My builder just took my fireplace

[Designjunkie]

I am currently having some building work done and a fireplace in the bedroom had to be removed. It is a very pretty tiled Victorian one. I had intended to sell it but with lockdown and not having any place to store it I told my builder to get rid of it. At 07:30 this Saturday morning my husband answers the door to one of the builders saying he needs to take some stuff from our site. He doesn’t say what he is taking. We weren’t expecting them today although they usually work on most Saturdays so we weren’t surprised to see one of them. It’s only when my husband sees a van from a fireplace specialist outside that he clicks that the builders have sold our fireplace. By then it is too late to go and stop them as they leave before my husband can go talk to them. AIBU to be annoyed my builder didn’t tell me what he was up to or am I being ungrateful as I told him to get rid of it ? I feel it was a bit underhand as it just happened without my knowledge. Should I say anything to my builder or let it go ?

in future get off your arse... and RTFT?

Maybe you should have had the conversation with him which asked him what would he do with the fireplace, did he know anyone who may be interested in buying it. In which case you could have gone 50/50, but you didn't unfortunately, so, your loss and his gain, that's the way it goes I'm afraid.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

🎤🎶🎶 Mamaaaaa, just didn't read the thread Started typing lighting speed Must say YABU, cannot cede 🎶🎶🎶

Ah, I've missed your poems/songs😊

Were you not paying attention in history class, OP?

Turbulent priests, fireplaces, no matter. No good comes of asking people to rid you of them.

@longtompot good mood, sun and good company bring out the special talents in us all😂

Morally he did the right thing - much better the fireplace be recycled than go to landfill as you requested.

Legally I’m pretty sure that he owes you the £ he got for it (there was a similar case once i think). But noone sensible would pursue a claim like this when the builder knows where you live...

On what basis would he legally owe the money @Skysblue ?

@Skysblue

Morally he did the right thing - much better the fireplace be recycled than go to landfill as you requested.

Legally I’m pretty sure that he owes you the £ he got for it (there was a similar case once i think). But noone sensible would pursue a claim like this when the builder knows where you live...

As I said up thread, then the OP would owe a third party fee.

It's all good though, the OP got over it days ago!

You told him to get rid of it, he saw it was something not to take to the dump. What you don't like is he made a profit from it.

People (including me) love those old fireplaces and they shouldnt go down the dump. By telling him to get rid you gave it him and they he can do what he likes.

Has anyone pointed out yet that OP told him to get rid of it?

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Has anyone pointed out yet that OP told him to get rid of it?

😱 no

I have tos ay that more annoying than rft is the "omg you uncultured swine" thing from some posters. I like old things too. I actually had small collection of copper stuff hundred + year old. I LOVE old stuff and if I had victorian house with the fire place I would pee a little with happines and keep it.
Even I can see why some people wouldn't 🤷🏻 It's not bad to have a different style and not like some things....

You'd rather it had ended up in landfill??

Was that at me or ? Because that's absolutely not what I said and OP saw the light days ago😁

Far better sold than in landfill.

Your first inclination was to sell your fireplace so you must have known there was likely some value.

If it's too much work during lockdown for you to do the legwork involved in finding a buyer then that's surely your problem. Your builder was given full reign to 'get rid' as he saw fit... He recycled it... be happy!

@SchrodingersImmigrant same! We pretty much bought a fireplace with a house attached to it - though in practice we hardly ever use it because we're good little liberals.