To think it’s tacky to try and bribe the bin men?!?

[fnuck]

We’ve got a dissembled shed in the front garden at the moment which isn’t on the list of things the council will collect. DH mentioned in passing (but quite proudly) that he tried to offer the binmen some cash today to take it away off-book. They said no and I am cringing in embarrassment that he even tried. To make it even worse the amount he was going to offer them was £10! Between two people! It’s given me the ick to be honest. AIBU, is this normal?!? Or is it in fact extremely cringeworthy?

I think it was worth a try, but the truth is their trucks are not set up to eat a shed so it definitely wasn't worth the risk for them.

He should have offered the tenner to the guy who drives a cage sided truck around picking up fly tipped stuff (in my council at least). I bet he would have made the shed disappear.

i think I’d probably take the piss out of him a bit but otherwise I wouldn’t think much about it at all.

I once bribed a government official (not a British one) for a visa. It worked. I’m never above a little bribe, but £10 is very cheap.

To take it would be gross misconduct and a dismissal offence. That’s not to say some wouldn’t risk it occasionally, but not for a tenner!

Good point, that’s maybe what swung the decision in her favour 🤣

A few weeks ago I tried to arrange online for the council to take my old microwave - there was a cost, can't remember how much, but if would take three weeks to collect.

I put it in the new microwave box and when the bin men came I explained to one chap that I'd tried to arrange collection but couldn't be done for three weeks, etc. He said he would take it - I didn't offer money and he didn't ask.

As I handed him the MW in the hallway of my block I gave him £10.

A very pleasant transaction.

Your husband was indeed tacky to offer a measly £10 for a dismantled shed!

Problem is that councils have made it very difficult for folks who don't have access to a car or van to dispose of rubbish economically.

It costs nothing (around here anyway) to take as much as you like at the local tip/recycling centre, if you are a car driver.

But, if you have no car, are disabled, etc., then my council charges £80-£150 to collect between 3-8 items or DIY materials.

In some countries you absolutely need to bribe people. Years ago I had a friend from Columbia and she would offer bribes in the same way I would tip someone. She couldn't understand why the parking warden wouldn't just take a bribe, when he wasn't getting paid more for giving her a ticket.

I have to say my council is great for this - they will do unlimited free collections (domestic not trade) within a few days if you just book online. And people still prefer to just dump everything on the corner of the street!

I think it is marginally better than it used to be. Someone once made a website dedicated to the Mattresses of Walthamstow, they were so omnipresent.

As the amount was so low I bet they thought he was kidding.

The fiver each would also give me the ick

I've got 'council envy' 😂

It used to be very common before they had cameras on trucks and could lose their jobs.

In all sectors. We bunged people 20 quid for many things over the years.

Now not so much.

On the other hand they are gradually closing all the roads to prevent cars from moving so it's 50:50...

I would not call it bribe, sure ask and they can say no but I would call it a fee for service not a bribe

Chop it up and put it in your bin a few pieces at a time

Yes, this is what I have to do. The irony is that if they didn't charge £80+ to collect rubbish, it would all be recycled correctly.