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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just chuck it out of the garage?

29 replies

Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 12:31

We got our garden overhauled and the gardeners did a brilliant job. Really pleased with it. The day they left I went into the garage and realised they had left their cement mixer in there (they’d stored it overnight there whilst working on the garden). I immediately messaged letting them know they had left it and I got an apologetic message saying they’d be over the next day to collect. They didn’t turn up. I messaged that evening to say I wouldn’t be at home after 10am the following day so could they collect before then. They didn’t turn up or respond. Every day the last week I have let them know when someone is in the house. Eventually yesterday someone responded and apologised saying they had been really busy and would be here to collect by 12.00 today (well 10.00 actually, I said i was going out at 12.00). Again no one has turned up. It’s a massive cement mixer and I have a garage full of junk but with a defined pathway through it all which the mixer blocks therefore if I need anything out the garage I have to wheel the bloody thing out and back in again which means my car has to be halfway up the drive or there isn’t room to get it out. In short it’s a bloody nuisance. I have messaged them again today asking someone to collect it after 4pm today. If no one turns up how justified would I be just leaving it out in the garden and if they manage to pick it up before the scrapman then happy days. If not? Well I’ve given plenty of notice!

OP posts:
HintOfRaspberry · 27/05/2019 12:33

Id message saying you no longer have room tonstore it in your garage and it will be left on the drive/path/whatever from now on and you cant guarantee it will always be secure

PutyourtoponTrevor · 27/05/2019 12:53

How long has it been there?

LakieLady · 27/05/2019 13:00

Tell them that if they don't come and get it by the end of the week, you'll put it on Freecycle.

Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 13:10

@putyourtopontrevor it’s been there since they finished the job on the 17th May. So 10 days. And every day I have messaged them to let them know when it would be convenient to collect.

I have messaged saying to collect after 4pm today and it was becoming a nuisance. If they no show again then I’m tempted to take it out and leave it and will message them to tell them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 13:11

@lakielady I really don’t want it cluttering up my garage for another week!

OP posts:
Qweenbee · 27/05/2019 13:15

You need to warn them in advance you will do this. Text now and say it will be left outside after x time.

crazyasafox · 27/05/2019 13:22

What a nuisance! Puts me in mind of a pal of mine who had some roofing work done, and the building firm used a different firm for the scaffolding for them. The scaffold company put up the scaffolding on 13 March (for example,) then the roofing work was done (by the other company) within 3 days.

2 weeks later the scaffolding was still up. Ugly, intrusive, in the way, and 3 of the 5 windows at the back wouldn't open properly. Also, the (small) back garden was upside down as they had had to move stuff to accommodate the scaffolding. She rang the building firm and they kept ringing the scaffold company, and she took the scaffold company's number, and rang them HERSELF 3 or 4 times.

It stayed up a MONTH AND A HALF after the work was done.

She couldn't move the scaffolding like you can move the cement mixer either!

I agree that you need to give the company YOU are dealing with, a message that the cement mixer will be given to freecycle (or put on the skip!) if they don't get it within SEVEN DAYS.

Make sure you keep a copy of your correspondence too.

GreyhoundzRool · 27/05/2019 13:34

They will be leaving it there until they need it for the next job. Same happened to me with the scaffolding. Cheeky fuckers just dint want to store it themselves

Alb1 · 27/05/2019 13:38

I think you should warn them in advance you will be putting it outside, rather than after you’ve done it. But either way YANBU for putting it outside

Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 13:41

Right. Advance warning it is. So annoying!!

OP posts:
misskatamari · 27/05/2019 13:41

Like others say, I'd give them a warning that you'll be doing it if they don't collect. You're totally nbu to put it outside tho

Zebrasinpyjamas · 27/05/2019 14:18

I had the exact situation except when they wanted their cement mixer (2wks late) they turned up at 5.45am to collect it. I was raging at being woken up so early. I'm not a shouter normally but I was on that day!
I think it's fine to tell them it's in the front garden ready for them.

crazyasafox · 27/05/2019 14:35

Re what zebra said, my friend (who had the scaffolding up for a month and a half) had a similar issue. Her husband works shifts and was on nights that week. They came to get the scaffolding at 11am, when he was 4 hours into his sleep. No advance warning. They just turned up!

So that would be like people who work days, being disturbed at 3am, (when they have work the next day,) by a group of 3 men laughing and hollering and talking (loudly,) their loud radio, and the clanking, whacking, and thudding, of the scaffolding been taken down.... for the entire TWO HOURS it took them to do it.

He was absolutely livid and rang the scaffold company to complain. They didn't care though, and said that their men have to do the jobs when they can. Hmm

My friend said a little advance notice would have been nice. If he had known they were coming that day, he would have asked them to come at 8am, and gone to bed at 10am til 4pm or 5pm or so...

Cunts.

As it happened, he was so tired that night, that he had to ring in and say he couldn't make it, losing a night's pay.

Maybe these people who do this kind of shit should have a bit more consideration for others, and the fact that not everyone works between 8am and 6pm!

Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 14:47

Ah man how infuriating. Night shift sleep is so precious.

I think that’s the annoying thing, no thought to how they’re putting others out. Others who have just parted with a not insubstantial amount of money for them to do a job!

OP posts:
user1486131602 · 27/05/2019 15:13

Call him again and also a scrap merchant.....tell him if he gets here first he can have it back!

LesLavandes · 27/05/2019 15:28

You clearly haven't had a lot of work done. This kind of annoying stuff is normal. They will come when they need it unfortunately

greenwaterbottle · 27/05/2019 15:46

Yes tell them it'll be on the drive from x o'clock. It can stay there for one day then it'll be on Facebook first come first served as you've stored it long enough

HollowTalk · 27/05/2019 15:50

I would tell them verbally and then back it up in an email or text. I would imagine those things are expensive and you don't want a backlash.

Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 15:52

@LesLavandes well no, jobs like the one we’ve had done tend to be pretty infrequent, however we have also just had the kitchen and bathroom done with an ace tradesman who has never done anything of the sort! Either way it shouldn’t just be expected surely!

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LesLavandes · 27/05/2019 16:30

They shouldn't behave like this Nd you were lucky in your previous work but sadly many tradesmen are guilty of appalling behaviour. I have been doing renovations for years. I think you've hot off lightly getting your job finished with only a cement mixer left!

Why not move it out of garage? It's not yours and I assume you paid fir job done.

I don't think this warrants a 'boo hoo' on here

crazyasafox · 27/05/2019 16:49

@LesLavandes

You clearly haven't had a lot of work done. This kind of annoying stuff is normal. They will come when they need it unfortunately.

Bit patronising! Hmm

And as for your comment 'they will come when they need it, unfortunately........' By that token, us paying customers (who keep them in business!) will throw their shit on the tip 'when we need to, unfortunately.............'

It works both ways, and they can't have it all their way. Especially as it's the CUSTOMERS who pay their wages, and keep them in business, and allow them to buy all the stuff they carelessly leave at peoples houses, and pick up whenever the hell it suits them. Hmm

BogglesGoggles · 27/05/2019 16:52

I’m sure that the fair warning will give them the kick up the bum they need. I hope they collect it soon. How annoying.

FizzyGreenWater · 27/05/2019 16:52

Hi, sorry to see that you weren't able to collect the mixer today. I'm afraid I need the space in the garage from tomorrow so the mixer will have to stay in the front garden from this evening. I won't be able to guarantee that it is secure and this message is to let you know that I won't be able to accept responsibility for anything that might happen to it, so let's hope you can collect it soon.

They're taking the piss.

LesLavandes · 27/05/2019 18:10

Well good luck all! I have had a hell of a lot of experience in dealing with builders, and am doing so at present. Nothing surprises me. Many of them just do what they like. They probably don't even own the equipment in your garage. I have same problems. A rusty old mobile very large caravan outside my house. I moved in in December. Council are now involved I heard. A complete eyesore to the whole neighbourhood. You could sell your cement mixer on marketplace?

Original poster
Wrongdissection · 27/05/2019 19:16

It’s not really a boo boo it’s more just a ‘am I being unreasonable’ which is kinda the whole point innit?!

Anyway, message has been sent and they claim they are on their way 🤷🏼‍♀️

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