AIBU tradesmen wwyd?

[Wife2b]

Just had new windows put, cost us a fortune but needed doing, workmen have been amazing, worked flat out, lovely and polite etc. Job done top spec.

Unfortunately it’s an old house and the drains are collapsing. We found someone online with very good reviews and they came and quoted used about 4/5k + vat depending on the size of the problem. They’re now saying it’ll be 5/6k + vat as pipes are in bad form.

Now comes my gripe, I feel that this bloke spends more time in his van than anything else. They said 5 days work, we’re on day 4 now and barely anything has been done, they’ve dug the hole but it’s not changed much since.

I’ve started keeping a log because I have a feeling we’re being taken for a ride. Today he has done 1 hour 25 mins of work, left without a word for 1 hour 40mins, came back and sat in the van on his phone for 5 mins. Eventually started working again so I went out to see how things were getting on, he’s got his music on and doing push ups on the garage floor.

AIBU to think we’re being taken for a mug? I don’t know what to do - the back garden still needs to be dug up, the old pipe hasn’t even been pulled out yet and we’re on day 4!

Wwyd?

Reason I mentioned the windows is because they were being fitted when the drain men started, I wonder if they think we’re made of money (which we’re definitely not!).

Push ups!! Hahaha YADNBU op that’s outrageous 😂

Sack him.
And quick before he 'discovers' more work.

Is the quote for the whole job, regardless of time taken? Or have the stuck in fees if the job goes longer than 5 days? And was their quote similar to the other quotes you will have gotten?

Have you got a schedule of work? Have you got all the materials you will have paid for incase they walk off?

What conversations have you had with them?

Have you got a proper written quote? 5-6k is a bit vague.

Ask him how it's going and when he expects to be finished, as he said it would take 5 days.

I’ve not had anything really - my other half has spoken to them who have said it’s money for the job but because of the nature of it, it’s difficult to give a fixed quote. We’ve not had an invoice or contract etc. They’re definitely higher end of the scale in terms of quotes in the area but they had good reviews so we trusted them.

Speak to him, tell him you expect him to work whilst he’s there. Day 4? He should be finished by now! I’d also be requesting a proper invoice.

So you don't have a quote in writing but you've given them the job on a "we can't actually tell toy what it will cost" basis? So they could charge you anything by then end of this?
It sounds as thought your husband is incompetent. You need to take control, get it all in writing with costs broken down for materials etc and payment schedule with a work schedule. Do what should have been done at the start.

How much have you paid already?

My neighbours are having some work done. The tradesmen have blocked my car in. I'm not going anywhere but that isn't the point. They are spending more time smoking than working. Throwing the fag butts in my garden. I bagged them up at lunchtime and put them with their tools. I think they got the message.

he’s got his music on and doing push ups on the garage floor.

Sorry OP but this is hilarious! 🤣

@Rillington

What's that got to do with the OP?

So you didn't get a fixed price quotation in writing?
If you want to be nice, tell him he's got 24 hours to buck his ideas up, if you don't want to be nice, just get rid, before you run up a huge bill for his time doing push-ups

Then get a couple of itemised fixed price quotes- with a price included for "day work" invade they find something unexpected when they uncover the pipes.