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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Inappropriate contact from British Gas engineer?!!

426 replies

PandaEyed13 · 21/03/2023 11:31

Bit of a weird one!

Has anyone had a gas/electric engineer respond to a call out at their property - and then had the engineer call and text their personal mobile number weeks after the work?!

Had a problem with my gas meter at my house last month and British Gas sent multiple engineers on varying dates to try and fix the issue, 4 engineers in total on 4 separate dates over the past few weeks, the issue got fixed and resolved last week, job done, lovely stuff!

Over this past weekend though I had 2 missed calls from a mobile phone number I didn't recognise. I didn't answer because it's just my personal philosophy not to answer to unfamiliar numbers, I assumed they were cold calls and forgot about it.

Yesterday morning though, I got 2 more calls from this number. Then a text - "Hi there B, (not my real name) it's 'Dan' (not his real name) from British Gas, call me back..'

Erm...that's weird right?
So when I cast my mind back, 'Dan' was engineer number 2 from visit number 2 about 3 weeks ago!

I can remember him being very friendly, really helpful - to the point of being almost above and beyond. He didn't cross any boundaries on the day. He was a teeny tiny bit vibey, like the absolute smidgen of a flirt, but not in a way that made me uncomfortable, he was just treating me a bit 'damsel in distressy,' which I didnt think much of at the time, I just wanted the work done! He even offered to call my DH for me at his work and explain what work he was doing at the house so I didn't have to bother trying to suss out the jargon to relay back to him. I said no thanks, but me being married became known information!

Fast forward 3 weeks and he's called my personal mobile number from his 4 times and sent a text asking me to call him. This is weird, yes? Boundary crossing? Call-out engineers never do follow up calls right? None of the other 3 engineers who came to my house have contacted me! I called my mum right after and DH on his work break and both freaked out, like "what if he's a nutter, he knows where you live!" etc etc.

My mum advised to reply to his text saying "no thanks, I won't be calling as the work has been completed at our property now, but thanks for your help on the day" and then to block his number if he replies to that or calls again. So I sent that text this morning and no reply as of yet. DH wants his number to call him though and ask what the F he wants! I spoke to British Gas this morning and they said it's not commonplace for call-out engineers to make contact with residents of properties they have attended or to make follow up calls and do I want to start an investigation. I said I didn't know because I haven't heard anything else since I sent my "thanks but no thanks" message a few hours ago, so they said call back if I get anything else.

I don't want to get anyone in trouble if it's all innocent, or antagonise anyone if it's not!

And DH is chomping at the bit for me to pass his number on so he can ring him, which I'm also reluctant to do?

Ideas, opinions? Anyone else had the 'friendly engineer' hit them up? I tried to Google whether engineers do this and there's absolutely nothing, so I'm thinking - no, they don't! Even if he is just following up on the day, it's still inappropriate and boundary crossing right? How he got my mobile num, I don't even know, he's a call-out engineer not a call centre agent with account access!

Didn't know where else to post this so went with AIBU, although I don't think I am to be freaked out!

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:36

why not just call/text and ask him what he wants - he may just want to check it's all fixed, ask you to fill in feedback to BG on his work.

He may also be a creepy pest - in which case report him

I'd not jump to conclusions based on one innocuous text message

Appleblum · 21/03/2023 11:38

You spoke to everyone about it except the one person who was trying to speak to you? Why? 😂

I would have called or texted him back to find out what it's about, then block him if inappropriate.

Namechangedagain20 · 21/03/2023 11:41

I would have called and asked why. We had someone do similar before, he’d lost a tool and was trying to see if he left it at any of the houses he’d been to. It could have been something completely harmless, I think you’ve overreacted here.

Aquamarine1029 · 21/03/2023 11:41

I find it very puzzling that you didn't respond yourself to see what he wants. What's the big deal? It could be totally innocent, but now you've blown it up in your mind to something salacious with no real evidence whatsoever.

If he did behave inappropriately when you responded, then you could have gone nuclear.

Flowerblooms · 21/03/2023 11:42

I would have called him or got your husband to call him and ask what was wrong and confirm that all work had been completed.

Coffeellama · 21/03/2023 11:42

You sound like a total drama llama OP. What if he’s just forgotten to get you to sign something, or thinks he might have left a piece of equipment behind? Do you think if you respond and ask he’s going to stalk you to death? Total drama over nothing so far. If you responded and he didn’t have a very valid reason for contacting you then fair enough, but you don’t even no what he wants, calm down.

Tomkirkman · 21/03/2023 11:42

I used to work for British Gas, running their engineer complaints desk in the metering side.

This is not ok and we would have taken it very seriously.

GasPanic · 21/03/2023 11:44

Maybe he has left the business and is seeing whether you wanted any work done.

Maybe he saw the same problem you had (that he didn't fix) somewhere else and came up with a solution and wanted to tell you what it was in case it was helpful.

Or maybe something else. You won't know unless you speak to him about it. It does seem a bit strange that he didn't just put it in a text and send it to you.

pixie5121 · 21/03/2023 11:44

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 21/03/2023 11:44

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:36

why not just call/text and ask him what he wants - he may just want to check it's all fixed, ask you to fill in feedback to BG on his work.

He may also be a creepy pest - in which case report him

I'd not jump to conclusions based on one innocuous text message

It's not his remit to do follow up calls.

There are no conclusions being jumped to, as the follow up text was not innocuous. He is breaching GDPR to retain a customer number & pester her after the job is closed.

He probably does this to multiple women, & needs reporting so his employer can make him stop.

RightOnTheEdge · 21/03/2023 11:44

You have completely overreacted.
Why would you not just message him to ask what's up or get your husband to call and say hi, you did some work at our house and we've had a few missed calls from you is there a problem?

girlfriend44 · 21/03/2023 11:45

God what a drama and your hubby can't wait to lay into him shocking.

Just deal with it yourself.

Lamelie · 21/03/2023 11:45

What a fuss about nothing. He might have wanted you to check whether he’d left something or ask you where your kettle was from as he’d been looking for that colour. Honestly, how do some people get through the day 🤦🏻‍♀️

Coffeellama · 21/03/2023 11:45

Tomkirkman · 21/03/2023 11:42

I used to work for British Gas, running their engineer complaints desk in the metering side.

This is not ok and we would have taken it very seriously.

So out of genuine interest, what is the procedure if they think they have left a tool behind? How are they suppose to ask for it back?

GlitchStitch · 21/03/2023 11:46

I had this with a BT engineer several years ago. He got my number from the paperwork and texted to call me a MILF and ask if I was single so no misunderstanding on what he wanted. Some missed calls and a message asking to call is different though, I wouldn't immediately assume anything dodgy.

Sortyourlifeout · 21/03/2023 11:48

Phone the office. Tell them that you are getting calls from one of their engineers and ask them to explain what the call is about.

If it is work-related, they will be able to tell you. If he is being unprofessional, they will know and then it can be dealt with.

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:48

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 21/03/2023 11:44

It's not his remit to do follow up calls.

There are no conclusions being jumped to, as the follow up text was not innocuous. He is breaching GDPR to retain a customer number & pester her after the job is closed.

He probably does this to multiple women, & needs reporting so his employer can make him stop.

Can you call me - that's not an innocuous text? It's not really anything else is it - like other people have said - maybe he forgot something or has lost something - and British Gas engineering always call me from a mobile when coming to confirm and give me a time - nowt to do with stalking

Big jump to decide he does this to lots of women

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 21/03/2023 11:48

Lamelie · 21/03/2023 11:45

What a fuss about nothing. He might have wanted you to check whether he’d left something or ask you where your kettle was from as he’d been looking for that colour. Honestly, how do some people get through the day 🤦🏻‍♀️

If he thought he'd left something behind, he needed to say so in the text.

If he wanted to ask about OP's kettle, he needed to have asked that question on site. He is not allowed to retain customer numbers & use them for his own personal interest.

Sortyourlifeout · 21/03/2023 11:49

Coffeellama · 21/03/2023 11:45

So out of genuine interest, what is the procedure if they think they have left a tool behind? How are they suppose to ask for it back?

Presumably he can call from the office or get someone to else to call.

KnittingNeedles · 21/03/2023 11:50

Tomkirkman · 21/03/2023 11:42

I used to work for British Gas, running their engineer complaints desk in the metering side.

This is not ok and we would have taken it very seriously.

The problem is that the op doesn’t know what “this” is. As others have said he is not necessarily a scary sex pest, he may be someone who’s lost a screwdriver or needs your signature on something.

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:50

GlitchStitch · 21/03/2023 11:46

I had this with a BT engineer several years ago. He got my number from the paperwork and texted to call me a MILF and ask if I was single so no misunderstanding on what he wanted. Some missed calls and a message asking to call is different though, I wouldn't immediately assume anything dodgy.

See that IS harassment and completely unacceptable behaviour - deserving of reporting - sorry that happened to you @GlitchStitch

MishaBukvic · 21/03/2023 11:50

I wouldn't jump to conclusions.
I work in a company with engineers who visit homes and we have strict procedures/rules about contacting customers directly on a personal level - it's just not done and they can face disciplinary procedures - I imagine British Gas's rules are even more stricter than our small companies.
It's probably about a tool or equipment he's left somewhere and he's trying to find out which customer he's left it at.

If it is trying to engage conversation on a personal level, then yes raise a complaint with BGas

Sortyourlifeout · 21/03/2023 11:50

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:48

Can you call me - that's not an innocuous text? It's not really anything else is it - like other people have said - maybe he forgot something or has lost something - and British Gas engineering always call me from a mobile when coming to confirm and give me a time - nowt to do with stalking

Big jump to decide he does this to lots of women

"Can you please call me at your convenience as I left one of my tools at your house" would be more appropriate.

I think OP is right to be concerned.

Tomkirkman · 21/03/2023 11:50

Coffeellama · 21/03/2023 11:45

So out of genuine interest, what is the procedure if they think they have left a tool behind? How are they suppose to ask for it back?

They call into their TSM or the office, who then calls the customer.

if the job is complete and not open on the system the engineer shouldn’t be able to access Ops telephone number. If the job had been moved to another engineer he shouldn’t be able to see it either. Which means he saved it. Which he shouldn’t be doing.

Op also said it was his personal number. Again, that’s not ok either.

The reasons these things are put in place is to protect the engineers and the customers. So, it would be taken seriously.

TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu · 21/03/2023 11:50

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:48

Can you call me - that's not an innocuous text? It's not really anything else is it - like other people have said - maybe he forgot something or has lost something - and British Gas engineering always call me from a mobile when coming to confirm and give me a time - nowt to do with stalking

Big jump to decide he does this to lots of women

It's not innocuous because he is not allowed to send it, post job.
See comment upthread from British Gas employee.

It's not even about the content, it's about GDPR & him not respecting privacy rules. He should no longer have OP's number.