Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Unbelievable!

47 replies

IVFthenPERI · 08/09/2023 17:06

So I had a guy earlier measuring for some work we need doing to the house. He’s brought his kids with him, 10 & 12 year old. Told them they could come in if they want and I’d get them a drink as it’s very very warm outside. Little bit unprofessional but I have 4 year old twins so know how hard it can be to cover the school hours.

omg is this how children behave, literally picking everything up, asking what it is. No manners when I gave them a drink. Then they asked for the WI-FI password, which threw me a bit and I just said I didn’t know.

The builder asked a question, five minutes later I go back in the the room and one of the kids is behind the tv with the router upside down saying I’ve found the Wi-Fi password.

i said ok that’s enough, I didn’t tell you that you could do that, and if you can’t have any manners then maybe you should go and wait outside.

un fucking believable. Seriously no good deed goes unpunished does it

so my AIBU is would you still take his quote seriously after this experience.

IANBU - what if he was doing the job during half term and they were always with him

IABU - go with the best quite and ignore the kids behaviour

OP posts:

Blueblell · 08/09/2023 18:46

Hmm! I would wonder why they were with him? If it’s a one off as they haven’t gone back to school yet then it wouldn’t bother me. He is not actually doing the job yet, just doing a quote. Although I would expect them not to ask for the WiFi really. Although I think that is the way it is with kids now.

They shouldn’t have rummaged around your TV but I think you sent mixed messages and they took the initiative to find the code as you didn’t know it.

FoodFann · 08/09/2023 18:47

I wouldn’t have even let him in with kids. So no, YANBU, get rid, and don’t invite him back

DoItAgainPlz · 08/09/2023 18:49

I'm only 30 but I must be really out if touch because I think its beyond rude to ask for the Wi-Fi password. They could be downloading or Googling all sorts of things!

I wouldn't be bothered about them being in your garden. I also think their behaviour sounds very childish for 10 and 12. If they were 8 and 10, then maybe.

If he brought them to your house once, he'll bring them again.

I can deal with "cheeky" kids but these were rude.

Perfect28 · 08/09/2023 18:56

Haven't all schools gone back now?

Original poster

IVFthenPERI · 08/09/2023 18:57

Perfect28 · 08/09/2023 18:56

Haven't all schools gone back now?

They were in school uniform so had obviously just picked them up en route

OP posts:

TrackerBar · 08/09/2023 19:04

I would wait and see what the quote was first......

AncientQuercus · 08/09/2023 19:07

I can't believe so many people would willy nilly give out their wifi password to some random kids!

doitwithlove · 08/09/2023 20:02

Seriously, kids whatever age can do without wifi for an hour.!

I would not be accepting his quote.

AffIt · 08/09/2023 20:06

I'm also baffled by the number of posters who think a) it's okay for randoms to ask for the wifi password and then b) go looking for it.

Absolutely fucking not: just don't touch stuff in other people's houses, how is this hard to understand?

sussexman · 08/09/2023 20:08

TrackerBar · 08/09/2023 19:04

I would wait and see what the quote was first......

And would you trust him to do the work professionally and well? If he can't quote professionally and well that's a big red flag.

UpaladderwatchingTV · 08/09/2023 20:18

I echo your concerns OP. We had someone come to our house for an interview for a job, she brought her kids in the car, and left them there while she came in. She'd only been with us a few minutes when there was a knock at the door, it was her kids aged about 6 & 8, one said they needed the toilet, so I allowed them to come in and showed them to the toilet. To my horror, after they'd been, she did absolutely nothing, no 'Kids I'm busy here, you've been to the toilet, now back to the car please', no nothing!! My DH was left looking after her kids while I did the interview, and the cheeky little blighters were frequently pushing their luck, climbing upstairs, wanting to know where things were, and being really cheeky. Needless to say, she didn't get the job, as I had visions of her bringing them with her, if she couldn't get child care, and while I might have tolerated a well behaved child, I certainly wouldn't want those little darlings back in my house again.

So in your shoes, I'd wait until you get the quote, and although you think he's more knowledgeable than others you've had round, only give him the work if the quote is exceptionally good, AND if you're going to be there while he does the work. If not, then I would't risk him bringing them with him if he thinks you're going to be out. It may not be all day, but he obviously collects them from school, and if for example you work and don't get home until say 6.30pm, he may well bring them to yours while he finishes his job for the day.

TrackerBar · 08/09/2023 20:20

sussexman · 08/09/2023 20:08

And would you trust him to do the work professionally and well? If he can't quote professionally and well that's a big red flag.

Show quote history

Well that's a call the op has to make.

We had a painter and decorator turn up to give us a quote and he brought his four year old son with him. His quote was very reasonable, so we went with him and he did a great job.

His son wasn't running around the house though.

I would assume that when the builder turns up to do this work (if the op gives the go ahead) that he wouldn't be bringing his kids with him. Also, I would check reviews if there are any, which is what we did, of previous work the builder had done elsewhere.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/09/2023 20:24

No I would not hire this builder after that.

He saw you as handy child care

Imagine if they’re off while he was doing the job? “Oh there’s a woman here, it’s her job by default to look after my kids”

FunkyMonks · 08/09/2023 20:59

No chance would I use him the kids were beyond rude old enough to understand manners my two are 4 and 6 and they both know to say please and thank you.

Also I wouldn't be happy with some random people using my wi fi beyond cheeky perhaps it would have been better to have said no you can't use our wi fi I have to agree with others if he allowed his kids to behave like that what will he be like on the job no thanks.

billy1966 · 08/09/2023 21:32

I would be 100% allergic to the rudeness of a child rooting around for my wifi.

Not a chance would I employ him.

I would have ushered the whole lot of them away.

Absolutely no problem with him bringing two children with him, because I get people can be stuck and he wanted to make the appointment, however school your children in basic behaviour before you let them lose.

VivX · 08/09/2023 21:42

It's fair enough that they were in the van but the builder was rude to assume it was okay to bring his children into your garden without checking with you first.But having done that, school-aged children should be perfectly capable of please/thank you and waiting quietly in the garden without wifi."...five minutes later I go back in the the room and one of the kids is behind the tv with the router upside down saying I’ve found the Wi-Fi password."I also think that it is rude to ask for the wifi password and then to go looking for it behind the TV in a stranger's house."i said ok that’s enough, I didn’t tell you that you could do that, and if you can’t have any manners then maybe you should go and wait outside."Did they go back outside when they were told?

readbooksdrinktea · 08/09/2023 22:08

AffIt · 08/09/2023 20:06

I'm also baffled by the number of posters who think a) it's okay for randoms to ask for the wifi password and then b) go looking for it.

Absolutely fucking not: just don't touch stuff in other people's houses, how is this hard to understand?

Absolutely agree! I'm really surprised people would accept that.

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/09/2023 22:13

He'd have to have a bloody good quote, and references, and assure me the kids wouldn't be with him when he came to do the job!

I used to go with my Dad sometimes at that age (and younger!) when he did tree felling jobs (wasn't his job job, he was an architect, but he had a chainsaw, we had a log burner and he'd take down small trees for friends/friends of friends/colleagues etc from time to time in return for the wood).

We would sometimes be asked in for a glass of lemonade, but... best behaviour, drink it and back out - our purpose was to help (shift logs, load the trailer etc), or stay out of the way, not bum free drinks and sweeties off people!

My Dad was far from the most observant or active parent, but we behaved (mind he rarely took both of us!) and knew HOW to behave and I don't think theres any reason that shouldn't be expected!

fiddlesticksandotherwords · 08/09/2023 22:17

We had plumbers in once, they were replacing our entire central heating system. I popped out to get more milk and when I returned 5 minutes later, another workmate of theirs had arrived to help and he'd brought his dog into my house.

At the time, we had three cats. This is not a house into which we allow dogs. Especially not a Jack Russell. I was absolutely enraged and told him to get his effing dog out of my house right this very second. The cats were already upset enough as it was, what with all the banging and clanging of the noise of the works, and him bringing his dog inside when I wasn't there was enough to make me see red.

UsingChangeofName · 08/09/2023 22:21

YANBU.
It is unprofessional and it shows he has little respect for your home.
If there were some reason why they had to be with him, then - like a pp when they had to go with their parent - this is a time for them to be on their best behaviour and make themselves as invisible as possible.

My only caveat at first was that it is often difficult to get good trades, but as you have already had 3 quotes, he would have to be FAR more knowledgeable and FAR more affordable for me to even still consider him.

Highandlows · 08/09/2023 22:40

He is rude and unprofessional and is blissfully unaware. Do yourself a favour and do not ask him back.

Strugglingtodomybest · 09/09/2023 13:43

AffIt · 08/09/2023 20:06

I'm also baffled by the number of posters who think a) it's okay for randoms to ask for the wifi password and then b) go looking for it.

Absolutely fucking not: just don't touch stuff in other people's houses, how is this hard to understand?

Is it so hard to understand that other people have different boundaries to you? No need to be rude about it.

I couldn't care less if kids who I have invited into my house ask for the password to my wi-fi, because then they will be sat still playing on their phones instead of getting bored and getting up to mischief.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread