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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:
IvyPlant · 18/09/2022 10:09

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.

I hear you, but why would he purposely (try to) obstruct the camera on her exit? I have no issues with people coming to assist the tradesperson on a job, but there's explaining the secrecy, other than he's doing something he shouldn't.

I've never specifically said I don't want anyone else at my house, but it's sort of implied you shouldn't bring any old person in unless it's related to the work.

For what it's worth, it's not a country pile, nor multiple HMOs and actually I find the slur about Southall offensive. Anyway, it's my family home, very modest two (used to be 3) bedroom house with a very generous pre war garden. It has multiple outbuildings because previous owners had a small business from home and had 1 main building and a small office, plus a garage (although it's more of a shed). Hope that clears things up.

OP posts:
IvyPlant · 18/09/2022 10:10

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.

Just call me Jen 🤣🤣 I'm definitely re watching that episode tonight.

OP posts:
1000yellowdaisies · 18/09/2022 10:11

Ludo19 · 17/09/2022 17:32

Another vote as him using your property as a shag den

Same here.
Very intrigued....

Ballcactus · 18/09/2022 10:15

They’re probably shagging in your bed

VerifiedBot2351 · 18/09/2022 10:18

I am loving your sleuth work!

Tulipomania · 18/09/2022 10:24

Excellent work OP.

Alarm59 · 18/09/2022 10:29

The bloody DM and the local rags from Reach Plc will be alllllll over this. Gits

mug2018 · 18/09/2022 10:31

I hope he's charging you for the job being completed & not by the hour 😣

Oysterbabe · 18/09/2022 10:31

Alarm59 · 18/09/2022 10:29

The bloody DM and the local rags from Reach Plc will be alllllll over this. Gits

I hope they at least have the sense to wait for the spycam results.

mug2018 · 18/09/2022 10:31

I hope he's charging you for the job being completed & not by the hour 😣

Campervangirl · 18/09/2022 10:33

Another one shamelessly place marking for Tuesday 🍿

iamjustwinginglife · 18/09/2022 10:34

Let him finish the job-I'd only query it if it goes over the 8 days he's quoted. I certainly wouldn't cut my nose off to spite my face-getting the job finished by someone wise could take months.

Each day he asks how long you'll be tell him you'll hopefully be back in a little while-then when you get in at your normal time tell him that you didn't get away early today but hopefully you will tomorrow.

iamjustwinginglife · 18/09/2022 10:36

....and don't forget he's allowed a couple of breaks a day and a lunchtime...I guess he might not be cutting his time working short at all, he might just be spending it on another type of job!!

5128gap · 18/09/2022 10:37

You need to get them to quote for the job, not day rate.

Faffertea · 18/09/2022 10:41

DH is a tradesman. Over the years I have occasionally popped in to somewhere he is working to drop off something he’s forgotten, pick up something he’s got that I need etc. It’s literally a 2 minute visit.

What possible reason could there be for her going and being there that long? (I think we know).

I’d challenge him on it. If she’s not there working for him (and from what you’ve said that sounds unlikely) there is no excuse for her being there that long.

Faffertea · 18/09/2022 10:41

DH is a tradesman. Over the years I have occasionally popped in to somewhere he is working to drop off something he’s forgotten, pick up something he’s got that I need etc. It’s literally a 2 minute visit.

What possible reason could there be for her going and being there that long? (I think we know).

I’d challenge him on it. If she’s not there working for him (and from what you’ve said that sounds unlikely) there is no excuse for her being there that long.

BrokenFridgeDrawer · 18/09/2022 10:46

This reply has been withdrawn

Posted on wrong thread

MRex · 18/09/2022 10:46

iamjustwinginglife · 18/09/2022 10:34

Let him finish the job-I'd only query it if it goes over the 8 days he's quoted. I certainly wouldn't cut my nose off to spite my face-getting the job finished by someone wise could take months.

Each day he asks how long you'll be tell him you'll hopefully be back in a little while-then when you get in at your normal time tell him that you didn't get away early today but hopefully you will tomorrow.

This suggests you're happy with tradesmen shagging randoms in your house. Really!?!?!

sue20 · 18/09/2022 10:46

GetOffTheRoof · 17/09/2022 17:07

Is she working for him? Female doesn't means she's not a trade herself.

Any decent trades person should absolutely point out if they have another person visiting. Quite apart from whether he is slacking she could be casing your joint! It’s not OK for him to have visitors without mentioning to you. Completely unprofessional. Sack him and get someone else to complete I would say you need a second look at the work done so far!

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 18/09/2022 10:50

OP, this is the most riveting thread I have read in ages. I usually skim posts, but this one deserves some Prosecco and popcorn!! I cannot wait for your updates. I bet he is shagging her.

Americano75 · 18/09/2022 10:58

What an arsehole, I'd definitely be wanting the money back for the lost hours at the very least!

As well as everything else, I also judge the cheeky prick for knowing you're an ex copper and still carrying on, as though he thinks he can still outsmart you. Unbelievable.

iamjustwinginglife · 18/09/2022 10:59

*@MRex
*
This suggests you're happy with tradesmen shagging randoms in your house. Really!?!?!

Haha-no not really however I wouldn't wait months for the job to be finished either. As the rest of my post says-I'd put things in place so he couldn't keep doing it -I'd tell him I'll be back in an hour etc. Those of us without cameras don't really know what's going on when tradespeople are left unaccompanied.

BrokenFridgeDrawer · 18/09/2022 11:00

Just assuming that a particular scenario about this tradesman is to be taken as true: That behaviour would not only be unprofessional, but downright disrespectful, disgusting, and possibly illegal ? Absolutely right to pull him up on it and question his behavior and his payment. Personally I would be disgusted if this scenario were to be true.

But is his visitor some sort of victim ? Does she have no choice in her behavior ?
Do they not have some sort self awareness or agency ?

All these stories about estate agents and what not.

Takes two two tango.

The bad tradesman / estate agent, and the poor little child minded, innocent victim ?

sue20 · 18/09/2022 11:03

SJW0 · 18/09/2022 09:10

I would not jump too quickly to assuming this lady is entering the property so they can have sex.

It is plausible she is his worker. He may have a very large power tool which may need a helping hand to steady it while drilling holes, for example. If there are holes to be filled and plastering to do afterwards, he may have to fill some cracks and then may need her to hold the tube while squeezing the grout out. Many jobs need more than one person, if it is electrical wiring and replacements then he is going to have the odd box that will need to be screwed tightly against the wall and he cannot do that alone.

I think too many here are rushing to say he is shagging while on the job when, in fact, it is highly likely she is assisting him with some of the kind of innocent jobs I have listed above.

If I employed someone to do work in my house I would absolutely expect them to tell me if they needed a mate. Even if it was an unexpected circumstance I would expect a phone call checking that I was fine with another person who I hadn’t met entering my home.

But then I would always expect to meet the work person themselves initially. would people on here happily hand over their key to someone they hadn’t met? So bringing other persons in same thing

Delabruche · 18/09/2022 11:06

@sue20 I think you need to read between the lines here. 😉

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