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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Tradesperson inviting people into my home

1000 replies

IvyPlant · 17/09/2022 17:03

Currently got a tradesperson in to do a job. They quoted me a day rate of 8 days work (which I think will take less time than that, but they're the expert...)

Anyway, that's not my AIBU. I checked my security footage this week and noticed a woman popped round to my house when I was out and tradesperson was working alone in my house. I can only see her walk past my front door to the back garden gate, she knocks and then the feed ends. She's seen leaving 4 hours later. The next day, same thing, except 3 hours.

At present the tradesperson gets here for about 8am and has already stopped working by 3pm. So that's 7 hours of work, fair enough, but 4 (and 3) of them an unknown woman here is (it's not his wife, I did a little social media digging and it's not her).

AIBU if I question him about it next week? He still has 4 days left to finish the job next week and I don't l like the fact there's an unknown and univited person in my house when I'm not there, plus, how much work can he really be doing if his "mate" is there for 4 hours.

OP posts:
SueDCreme · 18/09/2022 09:31

buttons123456 · 18/09/2022 09:30

How gross ? It seems obvious what he is up to ! Def deduct the shaving hours from his pay !

Shaving hours? 😬

Throwawaytoday · 18/09/2022 09:31

IvyPlant · 18/09/2022 09:11

Not that I'm aware of but curious to see if this well known celebrity can be identified from his forearms...

A celeb is slightly different, there's something specific about recognising a person you know well.

For instance your tradesman looks a lot like. Guy I used to know with the first initial R.

Throwawaytoday · 18/09/2022 09:32

And if he is that person, this is NOT out of character.

BrokenFridgeDrawer · 18/09/2022 09:32

Can I throw a bucket of cold water on some of this ?

I recently was involved in helping out when 1 consumer unit was changed. It was to comply with securing an EICR certficate as the house was rented. This was in a victorian five bedroom, four bathroom, three storey townhouse (in the same street some of those bedrooms would be studio flats,or the same house would be in 3 /4 flats so it was a big house ). The original test and report of recommended works was by 1 electrician and took 2 - 3 hours. He charged around 300 for that. He then returned, PLUS apprentice, they worked a near 10 hour day and the bill was just over 1000. I know it is expensive, but it was Plimlico Plumbers, so yes it was going to be expensive, but they did a thoroughly professional job ( as you would hope for that sort of money ). But it was all contained in 1 consumer unit.

This job involves 5 consumer units, and in outbuildings ? Either it's a " Country Pile " in Wiltshire with stables, horses, paddocks, ballrooom .... or 5 tiny studio flats in an original 3 bed terraced house in Southall with multiple " granny flats " in the back garden.

This guy quoted 8 days, and gave a price based on 8 days. So that is the price for the job, starting on 1st September, ending on 8th September. Did he define what a " day " was ? Some trades consider a day 12 hours, some lucky BDs consider a day 5 hours. Regardless, you have a start date, a finish date and a price. Some will consider that days are " evened out ", by popping in for an hour one day, they doing a 12 hour shift on another. If he takes the amount of "days" he stated and charged you the price he quoted, then really, your agreement stands, it's not up to anyone to pick apart how he worked on those days, fast or slow, or how many tea breaks he took. 8 days, X price, job done.

The issue is there is an unauthorised visitor. You went into this with an expectation. Did you actually say I don't want anyone but you on my property ? I would personally grasp the nettle, state your expectation was that you expected only him on your property, you have a camera ( in all this talk about filming and law, surely there must be some relating to the fact that he will be filmed ), you have evidence of a visitor and you need explanations.

The blanket and pillow could be because if the job is that Wiltshire country pile barn or stables they are cobbled and unheated. She, whoever she is, could be just keeping him company, nattering and making tea. 4 hours is a long time for just, well, whatever.

Regardless, he didn't tell you he was having visitors, should have been honest, so he is in the wrong, and has acted unprofessionally, and he has to be held account and reprimanded for that. But iif the job completes on the day agreed, to the standard agreed, to the price agreed, that was the deal.

He may well be being unprofessional, bringing secret visitors into your home but all this stuff about telling his wife is straying into the personal. Even if he was shagging in your outhouse. Even if it was, you could have every right to penalise him financially, frankly sack him or withhold payment, but I don'think it is anyone's place to cross the the line from professional to personal.

TootsAtOwls · 18/09/2022 09:36

Cameras are great but it would be so satisfying to walk in and see their reaction

TootsAtOwls · 18/09/2022 09:36

Cameras are great but it would be so satisfying to walk in and see their reaction

SJW0 · 18/09/2022 09:36

BrokenFridgeDrawer · 18/09/2022 09:32

Can I throw a bucket of cold water on some of this ?

I recently was involved in helping out when 1 consumer unit was changed. It was to comply with securing an EICR certficate as the house was rented. This was in a victorian five bedroom, four bathroom, three storey townhouse (in the same street some of those bedrooms would be studio flats,or the same house would be in 3 /4 flats so it was a big house ). The original test and report of recommended works was by 1 electrician and took 2 - 3 hours. He charged around 300 for that. He then returned, PLUS apprentice, they worked a near 10 hour day and the bill was just over 1000. I know it is expensive, but it was Plimlico Plumbers, so yes it was going to be expensive, but they did a thoroughly professional job ( as you would hope for that sort of money ). But it was all contained in 1 consumer unit.

This job involves 5 consumer units, and in outbuildings ? Either it's a " Country Pile " in Wiltshire with stables, horses, paddocks, ballrooom .... or 5 tiny studio flats in an original 3 bed terraced house in Southall with multiple " granny flats " in the back garden.

This guy quoted 8 days, and gave a price based on 8 days. So that is the price for the job, starting on 1st September, ending on 8th September. Did he define what a " day " was ? Some trades consider a day 12 hours, some lucky BDs consider a day 5 hours. Regardless, you have a start date, a finish date and a price. Some will consider that days are " evened out ", by popping in for an hour one day, they doing a 12 hour shift on another. If he takes the amount of "days" he stated and charged you the price he quoted, then really, your agreement stands, it's not up to anyone to pick apart how he worked on those days, fast or slow, or how many tea breaks he took. 8 days, X price, job done.

The issue is there is an unauthorised visitor. You went into this with an expectation. Did you actually say I don't want anyone but you on my property ? I would personally grasp the nettle, state your expectation was that you expected only him on your property, you have a camera ( in all this talk about filming and law, surely there must be some relating to the fact that he will be filmed ), you have evidence of a visitor and you need explanations.

The blanket and pillow could be because if the job is that Wiltshire country pile barn or stables they are cobbled and unheated. She, whoever she is, could be just keeping him company, nattering and making tea. 4 hours is a long time for just, well, whatever.

Regardless, he didn't tell you he was having visitors, should have been honest, so he is in the wrong, and has acted unprofessionally, and he has to be held account and reprimanded for that. But iif the job completes on the day agreed, to the standard agreed, to the price agreed, that was the deal.

He may well be being unprofessional, bringing secret visitors into your home but all this stuff about telling his wife is straying into the personal. Even if he was shagging in your outhouse. Even if it was, you could have every right to penalise him financially, frankly sack him or withhold payment, but I don'think it is anyone's place to cross the the line from professional to personal.

No!! You should know that water and electrics don’t mix.

BrokenFridgeDrawer · 18/09/2022 09:40

😂😁

Neverhot · 18/09/2022 09:40

100% shooting a porno 😂

Marcipex · 18/09/2022 09:46

I would pop home unexpectedly…I bet you will be ‘accidentally ‘ locked out.

I think he’s a cheating git and your house is a shag pad.

Weefreetiffany · 18/09/2022 09:46

Are you the builder @SJW0 ?

SJW0 · 18/09/2022 09:50

Weefreetiffany · 18/09/2022 09:46

Are you the builder @SJW0 ?

I think it is very clear the builder is PigletJohn.

TheLongGallery · 18/09/2022 09:51

This reminds me of the episode of The IT Crowd when Jen has cameras installed and it turns out her builder is peeing in the sink.

Trixiefirecracker · 18/09/2022 09:55

TheLongGallery · 18/09/2022 09:51

This reminds me of the episode of The IT Crowd when Jen has cameras installed and it turns out her builder is peeing in the sink.

🤣🤣🤣

billy1966 · 18/09/2022 09:56

Has he any SM listings or ratings?
What would Trading Standards thinknof his behaviour?

The using my home would infuriate me.

Me paying him whilst he uses my home would put me over the edge completely.

He's screwing her and you at the same time!

Not on at all.

Tromboleese · 18/09/2022 09:56

The description of her and his job is suspiciously like two people I know in our social circle. The photo could be him, but I don’t know if he has a work uniform, and I can’t say I have studied his forearms, it is pretty generic. 😬

Oysterbabe · 18/09/2022 09:56

I don't think it's over the top to say that this thread and your spy cameras are the most important thing going on in the UK this week. I cannot wait to see what happens next 🍿

CeltictigerMum · 18/09/2022 09:58

I think the pic is Matthew McConaghty

BruceAndNosh · 18/09/2022 09:59

When we had our Edwardian house rewired, the electrican asked if he could bring his girlfriend on 2 days. He was a big bloke and she was petite, so she helped out with feeding the cables through the crawl space under the floor.
But she didn't wear a floaty skirt as she knew she was going to get covered with cobwebs...

DillDanding · 18/09/2022 10:02

This sounds most dodgy.

He at the very least needs to be reducing your bill quite considerably. He’s effectively billing you for time shagging his girlfriend.

limitedperiodonly · 18/09/2022 10:05

@BrokenFridgeDrawer as a fellow chucker of cold water I admired every word.

RaininginDarling · 18/09/2022 10:05

Shamelessly placemarking for Tuesday update and @SueDCreme's asides. Ha ha ha

PinkiOcelot · 18/09/2022 10:08

Place marking because I’m nosy!

Guiltypleasures001 · 18/09/2022 10:08

Wonder if the Mail has this yet

LakieLady · 18/09/2022 10:09

I used to have a friend who worked in a real estate agnecy. She was shagging her married boss using client homes when they were out.

Was this in Croydon in the early 80s, @OrangePumpkinLobelia ? I was an estate agent for a couple of years, and the manager at another branch was doing exactly this, with his secretary.

Mind you, there are so many cheats and liars working in estate agents, I wouldn't be surprised if most of them were at it.

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