To think this man is stupid

[cultjarteriaky]

• Tradesman recomended via my local Nextdoor
• Contacting him via his website so thought he was professional
• On my first message I gave him my full address - my flat number starts with 7 (two digits)
• Two days before the appt date he messaged me to ask about parking and claimed he knew where my address was and asked if my block was a new build opposite shops
• I replied saying that is was a very old block and not oppposite to any shops. Then I sent him a photo with full view of my block taken from outside as some ppl find it tricky to find (many similar blocks on the road)
• On the day/time of the appt, he called me from the bottom of my street asking if he was at the right place. I told him to walk up the street and my block was the last one on the road
• He arrived and rang the entry phone. I told him the flat was on the xx floor
• I waited a few minutes and nothing.
• Went out my door to see if the lift was working and it was
• Then checked my phone and there was a message “sorry I can’t go up, I get claustrophobic in lifts

Really.
From day 1 I told him my flat number which starts with a 7 and also sent him a photo of my block. Why did he not ask and clarified I was if on the ground floor if he can’t go on a lift?

Now I have to find somebody else but he wasted time and gas money. Luckliy I WFH and didn’t take time off work.

YABU - he is not stupid
YANNBU - he is stupid

Seems a bit odd but I don't understand the wasting gas money comment....

I think stupid is the wrong word. What floor are you on? Why can't he go up the stairs?

Could he not go up stairs?

On the 9th floor
He could go upstairs if he wanted to

Gas money - he wasted his gas money to come all the way here, he is not local. I saw where he was based when looking at his website that is why I gave my full adress straight way so he could give me an accurate quote (travel, labour etc)

What word would you use?

I just didn’t even reply to his message. If he wanted to go upstairs he would have. I suspect by the time I saw his messsage he was probably out of the block already anyway

SO this was in the USA?

UK London @frankentall

What made you think USA?

We don't tend use gas for travelling in the UK.

I don’t think he is “stupid”
A two digit flat number that starts with “7” could be on a ground floor, or a floor that isn’t as high as the 9th floor. I don’t see how he could have determined say flat #71 would be on the 9th floor.

Typically I see floor number as being the first digit in at least a 3 digit number- “701” or “7001” would be flat #1 on the 7th floor.

“On the 9th floor. He could go upstairs if he wanted to”

He has claustrophobia/or a phobia of lifts. Do you honestly think he can carry all the tools and supplies for your DIY job up to the 9th floor?

I think if you work in an area with a large number of high rise buildings and you're afraid of lifts, it would be sensible of you to check the floor a potential customer lived on beforehand, yes. However, the main loss here is to himself, in petrol and time, so his phobia must be quite an issue. In which case I'd be feeling more sympathy than irritation.

YANBU. He knew the address, he saw the picture. It's on him to check he's able to access the place if he has any phobias, not on you to guess what his limitations are.

Oh I’m not British, this is the way I speak, meaning whatever fuel he needs for his car and I know he was driving as he asked me about parking

That is why I did not reply telling him to use the stairs but when he saw that my address clearly started with Flat 7whatever and when he saw a picture of a high rise block with 10 floors he could have clarified which floor I am on before confirming the job?

So from now on I will include 9th floor as a part of my address just to avoid this again

He is stupid for not checking when he saw I was in a high rise block.
I’d have sympathy if he refused after checking and before coming all the way here.

I think it would a good idea to include the floor # as well.
I think he did not want to ask which floor in case you(or another potential client asked why) and the he’d have to confess to claustrophobia. I am sure he has lost clients by admitting to this early on. It is kind of embarrassing for him to not be able to use a lift, I can understand him not wanting to open himself up to divulging that at the booking stage of a home visit.

We do use gasoline (gas) for travelling - we just call it "petrol". Same thing being used in the car to travel from a to b.

I totally agree - as its harsh. I'm giving the person the benefit of the doubt as he too lost money/income

to be clear

I’m not saying it us stupidity being claustrophobic / unable to use the lift

the stupidity is not asking / double checking which floor before agreeing to do the services when I clearly said I live in a flat and sent him a photo of a high rising block of flat

If he knew you lived in a flat he should’ve asked what floor you were on. Like you say it would’ve saved him time and money.

YANBU:

• If he works from other people’s homes and knows that he has a condition which would prohibit him from doing a certain job then he should have a process for ascertaining the circumstances of your home so that he could definitively agree/decline the job beforehand

YABU:

• Don’t assume that your flat number has any bearing on anything - I live in Flat 7 and I am on the ground floor
• It’s rude to call other people stupid just because you are frustrated

I think the problem is that you are used to a particular numbering system and that doesn't apply in the UK. Some high rise blocks may incorporate the floor in the number. So 101 may be first floor, flat 1.201 second floor flat 1 etc. But others might just be, 1 2,3,4 etc and give no idea about the floor it's on. It might be best to stipulate the floor you are on. I always tell trades that I live on a 1 way street and there is residents only parking. And that I will provide a digital parking permit. Just for their info.

Yeah, this.

Would you assume Flat 76 is ground floor?