brave and tell him to go.
That kind of sulky, misogynistic behaviour is not acceptable IMO.

lottiegarbanzo · 23/01/2019 11:19

All ok OP? Can you see any damage now it's all back on?

Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 11:36

hi,
ok so at the moment i have both of the panels off. the first one is not damaged, the other one is. i am going to try to put it all back on, and see if it fits together. i then will pull the second one forward half a centimetre to cover where the sealant has ripped etc.

i know he didn't do it on purpose. i just wish he had asked because it is screwed in (the plinth) and he just pulled it, it ripped while it was screwed in.

OP posts:
Firesuit · 23/01/2019 11:53

Are we really correcting the OP on her terminology? It's beside the point do you not think?

It is relevant, as a result of her using the wrong word I had no idea what she was describing, until it was clarified later in the thread.

Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 12:05

it is actually a lot worse than i thought.
the second plinth was attached by brackets to the legs of all of the appliances and cupboards above it. when he ripped it out he broke it away from all of those. one is like the leaning tower of piza. he has broken a wooden structure inside that the plinth was attached to.

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 23/01/2019 12:05

In this instance I think it right to correct the terminology; I couldn't understand the issue either. Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction OP.

Stinkytoe · 23/01/2019 12:09

OP, if you feel that you have any costs to repair the damage done please do contact the company you bought the machine from. If it was a large, national retailer they likely have a whole department to deal with problems like this and they will reimburse you any expenses

Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 12:23

he has torn a load of internal structures that were underneath there that the plinth was attached to by screws. they have just been torn straight through. he pulled it with such force the plinth not only snapped in two but he pulled all of the other bits away from where they were attached. there is broken plastic, four bits. why could he not have unscrewed it. why did he just pull it like that. i did not let him use the toilet as it is broken, it does not flush and you have to use a bucket to wash it. i think now he didnt believe me and chose to do this to break something of mine. i am heartbroken. my beautiful kitchen that i had for 10 years and i always looked after. it is broken. it wont go back on like it used to. there is nothing to attach it to. it is broken.

OP posts:
Steamedbadger · 23/01/2019 12:32

What company is it? A biggish one or not? Either way, take pictures and make sure he knows you're not happy before he leaves then call head office. Don't sign anything saying that you are happy with the job.

Stinkytoe · 23/01/2019 12:34

If it’s a big company they WILL pay for your kitchen to be fixed

Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 12:34

i know some people will think this is some small stupid thing and im being stupid. God knows i would've thought this myself a few years ago. i am going to try to fix it myself. i do not want anyone back in my flat.

the company was bad from start to finish. i asked them on the phone if there was anything i needed to do. i said i would take the thing that covered the washing machine off. i did that in advance of them coming. i would have bought a towel if i knew i needed that. i have never had a washing machine installed before, i didn't know they needed that otherwise i would have bought a smart price towel and they could have had it. they have also damaged the tiles with scratches on them.

OP posts:
Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 12:35

the company is ao. it was ordered from ao.com

OP posts:
Original poster
skybluee · 23/01/2019 12:40

sorry. i know people are going to think im stupid. im not. my IQ is 165. no one will believe that but it is true. i have never have an appliance delivered before. i didn't realise. i tried to do everything right. i took the thing off that was covering it. i took the thing that covered the tiles away and my yoga mat i put them a few metres away. i thought i had done everything.

OP posts:
Oddsocksandmeatballs · 23/01/2019 12:41

When he gives you the form to sign make sure the damage is recorded then contact the company he is employed by. The damage can be repaired.

Fabellini · 23/01/2019 12:45

Right....take some photos of the damage. It sounds as though he has broken the plastic bits that are attached to the kickboard/plinth which “pop” onto the legs of the kitchen units to hold the kickboard in place, and also (from the way you’re describing, but I’m not entirely clear) the legs themselves - is that right?
I really think you should call the company and give them a chance to put things right for you. I understand you’ve been ill, so you might be feeling a bit vulnerable, but I don’t think it’s terribly likely that the delivery person deliberately broke it as an act of revenge for not being able to use your loo.