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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU? Plumber.

58 replies

TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:01

Hello

Long time lurker, first time thread-poster.

Just need opinions please as I feel IABU.

A few days ago arranged for a plumber to come and check out my toilet (cistern isn't filling up). He cancelled last minute and said he would come Saturday. We agreed this is fine but no time was confirmed.

Anyway at 9am this morning I was still fast asleep (I am a woman in a relationship with no children so don't tend to be up early on a saturday after a busy working week) I am woken by the doorbell. Get up, put dressing gown on and head downstairs, only for no one to be there but saw a van driving off.

Check my phone, the plumber had text me at 8.15, saying he was setting off and it was a 45 minute drive. I obviously hadn't replied as I was asleep. As I said no time had been confirmed, and I hadn't text him back.

Anyway I text back as soon as I saw this, saying to text me when he is here and I thought I saw his van.

He has since replied, saying I am a time-waster and he won't be coming up again?!

I'm a bit confused...is this normal? Was I in the wrong?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

OP posts:
altforvarmt · 24/07/2021 11:05

Tradesmen start early. If I'd arranged for one to come on a specific day, but with no specified time, I'd assume he/she might arrive anytime from 7.30am. I'd not be asleep at 9am.

Chalk it up to expperience and arrange for a different plumber.

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:08

@altforvarmt thanks for your reply. I understand they start early (I work in construction) but I would have thought he could have waited for a reply before driving all the way to mine? I'm not saying he should have put his day on hold as he is probably very busy, but seems a bit lacking in common sense to set off on a long journey without any confirmation? I feel awful about it.

However youre right, I will find a different plumber Smile

OP posts:
Katefoster · 24/07/2021 11:10

I don't think YABU. I would never expect a Plummer to come before 9 without it being pre arranged. We had one come yesterday and he said he'd be there at 9 so I was up from 8, he then text at 8.30 saying he won't be long and arrived at 9.45. Very annoying

pilates · 24/07/2021 11:12

When he rescheduled for Saturday why did you not arrange a time? Poor communication on both parts 🤨

namesnamesnamesnames · 24/07/2021 11:13

You're in the wrong. Why wouldn't you secure a time, even a rough one? 9am is not an unusual start time.

LawnFever · 24/07/2021 11:17

A time should’ve been agreed, you’re both a bit in the wrong for not confirming that earlier, he should’ve let you know yesterday if he was planning on coming first thing but you could’ve asked - he also could’ve called you when you didn’t answer the door before driving off

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:23

I suppose communication was a bit poor! I assumed he would be in the area, I'm just surprised he set off on a long journey without any confirmation of time.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:24

@Katefoster

I don't think YABU. I would never expect a Plummer to come before 9 without it being pre arranged. We had one come yesterday and he said he'd be there at 9 so I was up from 8, he then text at 8.30 saying he won't be long and arrived at 9.45. Very annoying
Thank you, that's made me feel better as I feel awful. However I do think it was incredibly unprofessional to be called a time-waster, despite neither parties confirming a time.
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 11:27

I don't think 9am is too early. I suspect he came early to get the job out of the way so he had the rest of his weekend free!

You should both have arranged a time beforehand, though.

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:31

@icedcoffees this is why I feel awful! Especially after driving a long way. Although I do think he should have waited for confirmation before setting off.

OP posts:
VeganVeal · 24/07/2021 11:32

Poor communication for sure, you left the whole of Saturday open ended, didnt you think to drop him a text to confirm the time?

I bet he gets time wasters all the time, no wonder he was annoyed

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:35

@VeganVeal if he gets time wasters all the time then surely he should have made some effort to confirm a time to avoid this situation again..?

OP posts:
ChatterMonkey · 24/07/2021 11:35

If i had someone arranged to be round on saturday, but no set time, i would assume 9am tbh. Any earlier than that is too early without agreeing a time, but 9am is i think acceptable to expect someone to be up and awake on the day already arranged to meet.

BetterthanIthink · 24/07/2021 11:36

I don’t think 9am is too early, I’d have expected the plumber from about 8am on awards.
Poor communication on both your parts I think .

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:36

Thanks @ChatterMonkey. Definitely more effort could have been made on both sides!

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 11:36

[quote TheStarbucksMermaid]@icedcoffees this is why I feel awful! Especially after driving a long way. Although I do think he should have waited for confirmation before setting off.[/quote]
Please on't feel awful!

As a small business owner myself, he is 100% at fault for not arranging a time with you in advance. I would never just say to a client "I'll be there on Saturday" without arranging a time in advance, and I always check the day before to make sure they're still okay and happy for the meeting/job to go ahead, too.

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:40

@icedcoffees you sound very considerate Smile I do feel he should have communicated and confirmed a time. I was surprised he didn't wait for a confirmation before setting off!
I've dealt with tradesmen before and they have always confirmed a time, even a broad time, like anywhere between 9 - 12 for example. Seems strange and unprofessional that he assumed I'd be awake without prior notice, then to call me a time waster Confused

OP posts:
emilylily · 24/07/2021 11:42

Surely he's in the wrong here? He cancelled last minute; rescheduled for another day; didn't give you a time; texted with no reply but still set off on a 45 minute journey when you might well be asleep/at a medical appointment/taking a dog for a walk; then didn't wait long enough at the door for you to actually answer!

He sounds like a dick.

Bythemillpond · 24/07/2021 11:44

I am amazed you got a plumber that would drive 45 minutes to you.

If you want any workmen around here they won’t leave their area.
The problem is our area is a tiny “hamlet” and I have rang people who are 10 minutes away and they say they wouldn’t travel that far.

icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 11:44

Thank you! :) I think he was very unfair tbh.

I'm a dog walker so mostly my clients aren't home when I go to work, but I do free meet and greets before I take their dogs out for the first time. So, if I've arranged to see them , say, on Saturday at 9am, I would message on Friday morning and say "I just wanted to confirm our appointment tomorrow at 9am - if it's no longer convenient please let me know and we can re-arrange! Looking forward to meeting you and Fluffy!"

I don't want to waste my time (or theirs!) so the extra communication is well-worth it. They always appreciate the reminder :)

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:45

@emilylily thank you. The more I think about it the more I'm thinking I'm not in the wrong here!
Yes there should have been confirmation but he seems very unprofessional really.

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 24/07/2021 11:46

OP Sounds like you dodged a bullet here. Find a plumber who turns up :)

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:49

@Anordinarymum thank you, I'm thinking that too! Will look elsewhere for a new plumber. Very unimpressed with his attitude to be honest.

OP posts:
YelloYelloYello · 24/07/2021 11:50

Every single time I’ve had tradespeople in they’ve started between 8-9am. And as you work in construction and know they start early then you are being a bit unreasonable.

But he is an idiot for not confirming the time with you properly beforehand and then calling you a time waster.

VeganVeal · 24/07/2021 11:51

[quote TheStarbucksMermaid]@VeganVeal if he gets time wasters all the time then surely he should have made some effort to confirm a time to avoid this situation again..?[/quote]
Ah right, its all his fault, fair enough