To be hacked off by Tradespeople who arrive unannounced?

[chocolatedot]

I am new to life in the country so not sure if I really am being unreasonable.

Last week an electrician called around to quote for a couple of jobs involving installing new lights and new sockets in the kitchen. We agreed he would do the job sometime this week. 8.15 this morning he turns up unannouced and doesn't leave until 2pm. During this time the kitchen is a no-go area thanks to his blaring radio and the dust from his drilling (I had got up at 6am to clean the kichen!).

I was pretty cold to him as today was my one single day between hordes of house guests leaving and the next lot arriving and I was greatly looking forward to having a quiet day cooking.

I have noticed in the country that a lot of tradespeople turn up unannounced like this - do people really not mind when someone suddenly appears and turns a room upside down with no prior warning???

That would annoy me too. Your whole day is interrupted.

However, I'm the complete opposite today. Sat in waiting for a tradesman who didn't appear. Phone call to him was met with a nonchalant "oh I'm coming tomorrow instead" with no apology.

Sorry for rant.

On the plus side, at least your job has now been done.

You got up at 6am to clean the kitchen?

"Last week an electrician called around to quote for a couple of jobs involving installing new lights and new sockets in the kitchen. We agreed he would do the job sometime this week"

I don't get it, you agreed he would come round this week and he did.

Surely, if you wanted a specific time you would have talked to him about that last week when you were arranging?

I don't get it ...........

LLPJ I'm on my own with 5 children and the kitchen was a tip so I got up before they do to have a chance to clean it.

Laurifairycake, in London an electrician would never (IME) turn up without arranging a time first, not least to check someone would actually be home. I expected him to call me to agree a mutually convenient time. That's what I'm asking - is it the norm in the country that people just turn up unannounced? The window cleaner came at 8.45am last Sunday with no prior warnig. If so, it's going to dirve me nuts.

laurie - i agree to an extent but surely the electrician should have specified. My DP is a carpenter and would never dream of turning up unannounced at a clients house. Usually on the first morning (previously agreed) he will phone up to confirm that it is OK and will often offer to come pre or post school run etc. After the first morning, then would just turn up. To be honest, i think the OPs electrician sounds a bit rude, blaring radio?? Very unprofessional, that is actually banned on most building sites where the radio might disturb clients/public.

Chocolate, I think your stereotyping of country people in this way is not going to earn you many brownie points, fwiw, no, most people have and expect manners, no matter where they live.

you could always move back to the city if you don't like it

I'd just be happy that he came within the timescale he had said he would to be honest - but I am also a country girl.

I find 'country folk' generally more relaxed about most things (that's why I like them )..............

Don't understand how I'm stereotyping. In the 6 weeks I have been here, 3 tradespeople have turned up on my doorstep with no prior agreed time. In 25 years of living in London, this never happened once. Therefore, I'm genuinely interested if I'm being unreasonable to be annoyed and to ask for some advance notice in future.

The explanation I could see would be that someone is more likely to be passing in the country but in London turning up on the offchance of someone being available would cost more in fuel and time so is less likely to happen. I think it is more logistically explained as opposed to country vs city folk to be honest.

Just ask people in future to let you know beforehand.

well i honestly think you have been unlucky, it is madness not to pre-arrange, i wasn't being funny though, but we have lots of folks from london moving here and they just seem to criticise and want to change everything. Which is ironic, because they will change what it is they liked in the first place. So, a bit of a sensitive subject - can't really say im a country girl though. Just that if you tend to have that, oh you do things differently around here attitude, you might find it hard to integrate - hang on, give me that spade, i'll keep digging. Sorry, im not making myself clear.

YANBU about the tradesmen by the way.