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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is my partner overcharging my mum for work he has done?

568 replies

Lleeaahh1992 · 14/03/2021 19:33

My mums house was in a state of disrepair and needed plastering painting and lots of old furniture getting rid of her house hadnt had anything done to it for 25 years. My mum isnt in the best of health and is also a carer for my dad who is bed bound.

My partner offered to do the painting and get his dad to help him as his dad is a retired plasterer and painter. My partner isnt a painter but is pretty good at it, but he cant plaster thats why he was getting his dad to help. Anyway it turned out the housing association done the plastering so she only needed some things polyfilling and the house painting. He said he would get his dad anyway as it would be quicker that way.

It was agreed they would be paid £10 per hour each, he said they would probaly be working 10 hour days but if it varied they would only charge for the hours worked.

Anyway my mum waited two months for my partner to start as he kept putting it off but finally started last week and has just finished. The thing thats bothering me is most of the days he has worked, he has finished at a half hour or less so e.g 7.5 hours, 6.5 hours and so on and his dad only worked 3 days out of the 7. He has now said any day that he finished part way through the hour even by 10 minutes he is charging the full hour because thats how it works he says. So altogether he is charging for 6 lots of half hours that he didnt work, and 3 lots of half hours for his dad that his dad didn't work. And he is charging 39 pound for his dads travel for the 3 days he worked. So altogether it is £84 added onto the bill. Im not happy about this because he agreed with my mum he would only charge what they worked and said nothing about travel for his dad .

When iv broached it with him he has told me to keep out of it as he is the one sorting it out and he done some bits an bobs for free a few months ago like dismantling and removing furniture because my mum was struggling. Shall i stand my ground and say this is unfair and was not agreed to or just leave him to it?

OP posts:
HollyGoLoudly1 · 14/03/2021 19:57

They're wanting to charge £800 meaning they did 80 hours worth of painting? How big is this house?? I'm also not a professional but painted my own house when we moved, a 3 bed house, in less than a week. On my own.

He's taking the complete piss.

stegosaurus12 · 14/03/2021 19:58

My partner is a tradesman and I can say be absolutely wouldn't charge my mother for any work done.

Chanjer · 14/03/2021 19:59

Bandit tbh

Summerdayshaze · 14/03/2021 19:59

What a conning, thieving cunt.

woodhill · 14/03/2021 19:59

Disgusting OP, particularly his dad's travel

abstractprojection · 14/03/2021 20:01

Looking at the total price I don’t think he’s over charging. It works out as £60 per person per day, and £800 inc. all materials is a good deal and well below what they said it could cost and well below what a tradesman (even a unqualified handyman type) would charge for even just a 1 bed flat.

How he’s communicated this is poor, he shouldn’t have given a per hour price. He should have given a quote for the job

Comefromaway · 14/03/2021 20:02

I recently paid about £400 to get my living room, kitchen and 3 bedrooms painted.

WeAllHaveWings · 14/03/2021 20:02

He is taking the piss and taking advantage of your mum.

He is not a professional, he is not paying tax, he is supposed to be family and when you query it you are told to keep out of it 😮

You are letting him rip your mum off. 😮

Comefromaway · 14/03/2021 20:03

But you do things for family because they are family.

Southwest12 · 14/03/2021 20:04

That sounds awful. My dad redecorated my Grans flat for her for nothing, he wasn't a professional but was good at decorating. He'd never have dreamed of charging her. Think she got him some beer to say thank you!

I've just had a professional decorator in. He painted two walls and wallpapered another and put up two curtain rails for me, all for £100.

HollyGoLoudly1 · 14/03/2021 20:04

@abstractprojection

Looking at the total price I don’t think he’s over charging. It works out as £60 per person per day, and £800 inc. all materials is a good deal and well below what they said it could cost and well below what a tradesman (even a unqualified handyman type) would charge for even just a 1 bed flat.

How he’s communicated this is poor, he shouldn’t have given a per hour price. He should have given a quote for the job

£800 is well below what a painter would charge for a 1 bed flat? Where do you live??
delilahbucket · 14/03/2021 20:05

And you are still with him why? My other half plastered my mum's ceiling and only took money for it at my mum's insistence.

ShrikeAttack · 14/03/2021 20:05

Well your 'partner' and his father are stealing from your elderly parents.

Now tell me all his good points.

JudgeRindersMinder · 14/03/2021 20:05

I couldn’t be with someone who wanted my parents to pay them.

BrilliantBetty · 14/03/2021 20:05

LTB!!!

Still1nLove · 14/03/2021 20:06

He deserves to be paid if he’s done 7 days of work, presuming he took time out of his day job to do your mum’s house. But the overcharging is unforgivable!

How long have you been a couple? How is he with you and your relationship?

I couldn’t be with someone who ripped anyone off, but to rip off your mum is a whole new level!!

Livpool · 14/03/2021 20:06

Your partner is vile for ripping off your poor mum - what a horror. I wouldn't put up with that - and would definitely be getting involved

Lochmorlich · 14/03/2021 20:06

Your dp is a cf.
My dh has spent many, many hours doing jobs for my dm.
Painting, gardening etc.
Not only has he not charged he has bought any small bits himself.
Unless your dp has lost money doing the work for your dm or he’s poor he’s a mean man.

BrilliantBetty · 14/03/2021 20:07

This is so sad. I feel sorry for your mum being ripped off by your partner.

On it's own £10 an hour is a good price for decorating... but this isn't what this is. It's him agreeing something and then going back on it. Expecting her to pay what she doesn't owe. Awful behaviour.

WisnaeMe · 14/03/2021 20:08

if it was My MUM I'd definitely be getting FUCKING INVOLVED ?!

what the hell is wrong with YOU.. this is Your Mother OMFG

Hankunamatata · 14/03/2021 20:08

Your mums a carer for your disabled dad. I'm pretty disgusted by your partners attitude. He isnt a tradesman and not a trained painter.

Candyfloss99 · 14/03/2021 20:08

He sounds horrible. I know my partner wouldn't charge my mother a penny. I don't think I could be with him anymore if I were you.

Onjnmoeiejducwoapy · 14/03/2021 20:08

How can you even consider staying with someone who is STEALING FROM YOUR PARENTS?!?! lol if a man ever tried to do this to me he would be moving countries after I had a “chat”

Onedropbeat · 14/03/2021 20:08

That’s not really on

My DH spent many of his free weekends designing, building and fitting a new kitchen and only charged for the cost of materials

I do things and make things for my in-laws too but would never charge them

Onjnmoeiejducwoapy · 14/03/2021 20:09

Call HMRC on him for tax evasion.