Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My builder just took my fireplace

342 replies

Designjunkie · 27/02/2021 09:09

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 ?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Lalliella · 27/02/2021 11:35

You should be glad your beautiful fireplace is going to someone who would appreciate it. YABVVVU to have preferred the builder dump it. What a terrible waste that would’ve been.

rosesarered321 · 27/02/2021 11:38

Look the op has admitted she was totally wrong!! Give her a break

PurpleFlower1983 · 27/02/2021 11:38

You should have sold it yourself. He did exactly what you wanted, it’s your own fault you’re out of pocket.

PurpleFlower1983 · 27/02/2021 11:40

I see you have realised that now though, try to move on from it Smile

shrill · 27/02/2021 11:51

Try giving it a positive twist, if you are happy to recommend him see ut as a bonus for the work he's done. He was very open because he could have taken it away and letbyou discover it on a sale website.

FinallyFluid · 27/02/2021 11:51

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

It's not remotely sneaky But 7.30 on a Saturday, no-one's coming in my house then, except the emergency services.
GrinGrinGrin
GoodbyeRosie · 27/02/2021 11:57

Quite refreshing to see an OP accept the answer to the question 'AIBU?' !

Normally an OP refuses to believe they are, then makes up /drip feeds more info to back up their side, or decides to highlight the 1 out of 50 posts agreeing with her.

Well done OP!

NoParticularPattern · 27/02/2021 12:01

What? You’re pissed off that he did as you asked? You’re one of those people who are never happy regardless of what happens aren’t you? If he’d not bothered to get rid I expect you’d have been on here in a month or so all exasperated and eye rolling that he hasn’t done as you asked yet.

Hawkins001 · 27/02/2021 12:18

I understand your perspective, however this was the best method for transporting the item, especially if it reduces any damage, I can understand your point , but at the same time , if the builder had let you know, what his plan was, would you have altered your plan ?

BerylCook · 27/02/2021 12:24

If he was a decent generous person the conversation would have gone like this:

YOU: 'Can you get rid of it builder, I don't have anywhere to store it'
HIM: 'Don't throw it away, I know someone who will buy it off you'
YOU 'Oh great, can I have their details?'
HIM:' Yes, here you go'

What happened was:
YOU: 'Can you get rid of it builder, I don't have anywhere to store it'
HIM: ' Yes, no problem'
(Gets his phone out and calls his mate, agrees a sale, a price, a day and a time, makes a nice amount of £££)
YOU: WTF?

In my experience, the first conversation rarely takes place!
Next time, do the leg work, phone around and sell it yourself.

AtSwimTwoBerts · 27/02/2021 12:36

No I thought that by arranging it outside of working hours made it appear underhanded

It's not outside of (builders) working hours.

justanotherneighinparadise · 27/02/2021 12:39

I’m glad he used some nounce and didn’t just dump it in a skip. He would have made a nice tidy sum I’m sure. Good for him!

MerlinsButler · 27/02/2021 12:49

I love this place sometimes. It's hardly sneaky if he arranged a sign written van to come and collect it. Now if he had said he was going to take it to the tip / scrapyard then passed it on for money that would be sneaky. But still fine as he was following your instructions.

You asked him to get rid of it. As a business he would pay to dispose of it. Instead he used his head and sold it on. If he would have had to pay to tip it - would you have expected a bill?

NotTerfNorCis · 27/02/2021 12:50

Anyone can make mistakes. Don't blame yourself, forget it. :)

Fridainexile · 27/02/2021 12:54

Is this for real ? Good Lord.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/02/2021 12:56

I would have expected him to let me know what time someone would be showing up at my house, especially as 07:30 on a weekend is outside of working hours

Given what they sell for, he probably couldn't believe his luck and wanted to get in before you changed your mind or someone talked you out of it

It's a tough lesson to learn, but at least you know for the next time you want to dispose of anything even slightly unusual

longtompot · 27/02/2021 12:59

I think it was less sneaky him bringing the fireplace person to your house rather him taking it away and then selling it to them. You did say for him to take it. I'd be a bit more careful what I say from now on regarding items removed during the renovation.

Rollmopsrule · 27/02/2021 13:00

You told him to get rid of it so he did. Would you prefer it had been totally wasted and gone to landfill?

Daphnise · 27/02/2021 13:02

It seems you were rather foolish not to arrange to keep it somewhere.

Other than than that it has been disposed of as you demanded, with the builder showing more initiative than you, I'm afraid!

Keepcountingyourfingers · 27/02/2021 13:42

@JohnLapsleyParlabane

Yes you call your builder and tell him he owes you the price received as it wasn't his to sell
She told him to get rid of it. He did.
Sarahandco · 27/02/2021 13:47

He did what you asked - Alternatively it would cost him money to get rid of it I would presume? as he would need to have a skip or similar.

CherryValanc · 27/02/2021 14:09

@JohnLapsleyParlabane

Yes you call your builder and tell him he owes you the price received as it wasn't his to sell
He could then, I assume, charge a third-party fee?
ivfbeenbusy · 27/02/2021 14:13

Well that's karma for you for ripping out a lovely authentic fireplace - don't know why people buy period homes if they don't want keep any of the features 🤷‍♀️

PurpleRainDancer · 27/02/2021 14:28

@JohnLapsleyParlabane

Yes you call your builder and tell him he owes you the price received as it wasn't his to sell
Don’t be so ridiculous Hmm
PigletJohn · 27/02/2021 14:47

I told my builder to get rid of it