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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:
contentedsoul · 25/10/2019 17:05

I wouldn't do it
If I were a farmer..then fair do's. But not a normal size garden...just how big is your garden op?

Beveren · 25/10/2019 17:05

Who could possibly have an issue with helping someone out?!?

Maybe someone who has an issue with getting prosecuted for breach of planning regulations as a result?

As for your personal attack on OP, @Butterflyone12e, pots and kettles come to mind.

Beveren · 25/10/2019 17:07

Maybe because they’re got better things to get their kickers twisted over.

Seems reasonable to get your kickers, or even your knickers, twisted over the prospect of getting fined for breaching planning rules?

IdiotInDisguise · 25/10/2019 17:10

I wonder how many months or years will the sign be in your garden. Do you get extra points towards projects every time someone knocks at the door asking for info.

As someone said above, think of something the joiner can do to improve your house in exchange, you can ask your husband to tell his friend that the wifey won’t agree to it unles xyz is done.

InsertFunnyUsername · 25/10/2019 17:11

Cant say I would be raging about a sign in the garden tbh.

WorraLiberty · 25/10/2019 17:15

It wouldn't bother me at all.

I'd be inclined to check out a few reviews though, in case it's a cowboy outfit and I got one or two people knocking at my door.

WorraLiberty · 25/10/2019 17:16

I wonder how many months or years will the sign be in your garden.

No need for the OP to wonder that though is there?

icantgetnosleep8 · 25/10/2019 17:17

I'm with you OP! I wouldn't want it in my garden

rwalker · 25/10/2019 17:17

Can't see the problem unless you are the type of person who doesn't like helping anyone

Actionhasmagic · 25/10/2019 17:18

Yanbu I wouldn’t want that either . I would try maybe help in a different way like recommend him to friends

Seaweed42 · 25/10/2019 17:19

See the thing is this guy is not a friend or a mate. The OP has never heard of this person.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 25/10/2019 17:20

My only issue with this would be that passers by will either think the joiner lives in your house and knock on your door with enquiries, or will think you've had work done by him and be hoping to come in and look at it.

SunshineCake · 25/10/2019 17:21

YABU

If it was your friend would you want something to be in it for you too ?Hmm.

Noflora · 25/10/2019 17:25

Wouldn't bother me at all.

Blossie0 · 25/10/2019 17:31

YANBU.

You don't know the person, there is nothing in it for you and people will assume the business is connected to your house!

Tell your Dh to say wife has said no sorry!

Anniegetyourgun · 25/10/2019 17:42

If you don't get the council on your neck for appearing to run a business from a residential property at the very least I'll be surprised.

As for "it's what friends do for each other" - eh? I've never had a friend or family member ask for or offer such a favour. For that matter I've very rarely seen any business advertised on private property apart from their own. And I suspect there is a good reason for that. (Could be because I live in the snobby South East of England...) I can only say that if XH had cheerfully announced that he'd offered a piece of our garden for some random bod up the road to stick boards on I would have had a great deal to say, the bottom line of which would have been "ain't 'appening".

Anyway, doesn't everyone advertise online nowadays? Aren't billboards kind of last century?

ShadowOnTheSun · 25/10/2019 17:42

The sign itself wouldn't bother me, but what WOULD bother me is this: what if this mate is doing a shit job and has lots of pissed off customers who could turn up on your doorstep, assuming the business is yours as it's your garden with a sign on? This would bother me.

Alsohuman · 25/10/2019 17:45

If you don't get the council on your neck for appearing to run a business from a residential property at the very least I'll be surprised.

Do you know how underfunded councils are? The listed building next to us is sporting a plastic front door because they haven’t got enough staff to enforce the restrictions.

tigger001 · 25/10/2019 17:50

I wouldn't be over the moon, but I would just accept he is helping a friend out for a bit and as a PP said I would put a time limit on it.

It definitely wouldn't be raging.

WorraLiberty · 25/10/2019 17:52

If you don't get the council on your neck for appearing to run a business from a residential property at the very least I'll be surprised.

Really not a problem though is it? It'll take a matter of minutes to prove otherwise.

Mouikey · 25/10/2019 17:54

Not sure if it’s been said as I haven’t read the whole thread. But you are most likely to need advertisement consent for that.

Twinkletoenails · 25/10/2019 17:57

Agree with Frieda and Winter. Get a bit of work done in exchange?

BrendasUmbrella · 25/10/2019 18:10

I would not be fine with it.Not only is it a favour for someone you don't even know, but the sign could be an eyesore. I'm surprised so many people say they would be fine with it!

And it could lead people to knock on your door with enquiries, thinking your home is the company HQ...

If you're lumbered with it now, agree that it will be weeks, not months, and have it taken away before December.

BrendasUmbrella · 25/10/2019 18:12

Really not a problem though is it? It'll take a matter of minutes to prove otherwise.

In my experience dealing with the council never takes "a matter of minutes".

HollowTalk · 25/10/2019 18:22

Love it that all these posters wouldn't mind if someone did this to them. Of course he's unreasonable, OP. Just tell him to tell this bloke not to do it.