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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Difficult customer

160 replies

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:07

My tradesman dh has carried out a tiling job for a customer he did at a really cheap price has he is trying to build up his reputation.
So far he has a fair few happy customers who have given great reviews.
Unfortunately I'm not sure if we are currently experiencing the customer from hell.
He finished thier bathroom tiling job and the guy and his wife both came and had a look and said it was nice and paid up dh did his best to clean up and wiped the tiles over and they seemed nice and clean.
So on arriving back home he is bombarded on WhatsApp saying what a mess the tiles are with grout stuck on them the tiles are textured ridged so obviously grout as ingrained into the pattern obviously when dh wiped them over they where wet and once dry the grout haze etc came to light.
The guy was saying how can you leave a job like this and that his tiles where wrecked with blown up pictures of grout on tiles.
Dh acknowledged some responsibility for maybe not cleaning them so well and arranged to go back next day to clean them up well I also went to have a look and to be honest all that struck me at the time was how good it looked yes sure there was some grout ingrained.
Dh worked most of the day cleaning them up and at the end the guy took a look and said yes it's fine although he spotted a pin size of grout and pointed it out but he said no problem and thanks I came and wanted to have a look but the guy wouldn't let me see for some reason.
So again on arrival home dh is bombarded on WhatsApp about how he has wrecked his tiles and he has to pay somebody to come and fix it and that he should never do this to anybody else's bathroom and to stay away from grouting.
So what you think are we at fault.

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Nicknacky · 09/04/2019 11:38

Well, there you go then. You know he didn’t do a great job and you will just need to wait and see what the customer wants to do next.

lotusbell · 09/04/2019 11:39

I totally agree that OP should not have gone along and yes DH should've checked his work before finishing the job but both times, the customer has supervised, checked the work and said he is happy yet waited until later to contact DH. I think he's going to use the WhatsApp messages, probably alongside an image of the tiles as they were originally left, to show he had to contact DH to get it sorted and leave a bad review. Can easily manipulate the sequence of events using the pics. Sorry if I'm being cynical but there are chancers everywhere. If I were DH, I'd chalk it up to experience, learn from his mistakes and try and move on with his business.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:39

He is starting out on his own having worked for people before.
I don't think he has worked with textured tiles before. Sad

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MadameDD · 09/04/2019 11:40

I'd be annoyed if it was messy and needed someone to come back afterwards but then I'm a perfectionist that way.

DB once did my bathroom in an old flat a few years ago - was a bit messy afterwards but came back and cleared up after himself - I felt a bit mean complaining as he's my DB and it was a freebie. When he's done other work, painting rooms though - always perfect.

In this case - your DH did a job and didn't do it well. Why are you checking though?! That part - you checking, sorry is bonkers.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:41

I am concerned in case he takes it further

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glitterbiscuits · 09/04/2019 11:41

Do you have any photos for your own records?

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:41

Yes I now know it was a bad move.

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BadPennyNoBiscuit · 09/04/2019 11:41

He needs to suck this up as a learning experience, apologise online and move on. not try to hide it or make excuses.

He looks unprofessional because he isn't fully trained. He should be worried about what else he doesn't know, and look into taking some courses.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 09/04/2019 11:42

I am concerned in case he takes it further

Like what?

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:42

Yes do have some

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MadameDD · 09/04/2019 11:42

Just seen your latest update - if he's starting out on his own - this is more of a reason for him to perfect his work and double check it's ok after completion and if he hasn't worked with a certain type of tile to familiarise himself with them beforehand. He could also mention to client if he's not worked with a certain tile before - that he hasn't worked with this tile but will double check finish etc afterwards.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:43

Jesus I wish he had never had this job

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WeeDangerousSpike · 09/04/2019 11:43

Speaking as the wife of a builder:

The customer has paid for a job to be done, it hasn't been done to their personal satisfaction so they are within their rights to complain. The only thing your husband can control is his response to the complaint.

There should be no grout on the surface of the tiles, that's not a job done to a professional standard. There may be a 'haze' after cleaning, but he should be cleaning that off too. It's no good leaving the job before they're dry and he can't see what they're like.

If your husband doesn't have the experience to do the job (in this case work with textured tiles) he shouldn't have quoted. If he doesn't know his limitations then he's unfortunately going to get a reputation for shoddy work, not the good rep he's trying to build.

Giving discounted prices is all very well, but unless it's because it's 'mates rates' and the customer knows that then it isn't relevant - he chose the price, not the customer. If you bought a dress a little cheaper in one shop rather than another would you not complain it had a hole in it because it was 10% cheaper?

He needs to say to the customer that he'll rectify it, and do so.

The only issue here is he's tried unsuccessfully to fix it once - potentially the customer has fears they've hired a cowboy and they're afraid of damage being done to the tiles.

And you really shouldn't be rocking up to his jobs, that's quite weird!

MadameDD · 09/04/2019 11:43

In your DH's situation I'd apologise to client profusely - put it right for free, maybe offer to refund some money and hope he doesn't leave a nasty review anywhere.

Explain situation that DH is just starting out but is a keen and good worker and maybe the client will not be as harsh.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:44

Dh is gonna offer a refund I think

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Nicknacky · 09/04/2019 11:44

Look, these things will happen and it’s not going to be the last time a customer isn’t happy and will complain. You are taking it really personally.

MadameDD · 09/04/2019 11:45

You can't say that 'you wish he'd never had this job' because it sounds as if your DH could equally be slapdash with other jobs.

If he's starting out working for himself he needs to be accountable to clients.

This client could choose to recommend or not your DH to other people he knows and via review sites.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:46

He has apologised no end and wants to put it right.
Dh maintains that after spending the day cleaning them that he left them looking really well and there was nothing wrong at all.

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Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:46

Yes I want his customers to be really happy like all his others have been

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Nicknacky · 09/04/2019 11:47

To be fair, your husband thought they looked good the first time he left them!

TheInvestigator · 09/04/2019 11:48

He didn't do a good job. He tried to fix it but didn't clean it to the standard it should be at.

Partial refund is needed.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:50

Dh did say that the tiles initially appeared clean enough because thry where wet but any grout and haze appears after

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MadameDD · 09/04/2019 11:51

I've got an idea which might work - does he know a tradesman friend - maybe retired - who could come along with him on a couple of jobs and double check standard of work afterwards - someone else will often see points you have missed. If he knows someone who is willing to help him out re checking his work for e.g. a few jobs then he will know what to look for himself.

Agreed - it can be hard if after you've worked for someone else and work for yourself to know what to pick up on, or think you've done a great job, whereas to a client it may not be that way.

And you will always, always get difficult clients. So best out to work how to deal with them and if their complaints are valid.

Nicknacky · 09/04/2019 11:51

So now he knows that when they are dry that’s when problems will show.

Worzilgummidge · 09/04/2019 11:52

I don't understand why the guy didn't express his dissatisfaction before Dh left

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