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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:
Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:52

@VeganVeal no need for sarcasm, I'm not saying it is all his fault but it does seem highly unprofessional to not confirm a time then brandish me a time-waster.

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 24/07/2021 11:53

[quote TheStarbucksMermaid]@Anordinarymum thank you, I'm thinking that too! Will look elsewhere for a new plumber. Very unimpressed with his attitude to be honest.[/quote]
A plumber who cancels at the last minute is not reliable. Nobody calls a plumber out unless they are desperate. I think he needs naming and shaming (kidding) :)

memberofthewedding · 24/07/2021 11:54

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.

This

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 11:54

@Anordinarymum I agree! He seems a bit lacking in common sense really. I may start a thread on Mumsnet but I'm not mean/petty enough to name and shame 😂
Ah well, going to enjoy the rest of my Saturday now. Have yourself a good weekend Smile

OP posts:
Russell19 · 24/07/2021 11:56

Didn't he call you when he was waiting for you?

Depechemodebiggestfan · 24/07/2021 11:58

I think his fault. As he did not give you a approximate time for Sat.
But also if I were you I would ask him on the Thursday when he cancelled, what time on Sat approximately.
I sell often items on FB and I have people to pick up things from my house.
If someone says they will pick up on Saturday, I immediately text back to enquire about apprx time, so I don’t wait the whole day around.
And usually on Friday evening/ Saturday morning I confirm with them again.

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 12:00

@Russell19

Didn't he call you when he was waiting for you?
No. This is another thing I find really strange. Surely he should have called or at least text me again?
OP posts:
Aprilx · 24/07/2021 12:01

YABU. Plumbers and other tradespeople are not short of work, I have learnt I need to go with their schedule not the other way around. You were lucky to find someone that travelled 45 minutes to you. Anyway 9am is not early, I am surprised any adult is still in such a deep sleep that they do not hear the doorbell at that time of day. If my toilet were not flushing, I would have accommodated the plumber not matter what time.

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 12:06

Anyway 9am is not early, I am surprised any adult is still in such a deep sleep that they do not hear the doorbell at that time of day

Very condescending. Sorry I am not a light sleeper like you. Confused

OP posts:
YelloYelloYello · 24/07/2021 12:10

Anyway 9am is not early, I am surprised any adult is still in such a deep sleep that they do not hear the doorbell at that time of day.
But... OP did hear the doorbell.

icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 12:14

@Aprilx

YABU. Plumbers and other tradespeople are not short of work, I have learnt I need to go with their schedule not the other way around. You were lucky to find someone that travelled 45 minutes to you. Anyway 9am is not early, I am surprised any adult is still in such a deep sleep that they do not hear the doorbell at that time of day. If my toilet were not flushing, I would have accommodated the plumber not matter what time.
What an odd response.

OP can get up at whatever time she fancies - it's irrelevant to the situation. The plumber didn't pre-arrange to be there at 9am so he was stupid daft for travelling 45 minutes for someone he didn't even know would be around to let him in!

Notimeforaname · 24/07/2021 12:14

OP,like you I would not normally be up that early on the weekend BUT if a trades person had told me there were coming on Saturday I would assume very early and be up from 7.30/8 ish.

Most jobs like that are half days on Saturdays(unless emergency call out) So early start early finish. You were being unreasonable by not being up.

Notimeforaname · 24/07/2021 12:16

Surely he should have called or at least text me again?
I disagree with this. He came to carry out a service. He's not a wake up call.
At least you know for next time if you ever need some Saturday work..

Notimeforaname · 24/07/2021 12:17

Most people know if a trades person doesn't/cant give a specific time...then you're up waiting like a knob from early..til whenever they can get thereGrin

Willdoitlater · 24/07/2021 12:20

Many tradesmen are disorganised and poor communicators. If they are good at their trade of course, its always worth making an effort to fit in with their schedule, which may well mean getting up early on a weekend. But this guy sounds like he went off in a huff, so too much like hard work.

Ponoka7 · 24/07/2021 12:23

Did he reply some time after you text him asking if that was him? You should have phoned straight away. It isn't worth dwelling on, though. My toilet was leaking and my DD fixed it after watching YouTube videos.

icedcoffees · 24/07/2021 12:28

@Notimeforaname

OP,like you I would not normally be up that early on the weekend BUT if a trades person had told me there were coming on Saturday I would assume very early and be up from 7.30/8 ish.

Most jobs like that are half days on Saturdays(unless emergency call out) So early start early finish. You were being unreasonable by not being up.

She wasn't remotely unreasonable.

If he wanted to start work at 9am he should have told her in advance. You can't just turn up at someone's house unannounced and get pissy because they're not home or available!

lifehappened · 24/07/2021 12:51

Poor comms but no one has done anything wrong

rishisboater · 24/07/2021 12:58

Yeah I'd have been up and ready for him 9am.

Freddiefox · 24/07/2021 13:07

I think m you could have called him when you saw his van driving off rather than a text

Original poster
TheStarbucksMermaid · 24/07/2021 13:19

@lifehappened

Poor comms but no one has done anything wrong
Guess it's just one of those things!
OP posts:
spongebath · 24/07/2021 13:28

It's weird that he drove all that way and then didn't wait five mins for you to answer the door, but also weird that you didn't call him as he was driving off.

ohthatbloodycat · 24/07/2021 13:33

YANBU. It's annoying when tradesmen think the world revolves around them.

ohthatbloodycat · 24/07/2021 13:33

And he sounds like an arse.

Fairyliz · 24/07/2021 14:20

Sounds like a typical tradesmen. They have so much work at the moment they think the world revolves around them.
I have tried asking for times but they are very reluctant to commit. So I usually find I am up and ready by 8am then they arrive about 3pm meaning I am sitting around waiting all day.