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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To report the engineer that came to my house?

435 replies

Thejewellershands · 19/01/2024 13:34

I am a 31 year old woman, and today a guy came round to my house to fit a new energy meter. I am a very friendly person who likes to be polite so I greeted him and let him in, asked if he would like a drink etc. I was planning on just going upstairs and telling him to shout if he needs me, but he was really chatty so I just stayed in the room and carried on the conversation with him. He was just asking me normal things at first like how long I have lived here, if I have kids etc. I was asking him if he has plans for the weekend. Just normal stuff. I really shouldn’t have done this, because for some reason this gave him some sort of green light to be very very inappropriate.

After he asked me if I have children he started speaking about his own kids. He told me that his first was conceived through an affair. I was a bit taken aback that he told me this, but then it just got worse. He said he hasn’t had sex with his wife for 27 years and has had multiple affairs. He told me all about her intimacy problems. I was feeling uncomfortable but I didn’t know what to say, I was scared because I was in the house alone with him. So I just tried to change the subject. He kept bringing it back to sexual things though. He said that it was on his bucket list to sleep with a woman of a certain race and he achieved this last year through an affair. He told me she was a customer of his, he went to her house and she was a single mother living alone so a few days later he went back to her house unannounced and took her some food shopping to help her out. I am horrified by this. I want to report him.

he made sexist, racist and homophobic comments. After he tad told me a few things he asked me if I had any stories. I said no. So he asked me if I am a nun. I said no obviously not. He said “have you ever wanted to be naughty?” So I said no. I just wanted him out of my house and I was very scared. He said some more things which I won’t mention and eventually I left the room making an excuse that I needed to go and make sure my cat was ok upstairs and I stayed up there until he shouted me. As he was leaving he asked me “would you swipe left or right?” I said “what??” He said “on tinder. For me” I said I don’t know sorry and shut the door in his face. I locked all of the doors and it’s been 30 minutes and he’s still sat outside.

I want to report him but what if he knows it’s me? Am I being reasonable to be scared or am I overreacting? I’m shocked and disgusted and just so upset and wondering if it was something I did or said to make him say all of that. I didn’t bring any of it up I was just trying to be nice. I know people will probably think I brought it on myself or egged it on by staying there but I just wasn’t sure what to do for the best so I was just trying to be polite and go along with him. But for future I really will just be letting people in and going straight upstairs and not engaging in conversation

OP posts:
ThisOldThang · 20/01/2024 09:43

I'm a man and I think you should definitely report him.

That's completely unacceptable, weird and disconcerting behaviour. Who knows what he gets up to in other women's homes. His job gives him access to vulnerable people and I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that he's abusing those opportunities.

Please be sure to mention the woman that he said he returned to with shopping. That's something his employer can use to verify his inappropriate behaviour.

With regards to you seeking safety upstairs, I think that was a mistake. You would have been trapped up there with no way to escape. I think a better plan would have been to grab your coat, open the front door and stand on the threshold/doorstep.

Throwhandsupintheair · 20/01/2024 09:47

Please report OP, he sounds very sinister and is a predator. Taking advantage of a poor single mother is disgusting.

All that aside, I think he was telling you this stuff to freak you out for his own twisted kicks. There is no way he could have thought his stories would make you want to sleep with him.

JonnoT · 20/01/2024 17:19

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Mattdef11 · 20/01/2024 17:22

Absolutely horrendous and disgusting behaviour by this person. So sorry you had to go through this - it's absolutely unacceptable. Appreciate this is difficult but I really feel you should report him - he will just continue to do it. To be honest I would imagine he does it many times on many visits so probably wouldn't know it was you anyway.....

again very sad this happened - it's never acceptable

NorseHorse123 · 20/01/2024 17:25

You must report him. Disgusting behaviour.

petelacey · 20/01/2024 17:25

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scoobysnaxx · 20/01/2024 17:28

It was nothing you said or did.

This man is an absolute PREDATOR.

Report him to his work AND the police.

Disgusting filthy old perv.

scoobysnaxx · 20/01/2024 17:31

He could easily be a rapist if he visited someone he deemed small/weak/vulnerable.

The fact he's getting into peoples homes and can notice if women are living alone/have kids/a partner etc. He also has opportunity to scout for alarm systems/doors/locks etc.

Absolute predator.

PetuniaT · 20/01/2024 17:31

That's the stuff of porn movie scenarios! I'd report him for fitting an energy meter (I assume a so-called (Smart Meter").

RM2013 · 20/01/2024 17:32

Definitely inappropriate and I would report him

LouDeLou · 20/01/2024 17:33

Please, please report him. Please. Please.

He may intimidate the next woman into doing something she doesn't want to.

Mittleme · 20/01/2024 17:33

Yes I agree with every body's suggestions to report but please next time leave the front door wide open .also I would suggest not to chat too much and ask the questions you asked him such as what he is doing for the weekend etc as he probably perceived u were being friendly
that's what I do when an engineer has to come to fix stuff and am the only one at home . I only discuss what they have come to fix . Period

JennyBeanR · 20/01/2024 17:37

Report him. For now, keep doors locked etc and stay safe. The guys a predator and needs to be stopped.
Awful that this happened to you, I hope you're ok!

Seaqueen24 · 20/01/2024 17:39

Totally unacceptable behaviour and sorry you've had to endure this. However, personally I would be second guessing to report it too as I'd be worried that he knows where I live.

IsobelElsie123 · 20/01/2024 17:40

I wouldn’t go upstairs as than you are effectively ‘trapped’. You must report him.

Oscarsdaddy · 20/01/2024 17:47

He must be reported. This is disgraceful behaviour and he should not be going into the homes of women in their own.

neilyoungismyhero · 20/01/2024 17:48

When I was a younger divorcee I remember a few occasions when similar instances occurred. In fact a girl friend was with me once and seemed shocked that the guy had asked me out and been so blatantly full of himself.
I told her yes it happened a lot. I suppose I thought it was par for the course. I expect I mentioned my marital status in the hope of some sort if discount! Can't really remember now. However I learnt not to get involved in too much conversation eventually.
Personally I'd live and learn.
He's obviously a complete jerk living in la la land. Would I report him? No...Draw a line under the experience. He knows where you live. He knows you're on your own.

sidebirds · 20/01/2024 17:48

WallaceinAnderland · 19/01/2024 18:44

(I think he needed to fit something back on I’m not sure because it was near the end and by this point I wasn’t entirely listening because I just wanted him gone)

I would check that he hasn't fitted a camera or some kind of listening device. He sounds creepy as fuck.

This is a really good point. I think this can be checked on wi-fi settings as any such device emits a signal.

kazlau · 20/01/2024 17:49

Report him. I had a tradesperson in who was inappropriate with me. I felt so violated in my own home and felt it was my fault what had happened. My children had a very different view and my eldest granddaughter was so supportive. I realised we were conditioned to believe “we were asking for it”. Thank goodness the younger generation don’t feel like this. Definitely report him. He’s a sleazy predator. Mine was an independent. Noone to report him to and not serious enough for the police.

Tina7391 · 20/01/2024 17:52

I had someone in fixing my sofa. I told him I'd get out of his way and to give me a shout if he needed anything and I went upstairs. We were both fine with that. That same week, someone came to fix my boiler. I said the same thing but the gas engineer started up a conversation and we blethered for half an hour. Standing having a conversation with a professional person in your own home does not give them the right to harass you and the majority of cases it'll just be innocent chit chat from someone trying to be friendly!

JMSA · 20/01/2024 17:53

Wow, I don't err towards the dramatic, but would definitely report this creep Shock

lostonmars · 20/01/2024 17:53

girlfriend44 · 19/01/2024 15:45

Don't understand why you stayed chatting and didn't nip it in the bud as soon as he started?

Agree with another post always say your husband/brother is around and back soon.

Because he was talking to her, so she talked back trying to be polite. That's how conversations work. Go away with your victim blaming.

Cheshiresun · 20/01/2024 17:54

How scary, he probably does this to many homes he calls around. As for reporting him I can see your dilemma.

When I was young, and naive, I was on a cruise with my parents. One of the cabin staff was distributing life jackets for the drill, as he put it on me, my parents being out of the cabin, he groped me up front behind the jacket. I didn't know what to do, I was in shock but I often wondered if I should have reported him and would he have lost his job, being so poorly paid as they are. I didn't tell my parents either. We often feel shame for things that are not our fault. That's just one of many similar incidents that happens to many of us and we do nothing.

In your case I would be scared about how it would be handled and retaliation too. Sadly you probably won't be the last person he does this to though. Is it a large company, or more a single trader or independent company. Self-employed would probably "get away" with it. Small company, I don't know. Please let us know how you get on.

ManchesterLu · 20/01/2024 17:55

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 19/01/2024 13:46

What do you want to report him for - as your post was very long.

That's just rude. If you can't be arsed reading a post, don't bother replying - because clearly plenty of people did read, and are commenting helpful advice.

FWIW OP, my vote is to report it, too.

MikeRafone · 20/01/2024 17:57

I really shouldn’t have done this

you didn't do anything wrong

you really can do this

and not expect to have totally inappropriate behaviour