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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this man doesn't charge enough?

44 replies

Hairush · 01/09/2023 14:34

I know him through a club I belong to, he's basically a handyman/ odd job man.

Since DH died I've used him to do anything that involves going up a ladder small jobs I can't do and he also replaced a fence for me.

Lots of single women at the club use him to do the bits and pieces your dad might do for you and he does come across a bit fatherly/like a favourite uncle. I have other people who offer to help me, but I prefer not to mix business with pleasure!

He always attends promptly and is able to fix whatever the problem is, but he doesn't claim to be a skilled or qualified builder.

Anyway, he's been today. Looked at the problem, went to the builder's merchant to get the bits he needed, came back and fixed it. Not a difficult job, I probably should have done it myself but it's all done and that's a problem off my list. He's charged £30 including the £11 part.

I'm know he keeps busy with lots of these little jobs, but that's not enough?

OP posts:

BranchGold · 03/09/2023 08:55

I think he’s able to choose to run his business as he sees fit.

if you felt it was very reasonable and you were happy with the service, I would have given him two £20 notes and said no, thank you very much keep the difference.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 03/09/2023 09:06

YANBU to want to pay him more, but YWBBU to expect him to raise his prices on your say so. He probably has loads of customers who simply couldn’t afford his services if he did so. And he sounds like a lovely person, doing a great job,never short of work.
Add a tip, give him a Christmas bonus or pass on the gesture and do something for someone else that they couldn’t afford to pay someone for.

hugebiggin · 03/09/2023 09:09

He’s probably not declaring it so can charge less

Papillon23 · 03/09/2023 09:11

Don't suppose it's in the very north of Essex? He sounds incredibly useful!

jallopeno · 03/09/2023 09:13

he doesn't claim to be a skilled or qualified builder. this is why then. He won't have the insurance overheads etc. Just tip him extra

boboshmobo · 03/09/2023 09:20

I have a local electrician who helps me with my Mum's stuff . He is too cheap so I pay him more every time .

He is young and just starting his business so I know he is trying to gain clients but still .

He does a fantastic job , is always on time and cleans up so I pay him £30 extra for a takeaway .

NeedTheSeaside · 03/09/2023 09:47

Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:13

Essex

Show quote history

@Hairush I wish he lived near me.

£20 an hour, for something he enjoys doing, Local & feels good about doing seems ok. He'd put his charges up if he wanted/needed to. I'd have 'The Good Biscuits' in & a nice Christmas card with some money in.

loislovesstewie · 03/09/2023 09:49

I now a chap who is happy if he earn x amount per day. He charges a reasonable amount but not extortionate. He's busy but doesn't slog his guts out. Maybe yer man is like this, he earns enough, likes what he does and has a work/life balance?

HanSB · 03/09/2023 10:01

I have a neighbour who is like this, he's retired but helps out with odd handyman jobs around the neighbourhood, mostly for older people with worse health who can't do smaller jobs easily themselves. He doesn't charge much, just enough for people to feel that they aren't taking advantage of him for free but really he loves it because it makes him feel useful, happy to help others and keeps him active and with things to do. I suppose for him it's a bit like volunteering but he charges a little for his time.

Samlewis96 · 03/09/2023 11:58

Hairush · 01/09/2023 15:13

Essex

Show quote history

Think I need this guy. I'm in cm11 so don't know if he local

JaceLancs · 03/09/2023 12:05

DP would do this if he was retired and could afford to he’s always doing jobs for friends and neighbours n just says to buy him a coffee!
As he is also an electrician once a month he does a day over the weekend at a local charity shop PAT testing any donations that require it

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 03/09/2023 12:08

You can always tip him!! If he's worth more give him more

Kwasi · 03/09/2023 14:32

I used to live in Essex. £30-£35 an hour was pretty standard for tradesmen. What makes you think that’s cheap? What are other people paying?

JST88 · 04/09/2023 18:00

I’d pay him more

Malapataraso · 04/09/2023 20:01

Why do you care is my question. Are you considering a financial intervention? Don’t worry about it.

girlfriend44 · 04/09/2023 20:51

Maybe he generous, maybe he is worried about paying tax.

Maybe he thinks it's enough. Just pay him more if you want, don't expect a bunch of strangers to know.

Spottytoddler · 04/09/2023 20:56

I think people have just got used to paying extortionate rates for trades tbh. If he’s not highly skilled then £19 an hour is pretty good going, it’s well above NMW. I am in a professional role that requires several years of postgraduate training and I earn about £25 an hour. We’ve just all got used to paying £60+ an hour for electricians etc so this feels cheap.

plumtreebroke · 04/09/2023 21:03

He sounds great, but it's probably tax free (black economy) so he's not doing bad. Give him a bit extra if you want.

Ladyvgc · 05/09/2023 12:56

A village local to me has a handyman. Would fix anything and not charge much. One day though a young woman caught him on camera jerking odd to a pair of her pants on her bed!!

Police we’re involved but it’s apparently not illegal. Word got around and a few other stories came out of some strange things where he was probably doing the same!!

So I’d worry now that he’s cheap as he’s getting kicks some other way 🤣

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