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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a three day call is not an appointment.

32 replies

JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 13:21

Friend of mine who rents from a HA has had a letter from a fire safety company saying they want to inspect the front doors of the flats to make sure they are fire safety compliant. No problem
However the letter says that if you miss 3 appointments you will be charged for them.

BUT the first appointment is anytime between Monday and Wednesday.

If you are going to threaten to charge people for missed appointments then at least make a proper appointment to begin with.

I had this myself from a different FS company in early 2019 Except they wanted to call between Monday and Friday (an ALL WEEK call) an appointment.
Ridiculous and a bit controlling.

OP posts:
Pot8ohs · 17/10/2023 13:27

This is ridiculous. People have to work or have things to do. God you could even be in the shower or ill in bed and miss someone knocking.

They need to be specific with days and times.

I would complain to the HA. Some vulnerable people would find this quite threatening.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 13:30

Or have to nip out to put gas and electric on the key meter

OP posts:
Tomatoketchupred · 17/10/2023 13:31

Yeah that’s absolutely ridiculous.

MattDamon · 17/10/2023 13:33

Yeah, that's ridiculous. Contact Shelter. They'll be able to give some advice.

OrbitingTheEarth · 17/10/2023 13:34

I run a fire door company. The minimum for good practice for anyone would be to give a day and either a 8.30 - 12.30 or 1.30 - 5.30 appointment. I would definitely push back on it, a three day window isn't reasonable

gamerchick · 17/10/2023 13:36

Companies assume that people in SH/HA are on benefits. They all assume it. So in that case, they can take their time at their leisure.

Never understood it really until I was on here a while. Seems to be universally assumed.
Is there a number? I'd be ringing and asking for a much shorter window.

bumtrumpet · 17/10/2023 13:39

gamerchick · 17/10/2023 13:36

Companies assume that people in SH/HA are on benefits. They all assume it. So in that case, they can take their time at their leisure.

Never understood it really until I was on here a while. Seems to be universally assumed.
Is there a number? I'd be ringing and asking for a much shorter window.

This is exactly right. They are all HA tenants so "not proper people with real jobs and lives". It's disgraceful.

CinnamonBear · 17/10/2023 13:43

I work in compliance for a housing association. A three day window is bonkers! It should be a AM or PM slot. Contact your housing manager/association and get them to give you a more specific time.

If you don't get any joy - complain. And follow up if you don't get the response you want. A three day window really isn't ok.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 13:48

Thankyou for the replies. When it happened to me nearly five years ago i saw the contractor who was doing our front door in the car park so ran downstairs to speak to him directly which made it easier but i will talk to my friend about pushing back on this. What if someone has an NHS appointment or works in it. Are they supposed to stay home for three days. PPs are correct. Its the assumption that tenants have nothing to do

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 17/10/2023 13:50

All H.A's seem to assume their tenants don't have jobs and sit at home all day.

Overthebow · 17/10/2023 13:50

That’s ridiculous. Lots of HA tenants work so that assumption isn’t correct. And even if not there’s doctors appointments, food shopping, nursery or school runs, just normal life to get on with. How could anyone block out 3 days to stay in completely and wait?

Ponderingwindow · 17/10/2023 13:56

Even with a 4 hour window as the appointment time, I have always been given a call about 30 minutes ahead of the arrival. It’s not always exactly 30 minutes as it will be as they are wrapping up the previous appt and estimating travel time to the next, but it gives you warning to know they will be arriving at the door soon.

it only makes sense because otherwise they could easily miss you because you had to go to the bathroom. That would waste everyone’s time.

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 17/10/2023 17:57

Urgh how irksome! Confused As has been said, I sometimes think that some people - including some landlords and some tradesmen - think that people who rent their home don't work. They think they do fuck-all all day, but sit in and watch telly, eat crap food, and spend half the day on the internet or on their phone.

Inexplicably, some people who don't go out to work aren't sat in all day, and do have a life!

My friend is 60, and retired after 40 years at work, when she was 55. She sees friends for lunch every other week - or goes with her DH, she visits her daughter every other week too, she goes on a day trip somewhere every week during April, May, June, July, August, and September, she goes to 3 hobby groups, (weekly,) and she goes for a 30 to 45 minute walk every day.

Her Housing Association booked her in for a repair for Friday 6th October, and the workman just turned up on Tuesday 3rd October at 10am when she was on the way out of the door to meet her friend for brunch at 10.30am in town (10 minute drive.)

He was most aggrieved and irritated when she said she was on her way out. He said 'but I'm here now.' She said 'but you're not due til the 6th of October anyway!' He carried on chuntering and said 'waste of my time this is. I came yesterday too, and you weren't in.' She was like 'eh?'Confused She said 'it's booked in for 6th October!' He said 'well it won't be done if I can't do it now.' She said, 'well it won't be done then, but I will be ringing the housing association when I get back, and asking them why you have called on me TWICE on 2 different dates that were not arranged, and are now threatening me with not coming on the ARRANGED date!'

'Oh all right all right I'll be here on the 6th!' he snapped. Fucking arsehole. Had a free hour and was hoping to squeeze her in to enable himself to be able to finish early on the Friday. She said he barely spoke to her when he did come (on the arranged date!) I'd have complained about him personally, but she didn't bother.

But yeah tl;dr... Some people do think that people who rent their home don't have a job, and just do fuck-all else except sit in the house all day! 😆

BabyofMine · 17/10/2023 18:04

Some one in a HA house might have any number of things to do even if they weren’t working and were on benefits! Medical/dental appointments, shopping, school run, some food banks have appointments/time slots you have to go, community groceries only open certain times, appointments with DWP that you can’t miss or you’ll be sanctioned, seeing a money advisor/CAB, courses at college, literally a million different things they could legitimately be doing. You can’t put your life on hold for three days!

Giveuprobot · 17/10/2023 18:08

OrbitingTheEarth · 17/10/2023 13:34

I run a fire door company. The minimum for good practice for anyone would be to give a day and either a 8.30 - 12.30 or 1.30 - 5.30 appointment. I would definitely push back on it, a three day window isn't reasonable

I'm not convinced you need to run a fire door company to have this insight!

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 17/10/2023 18:08

Are you sure this isn't a preliminary letter to tell you they will be visiting on those three days and they will contact you closer to the time to arrange a more specific time?

I was a resident liaison officer and we would never have done this.

Nowherenew · 17/10/2023 19:01

I would phone and ask for a specific day.

Ive had to take so much time off of work for things like this and it drives me mad when they assume that you don’t work.

OrbitingTheEarth · 17/10/2023 19:16

As you seem to have missed the point I will explain it for you. I am in the same industry so I was showing empathy for the poster while stating as in the same industry we do it so others certainly could if they wanted to.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 20:01

@AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside Nope Spoke to him this afternoon

The letter says. "Due to the scope of the works and the size of the survey we will not be able to give a date or time"

OP posts:
AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 17/10/2023 20:52

Ask them if they are a member of the considerate constructors scheme. Tell them you'll report them if they don't give a more specific time.

www.ccscheme.org.uk/

Ask to speak to their resident liaison officer and lodge a formal complaint.

Also complain to your housing officer and council if your HA is adopted by them.

CC in your local/ward councillors and mp's on all emails.

Once you do all that I'd be surprised if they couldn't pinpoint a specific appointment.

Don't worry about being that resident. You'll get your stuff done on time and properly if you are the site pita.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 21:25

Thanks @AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside i will pass that on to him

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 17/10/2023 21:31

@AlexaCanYouHearMe He is 67 and retired. But does have to nip out and top up his key meter. Like a PP said he could be in the shower or anything. He is also on the NHS waiting list for two different procedures. So this would have to be worked around.

OP posts:
abbs1 · 17/10/2023 21:44

This is utterly ridiculous. My dad lives in SH and they were all sent letters about fire door/fire alarm/ safety checks etc from the fire brigade and told to be home all week Mon-Fri during a certain week as no exact time or date could be given. The residents all kicked off as the housing manager had been removed from site as its changed to independent living so they couldn't give access which is what normally happened if a resident wasnt zble to be there and most residents had hospital appointments or other things booked and said they can't sit in their flats on their own for 5 days waiting for the fire brigade to decide to turn up.
It was quickly resolved and a date and time set to complete the works across 1 day not 5.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 18/10/2023 22:46

appointments with DWP that you can’t miss or you’ll be sanctioned

I had a gas safety check clash with a workfare placement in the early 2000s Both mandatory.
I phoned the HA and explained it to them. At first they didnt seem to get it so i mentioned the sanction could also include the HB but i wasnt sure They moved the appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 22/10/2023 17:18

Ive now seen the letter for myself and it does say no date or time for the reasons they have said.

OP posts:
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