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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To put a comment on plumber’s Facebook page?

93 replies

Bagamoyo1 · 30/04/2021 00:00

I had a plumber booked to install a shower on Tuesday this week. It’s been a nightmare getting someone - they’re all so busy.
I texted him on Sunday to confirm and clarify timings. No reply till Monday when he said his van was in the garage and he couldn’t come. Since then I’ve chased him repeatedly, he only replies occasionally, just to tell me that he can’t get through to the garage and he still doesn’t have his van back. He claims he can’t do any work at all without his van.
It’s clearly all a lie, I know that, just because it sounds so ridiculous. But I’ve been polite, haven’t called him out on it, because I want him to do the work.
Anyway I’ve just found him on Facebook. Earlier today he posted several photos of a new bathroom he’s kitted out, saying “some of this week’s work”. I’m so tempted to post “but I thought you couldn’t work this week”, or something similar. Would that be terribly petty? I’m just really pissed off at being messed around. If I could tell him to forget it, I would - but it’s taken me 6 months to even get a quote, so if I cancel I’m back to square one.

OP posts:

RightOnTheEdge · 30/04/2021 10:16

Leave him alone. How entitled. You're prepared to damage someone's livelihood because they aren't getting back to you quickly enough? How important do you think you are?

What a weird attitude! Of course the OP is entitled to have someone turn up when they say they will and do the job they promised

I think I'd give him one more chance to answer your message about whether you should find someone else and then if he's still messing you about leave a review on his Facebook page if he has a business page.

Original poster

Bagamoyo1 · 30/04/2021 10:29

@Dddccc

Most take ppl put posts up like that to get work in i have my own business and keep images and work back and post them spaced out he has more then likely done this and has an issue with his van,

Possibly, but he posted it yesterday and said “this is what I’ve been doing THIS WEEK”. So unless it’s his own bathroom, he’s lying to me!

OP posts:

caringcarer · 30/04/2021 10:33

I don't like being lied to so I would put message on FB page. I had you booked to do my bathroom last week and you told me ......list all excuses he made. I don't like being lied to. You should have told me you could not do it as you were already booked. Now don't bother to come at all.

Dddccc · 30/04/2021 10:56

@bagamoyo1 he is not lying to you if he has posted that on his page I regularly and know tons of other businesses that do the same thing have back up pictures more then likely his van has broke he also would not want to be out of work and lose money, also posting on Facebook is a shitty thing to do I regularly have people cancel on me last minute these are customers so should I then go on facebook and put never sell to this person as they will cancel on you? He has explained what is going on he without transport, what you should do instead of pestering him every day is send 1 message asking him to let you know once he has his van back so you can rearrange the fitting date five him 7 days and if no contact find someone else simple really

Dddccc · 30/04/2021 10:57

Give not five

Carolduckingbaskin · 30/04/2021 15:49

Possibly, but he posted it yesterday and said “this is what I’ve been doing THIS WEEK”. So unless it’s his own bathroom, he’s lying to me!

Honestly this doesn’t mean it’s been done that week - people use schedulers to post this content for weeks in advance.

Also it could be that finishing up a job where everything is already on site is do-able - while you need stuff taken to you,

But if it’s bothering you - cancel it and get someone else in. Call him rather than text.

ThetaSigma · 30/04/2021 15:51

If you haven’t paid him anything, I wouldn’t say anything and just chalk it down to experience. And get a different plumber.

Skyla2005 · 30/04/2021 17:32

He doesn't want the job. Take the hint !

Original poster

Bagamoyo1 · 30/04/2021 19:19

@ Skyla2005 you talk as if I’m a jilted ex who is stalking him! He contacted me, quoted for the job and said he’d do it. He’s still claiming he can do it, when his van is fixed. Why should I be “taking a hint”? This is meant to be a contract of work. It’s not some game of “guess what I’m thinking”!!

OP posts:

Carolduckingbaskin · 01/05/2021 12:27

How did he reply to your text about taking the job elsewhere op?

billy1966 · 01/05/2021 12:37

If he hasn't been recommended to you, I wouldn't let him across the door.

Not worth the trouble.

He's unreliable.

He could start that job and leave in the middle and there is nothing you can do.

Babyboomtastic · 01/05/2021 12:58

Perhaps it was a scheduled post, but that was pretty stupid of him when he had been telling clients (well at least the op) that he can't work.

It sounds like you partly decided to go for him because there were positive reviews if him on FB. Given the reluctance here for people to give honest reviews, I'm not sure how much to rely on those in the future.

I'd probably post a comment asking them lines of -good to see you are back working, can you please ring me to reschedule the work you cancelled for me last week.

Original poster

Bagamoyo1 · 01/05/2021 13:04

@Carolduckingbaskin

How did he reply to your text about taking the job elsewhere op?

He eventually replied and said “well if that’s the way you want to go”, or words to that effect. He said he could give me the product codes to order all the bits that are needed. I suggested I ordered them, then by the time they arrived, if his van was repaired he could do the job, and if not then I could find someone else. He said sure, he’d sent the product codes. Which he didn’t. I’ve messaged again today,

OP posts:

Chalcroft · 01/05/2021 13:08

He doesn’t want the work

Just get another plumber

LakieLady · 01/05/2021 13:18

@DespairingHomeowner

PS - ask EVERYONE you know if they know a bathroom fitter/plumber, including any decent reliable tradesmen who have done work for you

Getting the reccos from previous customers is what counts. Can you ask neighbours, or local friends, & ask them to ask their friends?

Absolutely this. I always try and get recommendations from local people, and only once has this backfired.

Any good tradie is rushed off their feet atm. My builder BIL is currently telling people a minimum of 16 weeks before he can start any new work.

My plumber is telling people that he won't be able to do anything for 6 weeks (although he will do emergency repairs for trusted and loyal customers ).

It only takes one job to run into problems and it can bugger up all their work for weeks. There are also real difficulties in getting materials/parts atm, which is holding jobs up, and that has a knock-on effect on other jobs further down the line.

None of which is a good reason for lying to you OP, that's very unprofessional. But if younbin him off, you may end up having a long wait before another plumber is in a position to start the job.

Carolduckingbaskin · 01/05/2021 17:18

Give this up as a bad job. For whatever reason he doesn’t want to do the work.

Original poster

Bagamoyo1 · 01/05/2021 18:48

It’s taken my 6 months to get this far. I’ve asked around, posted on the local Facebook group, asked friends (some of whom are builders), contacted all the recommended people - none of them reply. Or they appear then disappear. It’s very frustrating.

OP posts:

PhatPhanny · 01/05/2021 18:56

Id message privately and say how nice the bathroom he has just done was and your really looking forward to having your work completed my a good tradesman.

Id not push too hard though, ask him to give you a date in the future, and not try tl rush him, or you will scare him off and he won't come at all.

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