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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask why trades person felt it was ok to do this?

126 replies

EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 13:58

so I’ve got builders in at the moment. I have to keep everything on even keel as it’s taken 12 months to find someone willing to do job 😱

They have keys to the garage and back gate to come in and out. They come through the garage to access room they’re working on. Room they’re working on has access door to main part of house. No lock- just internal door…but it was sealed off to prevent the dust coming through.

I came home on Friday and walked into kitchen/Diner/lounge and saw that a plant pot and fabric cover I had placed over my tumble drier had been removed and was now placed on my dining table.

should explain tumble drier normally in garage. I moved into the dining area while building work going on so I can still access it. But I don’t want to look at a tumble drier in my lounge for next 3 months so had put a cover over and a plant on top.(ok, I know that puts me into a bit mad category!)

Now I’m not stupid. I am very aware that tumble driers are a fire risk at best of times. When I use it , I lift my cover off and ensure air can circulate properly. I also don’t leave house with a tumble drier on- never have since all the cases reported of self combusting driers. I live on my own so actually only use the thing very rarely anyway.

The tumble drier was not on when I was out.

One of tradesman in that day was the electrician. I am assuming that he entered the lounge/dinner through the (sealed) access door to access electrical points from the other side of the wall. I am assuming that he then saw my decorative tumble drier, and that he took it upon himself to take the cover and plant off the dryer and put on the dining table. No note. No text to explain why or even that someone has come into the main house whilst I was out.

I am assuming that this person decided I was clearly stupid and was actually using the dryer with the “camouflage ” features up in place and creating a massive fire risk and decided to take it upon themselves to solve this “problem” without any discussion, or checking with me to see if I was really that stupid . It feels like a very heavy dose of “mansplaining” (especially as they all know I’m living on my own and of retirement age). It just feels so bloody patronising as well as an intrusion in my home by whoever it was that felt entitled enough to start rearranging my stuff.

Aibu to call the manager (who is overseeing project) and ask who did this, why and why they thought it was ok to move my stuff without permission, or should I just let it go in interest of keeping everything sweet and happy . I have been trying to shrug it off since Friday- but it feels like an intrusion. I don’t want these guys wandering into my house while I’m not there and doing stuff I’ve not given permission for them to do.

OP posts:
EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 14:01

Oh, and it’s not a AIBU on my taste sense for covering up a tumble drier with a cover and plant…I know that’s probably very unreasonable for a lot of MNetters 🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
PragmaticWench · 26/06/2022 14:01

I'd be asking as I'd want to make it clear they shouldn't be touching my things or going into areas they're not working in. It might be their work place but it's also your home.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 26/06/2022 14:02

Honestly? Let it go. Not worth making a fuss over. Someone innocently trying to do a well intentioned (but misplaced) thing.

You’ve obviously got a big, stressy renovation work going on? and you really don’t want to sour that working relationship.

Dancingwithhyenas · 26/06/2022 14:03

Is it possible they moved it because they needed to access the space, move the tumble drier? I would assume they went in to make a drink?

Trainfromredhill · 26/06/2022 14:04

I’d leave it.

LadyLolaRuben · 26/06/2022 14:05

The intention came from a good place if the assumptions are correct. I'd let it go, building work can be very stressful and good tradesmen are hard to find. You don't want them downing tools and leaving as a result

UWhatNow · 26/06/2022 14:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 14:07

Dancingwithhyenas · 26/06/2022 14:03

Is it possible they moved it because they needed to access the space, move the tumble drier? I would assume they went in to make a drink?

Nope, they’ve bringing own drinks and have portaloo. No reason to come in to house except to access services- which I know they might do but would still expect a heads up even by text to check if I was out that they may need to come in that day.
And no, tumble drier on opposite wall to room they’re working on. Can’t see why they’d have needed to go anywhere near it. Not unless there is in readable strange wiring given electrical supply comes in via garage to whole house not through the kitchen/diner/lounge.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 26/06/2022 14:08

I suppose you could mention it to them.
Builders do have to move things sometimes though, maybe he didn't want to knock it off the top of the tumble dryer so moved both things just to be safe ? Unless you ask you won't know what went on. It wouldn't bother me, but then everyone is different and it is your property

MrsPrimulaSpread · 26/06/2022 14:09

just leave it, i bet they meant well, you are reading too much into it i think

something2say · 26/06/2022 14:09

I'd just say next time, oh I think the tumbler was moved, was it...? And hen listen to his explanation while giving off a sign that it was a) noticed and b) not ok...

FourTeaFallOut · 26/06/2022 14:10

Why don't you just ask them instead of inventing a motivation and getting huffy about it?

Mercedesbenz2022 · 26/06/2022 14:12

Get a lock on the internal door .
builders aside , if your garage was broken into then they would have easy access to the rest of the house.
I wouldn’t bother mentioning it tbh
let the job get finished and move on

LeafHunter · 26/06/2022 14:14

It would definitely be a non issue for me. At the most I can imagine being slightly bemused but I can’t muster up more energy about it than that.

DontBlameMe79 · 26/06/2022 14:15

I’d put it in writing to the company. This sort of thing needs to be nipped in the bud and it could be something he has done before. Imagine if everyone let it go.

Another thing could be to install a hidden camera while the renovations are on - if things get stolen it will be invaluable.

Littleraindrop15 · 26/06/2022 14:19

let it go

EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 14:19

Mercedesbenz2022 · 26/06/2022 14:12

Get a lock on the internal door .
builders aside , if your garage was broken into then they would have easy access to the rest of the house.
I wouldn’t bother mentioning it tbh
let the job get finished and move on

You’re right about security. One of jobs they’re doing is putting in a proper external triple lock fire door between garage and the room they’re working on. I’ve had a padlock on the door since I moved in a year ago for that reason. The garage door is actually very secure though.

OP posts:
EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 14:23

DontBlameMe79 · 26/06/2022 14:15

I’d put it in writing to the company. This sort of thing needs to be nipped in the bud and it could be something he has done before. Imagine if everyone let it go.

Another thing could be to install a hidden camera while the renovations are on - if things get stolen it will be invaluable.

Oh, blimey…I wasn’t concerned they might nick stuff..just rearranging my decor 😱
This is why I have asked that if they need access to house whilst I’m out that they give me notice or just text me on the day so I know. As I’m retired I’m actually able to stay in on the few times they’ve asked to come in. They’re only just getting going, and off to a planned slow start..so only been on site a few days so far..so really don’t think anyone else has been in- they’ve not had the opportunity really.

OP posts:
SunshineAndFizz · 26/06/2022 14:25

Oh come on. Call his manager, really?

Either he did it for the reason you think (and so what, what's the harm?), or some other reason like checking that electric socket worked (again, what issue has this actually caused?).

Complete non issue.

FranklySonImTheGaffer · 26/06/2022 14:25

As it's making you uncomfortable and these people may need access to your home again, I think you should bring it up but do so by asking why it was done.

Your OP is full of assumptions about the reasons this has been done but actually, you have no idea and you should approach it with an open mind.

RooniIWazlib · 26/06/2022 14:26

Good grief. Get over it.

itsgettingweird · 26/06/2022 14:28

It's a really big leap to assume this was some kind of stealth mansplaining.

It borders on paranoia.

If you're that bothered ask rather than get yourself so worked up about it.

EmilyBolton · 26/06/2022 14:29

FourTeaFallOut · 26/06/2022 14:10

Why don't you just ask them instead of inventing a motivation and getting huffy about it?

Ermm…so that’s a ianbu to raise it with them, then. And ask.
thats why I’m posting 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 26/06/2022 14:29

You are really overthinking this. He probably needed access to something and didn't want to damage anything.

FourTeaFallOut · 26/06/2022 14:32

Yanbu to ask, yabu to assume it to be some kind of passive aggressive fire safety advice.