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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:
Coffeellama · 21/03/2023 11:51

Sortyourlifeout · 21/03/2023 11:49

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

I can presume myself, but I wanted to no the actual answer from the person who’s worked there.

Tomkirkman · 21/03/2023 11:51

KnittingNeedles · 21/03/2023 11:50

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.

But we do. There’s not reason for him to still have or retained Ops number or be contacting on his own mobile number.

Crumpleton · 21/03/2023 11:52

Give them a call or send a message.
Maybe they saw an item in your house/garden and would like to know where you got it from.

If it turns out to be unprofessional then I'm sorry they really do need reporting.

smashinggrapes · 21/03/2023 11:53

"Give them a call or send a message.
Maybe they saw an item in your house/garden and would like to know where you got it from.

If it turns out to be unprofessional then I'm sorry they really do need reporting."

But that is unprofessional 😅

specialk9 · 21/03/2023 11:54

So much drama. I would have just called.
And if it was inappropriate report

Snowsurprised · 21/03/2023 11:55

Just find out what he wants and if inappropriate then block and report.
I’m not sure why this warranted 13 paragraphs.

DaisyBoop · 21/03/2023 11:58

I once had a paramedic do this to me after they collected me from my house following a serious hypo, requiring hospitalisation. He messaged me asking me on a date a few weeks later which I thought was really inappropriate. I didn’t know what to do so asked my GP who told me to report him to the HCPC. I don’t know the outcome but I’d hope he at least got a telling off.

Bearpawk · 21/03/2023 12:00

I'd have found out what he wanted then reported and blocked him if inappropriate.

As you said he wasn't a creep and knew
You had a husband / offered to call him , I wouldn't think the worst to begin with.

If it does turn out to be I appropriate; report to British Gas immediately.

bellissimiaow · 21/03/2023 12:00

I agree that op has blown this up into something way bigger than it needed to be. Yes it does seem unprofessional, and I would also feel uncomfortable about it, but instead of spending all this time asking family, friends and mumsnet what to do I would have just text him back and asked what he wanted me to call him about - surely if it was legit (albeit unprofessionally sought) he would just say in a text eg. I've lost my xxx and wondered if I'd left it when I visited to look at your boiler.
If it was something more dodgy - report to bosses and block.

GlitchStitch · 21/03/2023 12:01

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2023 11:50

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

Thanks, I didn't report it at the time as I was living alone with a toddler and he knew where I lived. I definitely would these days though as I'm a lot feistier than I used to be, not that anyone would be likely to be calling me a MILF anymore!

Really hope it's nothing dodgy OP, I do think if he was trying to be creepy he would likely just put the feelers out and move on if no response. Persistently ringing makes it seem like it could be a work issue, even if he isn't using the correct process.

monicagellerbing · 21/03/2023 12:08

Oh ffs! You and your husband are idiots

puffinpetra · 21/03/2023 12:10

You must be absolutely irresistible. He can't stop thinking about you. He's desperate to hear your voice again.

Or he left his screwdriver at your house.

KateAusten · 21/03/2023 12:12

Maybe ask him what he wants instead of asking a bunch of strangers on the internet

Charlieiscool · 21/03/2023 12:15

Just ignore it. Don’t create a massive drama.

oceanbleu · 21/03/2023 12:15

Think you reacted a bit strangely OP. I would've just replied and said sorry not available to call but what's up? And just seen what he wanted. Could be entirely innocent. If it wasn't then I'd have reported.

Walterwhiteswifey · 21/03/2023 12:17

He could have left something at your home, decided to go out on his own so is advertising his business, was asking for a review, spotted something else that needed doing.... etc etc. The possibilities are endless. You should have called him back before jumping to conclusions. Sounds as if you're quite enjoying the possibility he MAY have been flirting with you.

weetee0102 · 21/03/2023 12:20

His message doesn't sound particularly creepy, its not like he has text you to strike up conversation, it sounds like he is trying to contact you for a reason, left a tool behind, perhaps didn't check something on the job and is panicking. I think you've blown this out of proportion. Apart from trying to contact you, which could be for any number of innocent reasons, hes not really given any indication that he has weird intentions.

Aquamarine1029 · 21/03/2023 12:21

smashinggrapes · 21/03/2023 11:53

"Give them a call or send a message.
Maybe they saw an item in your house/garden and would like to know where you got it from.

If it turns out to be unprofessional then I'm sorry they really do need reporting."

But that is unprofessional 😅

It is, but it's not sinister. The op is acting as though she knows the man is obsessed with her. 🙄

Corah5 · 21/03/2023 12:22

People are permanently offended nowadays. Whining “you’re not allowed to do that” and causing a huge fuss for nothing. Maybe he has a legitimate reason for contacting you. Or maybe he just found you attractive, and if you’re not interested you just block and move on. Snowflakes complaining about GDPR really get on my nerves.

TortolaParadise · 21/03/2023 12:22

No but had a similar experience with a landline phone/internet provider.

PandaEyed13 · 21/03/2023 12:25

I spoke to British Gas this morning, as mentioned in my OP, who said that it's not normal or the done thing for call-out engineers to contact customers about anything at all after job done. They also said he didn't record his attendance at my house whereas the other 3 engineers did.

I've read some of these comments, and I decided to give his number to DH to give him a call based upon those suggestions. He approached it as 'friendly customer returning a call.' He hung up on him when he explained who he was!
So yeah, report will be getting made.

To the people calling me a drama queen - aww thanks! Imagine being a bit concerned about getting multiple calls (over a weekend as well) from a guy you met weeks ago, for an hour, and a "hey, call me" from someone who's kept my number and knows where I live, didn't log his attendance at my house, AND I was attention seeking enough to ask advice on it from my husband and mum? Shocking! What am I like?! Silly me aye!!!

OP posts:
Margot78 · 21/03/2023 12:27

Four different engineers to fix one meter?

Ireallywantsomechips · 21/03/2023 12:27

I was going to say you should have replied “sorry I’m busy this weekend DH will call you shortly” then if he ignored DH & you never heard anything you’d know he was being creepy!

But I can see DH has called him now and it seems he was being creepy! 😒

momtoboys · 21/03/2023 12:29

That seems like a big escalation to me. I'm still not clear on why you didn't call him back to see what he wanted? He may have been filling out paperwork from your visit and needed some information?

Sortyourlifeout · 21/03/2023 12:32

PandaEyed13 · 21/03/2023 12:25

I spoke to British Gas this morning, as mentioned in my OP, who said that it's not normal or the done thing for call-out engineers to contact customers about anything at all after job done. They also said he didn't record his attendance at my house whereas the other 3 engineers did.

I've read some of these comments, and I decided to give his number to DH to give him a call based upon those suggestions. He approached it as 'friendly customer returning a call.' He hung up on him when he explained who he was!
So yeah, report will be getting made.

To the people calling me a drama queen - aww thanks! Imagine being a bit concerned about getting multiple calls (over a weekend as well) from a guy you met weeks ago, for an hour, and a "hey, call me" from someone who's kept my number and knows where I live, didn't log his attendance at my house, AND I was attention seeking enough to ask advice on it from my husband and mum? Shocking! What am I like?! Silly me aye!!!

I'm glad you have logged this with the company.

I would have felt uncomfortable with it too. Whether or not people agree with you, YOUR FEELINGS A VALID and you felt uncomfortable.

Hope you feel better now!