To expect tradespeople to tell you when they are coming?

[Santastealer]

Job needed doing which takes about an hour. Told it would Wednesday - Friday this week. I explained they would need to let me know before hand as I work and won’t be home.

Wednesday afternoon they turn up with no notice. I was just leaving home to pick up my son from school so had to send them away. Told them to phone me with an organised time. Chased them Thursday via phone and email. Eventually got told they would come Friday and would ring with a time. Heard nothing so far and I’ve got to go out mid afternoon to collect my son.

AIBU to expect people to let me know when they are coming!

And also if they show up and I need to do the school AIBU to lock them out of the house for 15 minutes and make them wait in their van? I don’t feel comfortable leaving people I don’t know in my house.

As it's only a small job, they probably hoped that they could fit it in at the end of one of the 3 working days. They finished early on Wednesday, so went to you.

But, YANBU to expect them to have phoned you to check you were going to be there.

In absolutely fine with them chancing it when on another local job.

But I’ve waited in all day so far and heard nothing, I’m going to be very annoyed if they don’t show. It’s a job that needs doing fairly urgently and I’ve already paid them for it.

They are wasting their own time as much as yours.
It's a stupid way to do things.

@apooagnuandyou

They are wasting their own time as much as yours. It's a stupid way to do things.

Totally. I work part time and have 2 kids, the chances of catching me at home for an hour without pre-notice is slim!

Absolutely no way is that right. We have had plasterers, painters, garden people, all sorts over the past 3 years (persimmon new build) every single one of them was told “do not arrive before 9:15 and expect to be allowed access. Plan for me to be out of the house from 2:40 to 3:20 every day.”
Every single time they didn’t respect that I would shut the door on them.
I have been known to tell them to leave my property at 2:30pm and when they weren’t gone, I would phone their supervisor in front of them and get him to make them leave.
I have locked them out, with their tools inside my house. Frankly if they can’t be arsed to respect that I have to collect my children from school, I can’t be arsed to respect their schedule.

YANBU. Have you paid them anything yet? If not, I think personally if they didn't show up today I would be looking for a different company.

I can get them chancing their luck on Wednesday and it wasn't convenient so no harm done (if they weren't pissy about it) but I would be annoyed that they were supposed to come today and haven't shown yet or let you know when they're planning on coming or if they're even going to come

YANBU I have had this a few times and they seem put out when I’ve not been in - sometimes they don’t even specify a day, just say “next week”

Yes we’ve paid them as the part is a bespoke fit and needed making.

I’ve just chased up the office and he is going to try and get in touch with the fitter and get back to me. I need to go out to collect my son in an hour so they are going to struggle to fit today now if they want an early Friday afternoon finish!

I’m more annoyed at the lack of communication. I told them I could be very flexible and work around them as long as they let me know what day and time. I can sort someone else to do the school run, or use the after school club, but I have to know in advance to do this.

@DinoHat

YANBU I have had this a few times and they seem put out when I’ve not been in - sometimes they don’t even specify a day, just say “next week”

Annoying isn’t it! They were huffy when I sent them away on Wednesday after they turned up just as I was setting off to collect my son.

Just heard back and they are not coming today as they can’t get hold of a second fitter to help with the job. They can come on Monday but that’s no use to me as I’m at work all day.

I’ve given them 3 3 hour slots next week that they can attend and told them I want to know by Tuesday which of those times they are coming. If they don’t I will request a refund from them and go elsewhere.

So annoyed!!!