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AIBU?

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Original poster

New neighbour wanting free work done

260 replies

Nothankyou0 · 31/07/2020 18:42

We’ve just had a new lady move in two doors down from us. There are 3 different tradesmen living on this stretch of road one being my husband. I’ve noticed that since this lady has moved in, she is really taking the piss. For example, before she met my husband I noticed that the other two tradesmen were very regularly helping her with her house (she has gutted it all and is doing it up). We’re friends with them and know that she isn’t paying them. They’ll do things like give her lifts to b&q and back helping her bring materials into her house, concerting her garden and other things inside the house. Then she met my husband and ever since she’s been texting every day asking advice, she has had him round there every night for the last 4 days two hours at a time helping her fit cables in her house. She isn’t paying him for this. She’s now hinting at him fitting her new kitchen (obviously she is paying for all of the supplies etc) My husband says he doesn’t mind but to be honest I’m getting pissed off as he’s missed dinner with me and the children while he’s there and also the fact that she barely knows him and is getting free work done. I think this woman is obviously trying her luck to see how much free work she can get done between the three men. I want to say that I don’t want my husband going there anymore unless she is paying him his normal rate (or even mates rates as after all she is our neighbour and we’re happy to help when we can but without taking the piss!) what would you say?

OP posts:
TheCanyon · 31/07/2020 21:46

You lot are actually mental, why can't men and women be friends and do favours for each other?

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 21:48

Depends what sort of favours, @TheCanyon.

saltycat · 31/07/2020 21:51

Favours are fine, manipulation is not.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 31/07/2020 21:55

Everything on this site is like the start of a porn film these days.

3 guys all 'doing work' on one woman's house... oh no, she has no money to pay them, what will she do.

"You laid my cables for 2 hours, so it's only fair I should lay yours"

However if this is real tell your hubby to stop being a knob and help you with his actual family and not some random neighbour. She will rope someone else in if he can't do it anyway. He isn't special I was her once upon a time, and my house was lovely

saltycat · 31/07/2020 21:57

I enjoy threads where the Covid word is never mentioned TBH, content irrelevant, just laugh along and enjoy.

This is one of them.

Standrewsschool · 31/07/2020 21:58

@saltycat, until you mentioned it...

Chocoholic12 · 31/07/2020 22:20

Defo a husband problem OP....... bet she is attractive.

howfarwevecome · 31/07/2020 22:22

Your DH should know better. He's dumping you with the children to impress a new single neighbour. Fun times.

Put your foot down.

honeygirlz · 31/07/2020 22:27

These 3 men are very stupid if they can't see the whole house is gutted and needs doing up.

StoneofDestiny · 31/07/2020 22:35

So this woman has 3 tradesmen to do all her house renovations for free despite her only moving to the area. Wow.
Wish I knew her approach.

TinkersTailor · 31/07/2020 22:35

@Namechange2020onceagain

Why do men fall for this? He has done over a days work for free this week.

I can't stand women that use their "wiles" the get free stuff, it gives proper women a bad name, where are her scruples?

She may as well go the whole hog and become a prostitute. (Not that there is anything wrong with that, at least they are honest).

You can't be serious, surely? Prostitute?

Get a grip.

caramelbun · 31/07/2020 22:39

Big jugs for sure.

Iwanttobeanonymous · 31/07/2020 22:53

I have lots of jobs that need doing and a hopless dh. I am really really nice and I can assure you that I would have no designs on his body and as I'm short, fat and sixty something I doubt he would have any, um, ulterior motives. I can pay in cups of tea.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 31/07/2020 22:55

I've got big tits op.Ill flash them to him if he can fix my fence Wink

jimmyjammy001 · 31/07/2020 23:01

Just give him a list of jobs to do if he has time to do jobs for other people, he will soon put his foot down to free work

giantangryrooster · 31/07/2020 23:01

@Iwanttobeanonymous
I would have no designs on his body
Eh? You mean tattoos, then count me in Grin.

JammyHands · 31/07/2020 23:09

My mother had a neighbour like this. Luckily when she moved in, someone knew her from elsewhere and everyone was forewarned. That’s not to say people didn’t help her out in emergencies - they did, but all the wives kept an eye on their husbands because she had a bit of a reputation.

MorningManiacMusic · 01/08/2020 06:48

OP have you asked your husband why he felt it appropriate to help the new neighbour?

How did she find out she had moved onto a street full of helpful tradesmen?

A mate of dp's is coming to fix my new shower this morning. I expect he's offering his services (fnar fnar, move over Barbara Windsor) because I'm such a catch.

MorningManiacMusic · 01/08/2020 06:49

The wives kept an eye on their husbands?

To help the poor wee helpless souls not have their dicks accidentally fall into the neighbour?

Welcome to Stepford version 2020. Hmm

Bluntness100 · 01/08/2020 06:57

It never ceases to amaze me how many women on here seem to treat their partners Like some form of prized possession and protect it jealously in case someone “steals” them away. Gollum with the ring muttering “my precious” springs to mind.

Personally if he’s happy to help her why not, as long as he takes the time for the kids and you, that would be my issue, past that, you either trust him or you don’t.

If you don’t and you think he’s doing it so he can get laid you need to question if jealously guarding him is the answer, if you do trust him. then let him help her.

squeekums · 01/08/2020 07:24

If she asked and they said yes, well, she isn't the problem. They are functional men who can say no I assume?

Your dh knows it makes you unhappy and isn't listening. That's the problem

pilates · 01/08/2020 07:42

This is very unusual for a tradesperson to do something for free even if she’s a neighbour. She seems to have a hold over them and I would be trying to find out why.

CasuallyMasculine · 01/08/2020 07:54

You lot are actually mental, why can't men and women be friends and do favours for each other?

What favours is she doing for the OP’s DH in return for the work he’s doing for her?

This is a one-way street, there’s no comparison with people helping each other out.

bobbiester · 01/08/2020 07:54

i can guarantee she's making cups of coffee/tea/coke/water having banter and chats while he's working. Probably rustles him up a sandwich too.

Oh the horror!!! Someone possibly being nice.

Getting a bit confused now - I thought she was supposed to be a CF for freeloading and getting work done for nothing? How does it make it worse if she's providing food and drink?

Billben · 01/08/2020 07:57

@Imissmoominmama

I’ve sent my husband to help lots of my friends during lockdown. I’ve helped people too- I joined the NHS volunteer group... am I a mug too?
Do you really think fitting a new kitchen for somebody for free is comparable to you helping people with odd bits here and there (I’m guessing the NHS volunteering group offered shopping, a bit of gardening etc and not free kitchen fittings, right)