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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My DH has agreed to something stupid or AIBU?

168 replies

OrangeTwirlGate · 25/10/2019 13:56

Phone call from DH

DH: “Forgot to say, my friend rang and asked if he could advertise his new business in our front garden so I said yes. So he will be coming today to put the sign in”

Me: “WTF! Who? What business? Why didn’t you ask me???”

DH: “oh just - (insert name of someone I’ve never heard of) - and his joinery business. It will just be like the size of a for sale sign or something and he will knock it into the grass. Just for a few weeks or months maybe”

I am raging with him the utter knob. We live on a main route into the city so yes it would be a prime position but I’ve never even heard of his friend. And there is nothing in it for us.

So AIBU? WWYD?

sigh men

OP posts:
Beautiful3 · 25/10/2019 14:33

No I wouldnt allow it. I'd tell them no.

AmIThough · 25/10/2019 14:34

Are you angry because he has a friend you don't know?

Fairenuff · 25/10/2019 14:35

As long as you comply with planning and insurance, no problem.

BlankTimes · 25/10/2019 14:35

Usually firms that have done visible work on a house discount the price if the owners will agree to having a sign outside for a few weeks, so passing prospects will see good quality work and contact the trader direct.

Whilst your DH's mate has picked a good spot for an advertising board (your place) to catch random passing prospects, the fact none of his work is on display there wouldn't encourage me to contact him.

northernknickers · 25/10/2019 14:37

My word...you're very cross over an inanimate sign 😱. Have a nice glass of wine, then it will all seem much better 👍🍷

rainbowstardrops · 25/10/2019 14:37

Some of the answers on here seriously make me shake my head!
Of course your DH should have run it past you first!
You've said you don't even know this person, so it's clearly not a close friend!

diddl · 25/10/2019 14:38

So he's not paying & has never done work for you?

I wouldn't want that I don't think.

People will be thinking that he's worked for you & you would recommend him.

Or you might get people knocking to see the work that he did for you!

bodgeitandscarper · 25/10/2019 14:39

Just put a ramshackle shed beside it, they'd probably move it sharpish.

VelvetSoft · 25/10/2019 14:40

I wouldn't be cross as such but if I didn't know the bloke or the business I'd be google / facebook stalking the business just to ensure that there would be no irate customers knocking at my door before I agreed.

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/10/2019 14:41

It’s a ridiculous idea, it’ll look awful & all of you who are saying you wouldn’t be bothered by it are utter doormats.

If he does it just take the sign down and put it in the shed.

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 25/10/2019 14:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Furiosa · 25/10/2019 14:41

I wouldn't like this either. There's lots to consider about erecting a sign in your front garden.

Do you need planning permission?
Who is responsible for damage if it comes off in high winds etc?
What if the neighbors complain?
Will your address be associated with the business?

Most businesses pay for advertising so why can't this guy do the same? You might get other businesses asking you to do the same for them. I wouldn't want my front garden seem as advertising space, I think it's a really cheeky thing for someone YOU don't know to ask.

Def check out planning permission, you don't want to get a fine.

Brackish · 25/10/2019 14:42

I wouldn't dream of doing this. Well, the fact that my house is down a lane on its own on the edge of a village isn't exactly going to have tradesmen knocking on my door to beg for my prime advertising spot, but no, my garden isn't an advertising space, especially for a business that is nothing to do with anyone who lives here, or for a trandesman who's not done work on my house that I'm happy with.

KurriKurri · 25/10/2019 14:42

If it's only the size of a for sale board in principle I wouldn't mind.
Things that might bother me would be - would you get people knocking on your door asking about the business?
Do you know whether this guy is a good joiner? If he's shit I wouldn't want to feel I was advertising for him.
I'd also as others have said want to check I wasn't breaking any regulations.
But if I were married and shared a house with someone I think I'd see it as their house too so they could make decisions regarding it. If your husband doesn't have any problems with the advert, then his view is as valid as yours. Although he could have consulted you first - but probably didn't think it was a big deal (and neither do most posters on here)

headinhands · 25/10/2019 14:43

See I wouldn't call that stupid. If however he had agreed to have 17 angry hornets inserted into his anus? Yeah that would be stupid. But this, sound like he's helping a friend who is thinking of creative ways to advertise.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/10/2019 14:44

This says that you may need planning permission if the sign is bigger than square metres, which it may not be as estate agent's signs are probably deliberately smaller than that size. But you need to check on your own council website, as rules may vary.

If this 'friend' isn't that close to your DH, how come it's your garden that he's picked to put his sign in?

And he's not going to offer any incentive to you for this. Not even a token offering like odd DIY jobs or a bottle of something?

cactusthief · 25/10/2019 14:45

The problem is a friend who I’ve never heard of.

So? Bloody hell, does your husband have to hand over a list of his friends names every few week?

I'm not sure I have ever sat and extensively listed my friends to DH Confused

Would you gladly have an advert stuck in your front garden for all to see?

I would be non fussed. It's a piece of wood.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/10/2019 14:45

0.3 square metres that is.

asprinklingofsugar · 25/10/2019 14:45

I don't get the responses on this thread - maybe I wouldn't exactly be raging, but I would definitely be seriously annoyed.

  1. Not only do you not know this person, you've never even heard of them or their business.
  2. You'll have a big sign in your front garden and you don't know exactly what size it is, what it's going to look like or how long it will be there for.
  3. It might ruin the look of your front garden.
  4. You might get people coming to your door to ask about the business - I know that I tend to assume signs like this are in the garden of the owner. The other reason I could think of, would be if you had used the company and were either absolutely delighted with the results, or had received a discount, neither of which applies.
  5. And you don't know exactly how good the standard of work carried out by this company is. I'd definitely suggest looking up reviews for the business online, as if they don't have a good reputation, it's not really something you want to be associating yourself closely with.
  6. It doesn't benefit you in anyway, and as the business owner is not a close friend you're unlikely to go to them, if you need a favour in the near future
  7. Awkward conversations with friends and family who visit and wonder why you've got this sign in your garden (this point's lighthearted!)
  8. Your DH has unilaterally decided to make a decision about your home without consulting you. He didn't even say he'd agreed and then ask if you were okay with it. He says it's happening so it's happening. This would definitely make me unhappy as you're supposed to be a partnership who discusses and makes decisions together.
comedycentral · 25/10/2019 14:46

Depending on your council, you could be taken to court for this. Doing a favour for a mate is not much of a defense. If he is too cheap to pay for real advertising then I bet he would be too cheap to pay your fine. It only takes one rival company to report you and your are liable.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/10/2019 14:49

People assuming that the joiner lived in the house and knocking asking for quotes etc would be seriously annoying.

If it's knocked into the grass it will make cutting the grass awkward too.

EileenAlanna · 25/10/2019 14:50

Tell him no. I believe you would need to apply for planning permission for this as its doesn't fall within one of the permitted classes & if you go ahead without it YOU will be the one with a fine etc as a result. Your neighbours might not take kindly to it either, is it worth the hassle it could bring down?
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11499/326679.pdf

Ponoka7 · 25/10/2019 14:50

As long as your DH knows his hone address and will give it to you.

If i saw, the advert and then got a botched job, or was, let down half way through, it would be your door I'd be knocking on.

If your DH knows him well, there shouldn't be a problem.

Daddylonglegs1965 · 25/10/2019 14:51

It wouldn’t bother me but I would be asking DH if friend could do X Y Z in the exchange for the free publicity.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 25/10/2019 14:51

I don't get some of the responses on this thread. If my DH agreed to sticking a bloody great sign in our front garden advertising a business I know nothing about without even consulting me I'd be pissed off too. This guy might be a complete cowboy for all you know. You could get people assuming he lives at your address or is working there knocking on the door to complain.