Tradesperson inviting people into my home

[IvyPlant]

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.

I just knew this thread was going end up with the usual lot turning against the OP because her updates have not been precisely what people hoped/imagined.

I'm personally excited to hear what he says when you confront him, OP. Hope your son has a great birthday! X

Absolutely correct to get the job fully finished.

I did the same years ago with someone who messed me around something awful with a large job.

I gained a full stone from comfort eating through the annoyance.

He finished the job 10 weeks later than agreed, however the work was well done.

When he was leaving he asked that I recommend him.

I told him that that while the job had been done well, there was no way I would put anyone I knew through the stress of having him and his team in their home.

In the 18 years since the job was done I have lost him oodles of work as he has name checked our address and I have had people contact me about his company and his work.

I say the same thing, "did a good job but messsed us around for months, not worth the stress".

The OP's priority is to get him finished and out of her house before she deals with him.

I think you've handled it really well too OP, after his finished the work let loose on him. I find it grim that he's using the loo , having sex ( possibly) and then sticking his grubby little mitts into your food cupboard / fridge. Gross.

I think you're doing the right thing in letting him finish the work, it's not a job that can be left half done.

Just to add that i use a tradesman fairly regularly who estimates x days and then finishes at 1:30 some days, but that's a trade where things need to set/dry sometimes the job takes him more days and I don't pay any more, sometimes he finishes on plan despite numerous half days.

If your job takes longer than 8 days I think that would be my negotiation point, the extra being down to his "downtime" while on site. Finishing early is one thing (or even nipping off to do another job) but billing you for time on site when he's not actually working is something else.

I think you're doing the right thing in letting him finish the work, it's not a job that can be left half done.

Just to add that i use a tradesman fairly regularly who estimates x days and then finishes at 1:30 some days, but that's a trade where things need to set/dry sometimes the job takes him more days and I don't pay any more, sometimes he finishes on plan despite numerous half days.

If your job takes longer than 8 days I think that would be my negotiation point, the extra being down to his "downtime" while on site. Finishing early is one thing (or even nipping off to do another job) but billing you for time on site when he's not actually working is something else.

Good luck OP. I once had a cleaner who invited a random into my house. I didn’t keep her on. But I understand that your situation is different. Good luck…

Hope your son has a lovely birthday today OP. We've had lots of tradespeople in over the past year (I've been on maternity leave so none have really had the option of using our house as an unofficial hotel). Having experienced how vulnerable you are as a client once they've started work I completely understand why you wouldn't sack him whilst the work is ongoing. (Whilst still finding his (questionably-absent) moral centre abhorrent). Sometimes I think people forget that we can hold multiple perspectives at the same time. 😅

Just to add to others, I think you're doing the right thing OP. No tradesman wants to take over a job halfway through, particularly when it involves certifying someone else's work and when the previous work relationship has broken down. Sounds like he needs to knock off a couple of days work pay for you.

Entertaining as this is, if you were a friend of mine I’d be asking if you were quite well. Investing in cameras and stalking the man seems an odd way to deal with this situation, I’d suggest you just tell him you don’t expect anyone else to be gaining access to your property without your permission and move on.

Entertaining as this is, if you were a friend of mine I’d be asking if you were quite well. Investing in cameras and stalking the man seems an odd way to deal with this situation, I’d suggest you just tell him you don’t expect anyone else to be gaining access to your property without your permission and move on.

Entertaining as this is, if you were a friend of mine I’d be asking if you were quite well. Investing in cameras and stalking the man seems an odd way to deal with this situation, I’d suggest you just tell him you don’t expect anyone else to be gaining access to your property without your permission and move on.

Unfortunately some trade people can be dicks, I don't think it helps with some personalities that they are often just left to it/unsupervised.

One of my work colleagues had her phone line paid for her via work, she worked a mix of WFH and office based.

She had a friend of a friend do some work on the house and they ran up several 100 £ worth of porn chat lines you can imagine her embarrassment when her phone bill was queried by finance. Not sure if he paid her back.

The builders we had to do an extension kept leaving our side door wide open, which resulted in someone stealing a parcel!

Does he belong to the Electrical Contractor's Association or similar? I'd be letting his trade body know at the end of this also.

I think this could make a great 'Alan Bennett type' of play.

My husband does most of the jobs round the house, electrics plumbing building etc I don't even make him a cup of tea let alone having a quickie mid job, no he is getting that work done as soon as possible and I don't even pay him!

So sod paying someone for time they haven't worked but are billing you for.
Hope your little one has a lovely birthday.

That's a great idea.

Or on a smaller budget, one of those 'Inside Number Nine' episodes....

I suppose, OP, that when you get to day 8 he might only bill you for, say, 7 days. After all, he must realise it's possible you spotted the visitor on 2 days last week. Or he may in fact be scrupulous in his professional dealings, especially if he wants you to recommend his work to others.

Did you employ him on somone's recommendation?

(Sorry if someone upthread said the same thing - I haven't read every post, but I have read all of yours.)

Hi OP,

For what it's worth, I would have handled it in the exact same was as your are doing, and I see nothing wrong in how you've handled it!
Not long to go now - BUT my guess is that he will have to add on extra days at the end as for some strange reason he didn't get everything finished in the time scale......no idea why?!

I like your approach OP - sounds just right to me - ignore PP who just don't get it & want to push you into other behaviours. You've got it exactly right.

He would be much more intrigued by some of the posters on the thread and their situations than this

@IvyPlant hello! I’ve been watching your thread since it first began - have you any update today? Ignore those trying to get a rise out of you - I’m captivated by this saga of the workman and his antics! Please update when you can 🙂

@IvyPlant no wonder you're frustrated. Nobody reads all the OP posts and just adds onto the end.

He's quoted for 8 days work but if he's spending at least 3 (equivalent hours) days of that snagging then he's expecting you to pay him for his bonking...not acceptable.
If he was working the 8 days and actually working then you wouldn't have an issue with paying his worth because he's done his job. Sounds like he could've finished the job in 5 days but quoted extra just to fit the bonking in. That's rude.

Why would anyone accept having to pay double for the time but not the work. If he's doing that with every customer, he's raking it in...surely he could afford a hotel by now😂

Ditto

imagine going for a coffee with a close friend and they won’t across from you and recount all that they have done in this scenario as the op has done. I would concerned

@IvyPlant no wonder you're frustrated. Nobody reads all the OP posts and just adds onto the end.

He's quoted for 8 days work but if he's spending at least 3 (equivalent hours) days of that snagging then he's expecting you to pay him for his bonking...not acceptable.

If he was working the 8 days and actually working then you wouldn't have an issue with paying his worth because he's done his job. Sounds like he could've finished the job in 5 days but quoted extra just to fit the bonking in. That's rude.

Why would anyone accept having to pay double for the time but not the work. If he's doing that with every customer, he's raking it in...surely he could afford a hotel by now😂

How are you planning to hold the conversation OP?

• "Here's your invoice",
• "here is your payment minus 4 hours per day that you seem to have had female company here" [big sunny smile and raise eye brows]?