To expect to be next in line?

[pureand]

Have had a decorator booked for a days work for several weeks.

The morning he was due (last week) he text to say he was ill and couldn't make it (after I had stripped the wall in preparation)...I said ok, get well soon.

Today I text him to ask if he was ok and when he thought he would be back to work. He told me he's starting a full house job so now won't fit me in til end of October, and my living room looks a right mess. I thought he should have done my room first as I was next in the queue, then started the next job, aibu?

He doesn’t want the job. Small beer to him.

In my experience tradesmen are very unreliable. I'd be really pissed off.

I would have thought the same tbf.

Bad on his half for not telling you when he could fit you back in.

Agree with PP. I found it almost impossible to find a decorator to commit to do one room. Too small fry compared to other jobs.

Well he charges by the day so I'm not sure what difference it makes tbh. He came and quoted for it and booked me in. What a nobhead.

I think I'd be looking for another painter/decorator in your shoes.

If he fits you in every other customer gets bumped along, if he just reschedule s you then you are the only one effected and he keeps to his time scale
Possible not fair but I think that's how he's working it

I wouldn’t expect him to rearrange any other jobs he’s got booked but would expect him to come on his next available day. Or used a “day off” to come.

If his next availability doesn’t suit you OP then it’s time to look elsewhere.

Ugh, DH and I have the same issue getting anything done. We asked the guys who were doing a re-fit in one of our rooms to also paint it. They said we'd be cheaper doing it ourselves. And now we've got a slightly shittily painted room because, funnily enough, we're not painter/decorators!

They'll always prioritise big jobs because they last longer and pay more money, and if it's for a local developer there's the chance of more work. It took me 18 months to get someone to put in a shower for me, and they only way I got it done was by begging a friend's retired plumber Dad to do it!

I think that’s fair enough from him to be honest. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t make it, but he’s already got other jobs booked in.

It’s not acceptable for him to just cancel them or change them for you. He’s not just popping round - they’re big projects whether it’s one room or ten.

So yes, you will need to wait until he is free.

He could easily at least take a day away from his big job to do yours. Mine often does that when stuff is drying or whatever.

If it’s a choice between massively inconveniencing one pretty small customer, or rearranging his entire diary between now and end of October, thus inconveniencing lots of other customers including big ones/ones that dovetail with other trades, then I don’t really blame him for bumping you. I’d ask if you can have any cancellations or free days if they come up.

Think I'm just going to have a bash at it myself, I'm sick of tradesmen 🙄