What is it with men?????

[claricebeansmum]

Two years ago we had our house redesigned. Architect did a great job but was late for everything apart from submitting his bills

Last week architect calls to ask if he can bring over photographer to take some photos of house for book he is doing...we make an appointment. I am not interested in the house being in a book or magazine. I live in it so get to see it all the time but it his work and I agree.

So architect calls to say he and snapper are running late. The storm makes them run late.

Then he rings to say that he is running really late. Can they come at a different time, later today?

I agree because I am trying to be nicer to people this year.

They are late for the second appointment but it is OK.

They come in. They have water and a cup of tea (which I make). They move furniture, ask for clean co-ordinating tea towels, sort out this, sort out that etc?.

They bring in a bunch of flowers to dress the house.

They use my vase

They put the flower wrapping in my bin.

I go out to leave them with an empty house for couple of hours so they can snap away.

When I get back?

THEY HAVE TAKEN THE FUCKING FLOWERS WITH THEM!!!

Mightily pissed off.

Did they leave the wrapping in the bin?

oh good grief, no explaining some people but am wanting a swatch of your lovely sounding house now!!!

Perhaps he'll give you a free copy of the book.

Yup - the nice tissue and raffia bow is in my kitchen bin

Bet he always sent an itemised bill with attitude like that!

Unbefarkinglievable.

How did they carry the flowers then?
How odd...

I hope they send you some more as a Thank you!

They carried the flowers in in a beautiful bouquet into my kitchen and then rooted around in my cupboards for a vase whilst I was in the house...

Send him an itemised bill for the tea and water and for room stylers to return the furniture to its allotted place ! Oh and vase hire of course. and refuse disposal. er... use of linen?!

How odd....... I'd be too!

I'd ask for a copy of the article / book!

Send them an itemised bill charge for loan of vase, cuppa (milk, tea bags, washing up), rent of house for couple of hours, fees for putting furniture back in the right place and removal of their rubbish in your bin.

x post with lotty

V weird. I would ask for replacement flowers too!

Send them an invoice:

TO: provision of vacant premises for photographic purposes; provision of coordinating tea towels (necessitating additional laundering and ironing); provision of vase for stage setting involving additional cleaning.

Hourly charge for setting: £50. Hours availalbe from (10am 1st appointment? - 3pm end?) - 5 hours @ £50 Total £250 (or whatever); additional costs £50.

Expenses: provision of refreshments:

£20.00

Total £320 (or whatever you make it to be)

I mean, he was using your time waiting in or staying out and has put you to a lot of additional bother and not even left the flowers...

Good luck!

Sorry, took too long putting the 'invoice' together!

weren't they their flowers? or am I getting confused?

lol i was just going to say that mung, how f'ing rude. love to see a piccy of your house

mistle - I could charge them for the time putting invoice together and "consultation" - ie on MN getting views!

Beaniestevie - yes they were flowers bought by the architect, but it is my house and I basically gave up a whole day waiting around for him as a favour - I don't care about the book

Definitely invoice them - it will make you feel better if nothing else! Can you find out what they were charging for their hourly rate when they did work for you? I don't think that £50 ph is out of order!

It's not the money it's just, well being a bit of a girl, it seems a bit mean to have the wrapping in the bin but not the thing inside IYSWIM...and they were very pretty flowers.

I suppose it is the lack of thought that is the most annoying after I felt I had been so accommodating...

oh come on!! you must of wanted it to be in his book though, come on fess up, we won't think its shallow !!!

we are just

• put a covering note with the invoice to the effect that, if they'd left the flowers as a thank you it would have been fine....! At least this way they might realise they'd been total w***s and send you a bunch!

Funnily enough the house is not that spectacular although it is completely white and minimalist with very little furniture etc.

show us a piccy!

you chose to let him come. He doesn't owe you anything. YABU.

don't do people favours in order to get something back IMO.