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AIBU?

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Original poster

Tradesman ate my crisps - do I bring it up?

298 replies

LostSleep · 28/02/2023 12:52

We are currently renovating a property before moving in. We have all of our furniture there but are staying elsewhere. The windows are currently being renovated. When I went in to see the progress I noticed my multipack of crisps was empty and there were several empty packets of crisps strewn in different rooms.

AIBU to raise this with the lead tradesman?

I have left quite a bit a food there as we are there most days doing DIY/decorating but haven't been there while the windows are being renovated.

My partner says there isn't any point in raising it. Nothing will come out of it.

OP posts:
desperatedespy · 28/02/2023 19:06

I'm a tradesman (painter and decorator) posting on my partner's account and while this might only be some crisps, they do not belong to them. You need to find out exactly what they've priced you for with regards to what the work is and make sure you're getting your money's worth. If they think nothing of taking what isn't theirs, then their attitude for me is in question. ps make sure you're happy with the work before you pay them.

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 19:06

Oh dear, this is becoming very heated. Attention! We now have 200 messages on this thread. And no, this doesn't make me crave crisps right now. No. No crunchy crisps whatsoever 😋

Walkaround · 28/02/2023 19:09

venus7 · 28/02/2023 19:03

She didn't say they were unworn. You sound hungry; want some crisps?

Show quote history

Yeah, I am hungry - some bastard nicked my crisps. 🤣

wildalmond · 28/02/2023 19:10

desperatedespy · 28/02/2023 19:06

I'm a tradesman (painter and decorator) posting on my partner's account and while this might only be some crisps, they do not belong to them. You need to find out exactly what they've priced you for with regards to what the work is and make sure you're getting your money's worth. If they think nothing of taking what isn't theirs, then their attitude for me is in question. ps make sure you're happy with the work before you pay them.

A much needed comment from a respectable tradesman!

DesertRose64 · 28/02/2023 19:11

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 19:06

Oh dear, this is becoming very heated. Attention! We now have 200 messages on this thread. And no, this doesn't make me crave crisps right now. No. No crunchy crisps whatsoever 😋

I’ve just eaten 3 packets. One cheese and onion, one salt and vinegar and one prawn cocktail. I don’t even like crisps very much. I’d bought them for my grandchildren sleeping over next week. Now I feel sick. And no, the 2 crème eggs I also scoffed have nothing to do with it.

Neither does the glass of wine.

Babycakes39 · 28/02/2023 19:13

When we were having our house renovated before we moved in, I had just been christmas so I started to bring Iver some of the boxes with our Xmas gifts in. One of the tradesmen opened up one of the gifts to get the mug so he could make himself a drink! I was speechless!

Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 28/02/2023 19:17

I would be angry too. To be fair you pay them a lot of money and they are grown ups that can take their bloody pack lunch to work. If a preschool child can so can they.

I wouldn’t leave anything in the house that they could mistake as being left out for them and wait until the finish the job to bring that up. That way they won’t be tempted to do a shitty job.

I feel for you. I have had my fair share of dealing with tradesmen that have very little regards for your belongings and their craftsmanship. If they are doing a good job so far consider yourself lucky and wait until they finish, otherwise bring it up with whoever is their manager.

In any case, good luck 🤞

wildalmond · 28/02/2023 19:20

Babycakes39 · 28/02/2023 19:13

When we were having our house renovated before we moved in, I had just been christmas so I started to bring Iver some of the boxes with our Xmas gifts in. One of the tradesmen opened up one of the gifts to get the mug so he could make himself a drink! I was speechless!

Outrageous behaviour!😡

Sillyname63 · 28/02/2023 19:22

I would probably say something a bit tongue in cheek, like " Come on boys if you are going to eat our food you could at least tidy up after yourselves" but I am probably old enough to be their mother. I also usually leave out a bottle of squash and some biscuits but I am also usually there or leave a note. If you don't want them helping themselves but don't feel up to saying something leave a note and put your stuff into a big plastic box that you can lock ( the type with side clips) and a note saying do not touch.

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 28/02/2023 19:25

My Siamese cat ate the painter's sandwiches.

TheBigWangTheory · 28/02/2023 19:27

BeetleyCarapace · 28/02/2023 13:02

If I've got people working in the flat I leave tea, coffee, biscuits and yes, sometimes crisps, out for them to help themselves. So I'd work on the assumption they thought you'd left them for them. Especially being a multipack — enough for a crew. Plus they know you're not living there just now.

On a chair with nappies, wipes and a baby bag? Did they wipe their arses and diaper themselves too, since clearly everything was left out for them?

NellietheElephantpackedhertrunks · 28/02/2023 19:29

I’m going to go against the grain and say SUE THEIR ASSES OFF (and don’t forget to claim for the emotional distress of seeing just the empty crisp packets and crumbs).

YMZ · 28/02/2023 19:30

Hi,
While it may have been accidental to eat them, leaving rubbish in your home is not. I wouldn’t hesitate to mention it.

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 19:30

NellietheElephantpackedhertrunks · 28/02/2023 19:29

I’m going to go against the grain and say SUE THEIR ASSES OFF (and don’t forget to claim for the emotional distress of seeing just the empty crisp packets and crumbs).

😱🤣🥇

maddy68 · 28/02/2023 19:37

You could say " have you seem my crisps? I'm sure I left them in here?

wildalmond · 28/02/2023 19:37

maddy68 · 28/02/2023 19:37

You could say " have you seem my crisps? I'm sure I left them in here?

😂

Griefgood · 28/02/2023 19:40

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 28/02/2023 19:25

My Siamese cat ate the painter's sandwiches.

What filling did they have?

MojoDaysxx · 28/02/2023 19:41

Just let it go, but don't leave anything else out.

Partyatno10 · 28/02/2023 19:52

Personally I'd leave a toaster, loaf of bread, spread and jam, biscuits, kettle, tea, sugar, milk etc. I'd want them to feel like the owe me a decent job which is probably a bit silly of me!

ChilledBeez · 28/02/2023 19:54

Best to just let it be and not leave anything there again. As crappy as it was of them taking them and littering the rooms - it's really not worth spoiling the atmosphere for something so minor. Annoying? yes. 100%

Widowtoaworkaholic · 28/02/2023 19:59

I can see it from both sides. It would annoy me purely because they didn't ask. If they asked or just mentioned it in casual passing, it wouldn't bother me at all.

autocarrot · 28/02/2023 20:00

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/02/2023 18:51

A couple of years ago I was trying to assemble a sort of flat-pack garden arbour on the same day some nurserymen were digging holes for and transplanting my crabapple trees and other shrubs.

They were all cleaned up and ready to roll when the foreman came over to have me sign off; I gave him the fee and also a cash tip for each worker. He saw me struggling and called out to his crew; they came hustling back with the tool kit from the truck and in minutes had that arbour assembled and positioned where I wanted it; pounded in some steel rods bolted them on for extra stability.

What they did in 15 minutes would've taken me two hours. I was immensely grateful. People who have the physical strength, skill and ability to do those jobs are few and far between; cherish them when you find them.

Show quote history

Exactly! 🙂

Springchicken75 · 28/02/2023 20:03

It’s really really rude. I wouldn’t trust them after that. They should have asked op!

SparkyBlue · 28/02/2023 20:04

Buy extra crisps and leave them out for them. The bin thing would annoy me admittedly. Good tradespeople are like gold around here and I've always found that if it goes easily and smoothly you'll find it easier to get them back again if you need another job done down the line. One of our builders used to love the fact we had cans of coke in the fridge . I swear to god he must have drank 20 cans over the duration.

PrinnyPree · 28/02/2023 20:05

OP yeah it is rude (and tradesmen earn a mint so can afford their own lol) however if they are doing good work don't bring it up (or grass them up to the boss) always keep the trades on side and in fact I'd take it as a cue to get more snacks in for them and hope it spurs them on. 😅