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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Painters messing you around....aibu

15 replies

DilemmaADay · 08/12/2019 11:27

Hired a painter to come and finish a wall of my kitchen and plaster and paint the ceiling. I asked them to come at 11am today, they asked at 7pm the night before if they could come earlier. I suggested 10.30am. They asked if they could come at 9am. I said that's too early I need to get some paint in (sunday trading hours). They agreed on 10-10.30. I told them at 10.30 I had the paint and they said they were at a job half an hour away?!....They have just text me asking if they can come in the afternoon....3.30pm?! I've said that's far too late as all natural light would be gone by then. I've not heard back.

Aibu unreasonable to just want to hire a new painter here, I've been messed around a lot recently and dont understand why people cant just stick to a time (or within an hour or so), are people that really poor at planning schedules?? Okay rant over

OP posts:

Original poster

DilemmaADay · 08/12/2019 15:39

They've pushed it back another half hour ffs is there even a point it will be so dark when they come

OP posts:

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 08/12/2019 15:43

A bit of lateness cam be unavoidable for trades people but that's ridiculous. How much needs painting?

LittleLongDog · 08/12/2019 15:51

They might have lighting with them.

But to essentially push back your job to take on another when they’d already confirmed with you is not great is it? I’d be inclined to tell them not to bother and then hire someone else.

HilaryBriss · 08/12/2019 15:58

11:00am is a strange time to ask a painter to come tbh, tradespeople usually start early.

They probably planned to do you in the morning and another job in the afternoon - you asking them to come at 11:00 probably meant that they wouldn't be able to do that so they did the other job first instead.

Fish69er · 08/12/2019 20:35

Did you offer to pay them extra for their time. When you want them to hang around for the first few hours of their working day, till you're ready for them?
The tradesmen are only trying to make a living, working a full day or trying to fit in 2 half days work in a day. If they start at 11am they can't do anyone else that day. So they need to earn to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families.

1Morewineplease · 08/12/2019 20:40

It might have been helpful to get the paint the day or more beforehand. They might have assumed you’d be ages getting the paint. I know it’s unfair that they took on another job, but you’d probably have had the job done if you’d already got the paint and let them start at 9.

Janice88 · 08/12/2019 21:11

You knew painters were coming, didn’t you? Then why didn’t you buy paint on Saturday?

Coulddowithanap · 08/12/2019 21:13

Have I read that wrong, the painter is going to plaster and paint a ceiling? Can't do that in one day.
Unusual for them to work on a Sunday too. (I'm my experience, don't know any tradespeople that work Sundays for anything unless it's an emergency)

Dutch1e · 08/12/2019 21:14

Yanbu. I can completely understand a tradie charging by the half-day and not wanting to waste time but the time to explain that is before you take the job.

HugoSpritz · 08/12/2019 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShirleyPhallus · 08/12/2019 21:21

Think it’s a bit more odd you waited until the day of the job to buy the paint. What if the shop didn’t have in what you wanted....?

cowfacemonkey · 08/12/2019 21:26

Weird not to buy the paint before the day they are due and most tradesmen wouldn't want to start a job at 11am. They should have told you that sooner though.

HanginWithMyGnomies · 09/12/2019 00:21

Yabu yo expect them to start so late. Trades usually start very early. They could have communicated better though.

Purpleartichoke · 09/12/2019 00:56

I wouldn’t expect a painter to sit around half the work day before starting my job.

Our most recent painter had a last minute cancellation and offered me a huge discount if I could let his crew come basically right then. I had to scramble for paint, but jumped at the chance.

They don’t like to have any downtime.

R00TME · 09/12/2019 17:04

I am a professional trader and the whole situation makes no sense to me.

The paint whoever is agreed to supply it must be ready before the starting date. If that was you to supply the paint and you didn't do your homework but instead wanted to delay their coming to be able to supply the paint I see no reason why you should complain. If I was the tradesman and you haven't supplied the paint in advance, that will be an obvious sign you are not very reliable and organised person so same may happen with the payment at the end. I will cancel such a work immediately.

In case they had to supply all the materials but wanted a delay that's another story and then you should cancel.

I am not going to comment the work itself as it is not related to your complaint obviously. In any case starting at 10 or midday on Sunday doesn't make sense.

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