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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling very uncomfortable and almost violated after visit today by BT Engineer

718 replies

DontGoChasinWaterfalls · 25/03/2025 16:10

I need a sense check and to realise I'm not overreacting.
BT engineer came today to upgrade my service to fibre optic broadband. He was late first of all which could've been accepted if he acknowledged he was late and apologised. He stepped into my house with his work boots on and I asked if he would mind wearing shoe covers as I have grey carpets. I'd never ask workmen to take shoes off and I provide the blue shoe coverings. He huffed and said he has to go in and out my house. Immediately I felt uncomfortable but explained I have a small child who sits and crawls on the carpet. He reluctantly agreed.
He somehow managed to jam the lock on my porch door by trying to leave it on the latch. After 15 minutes I managed to release it. He then tells me he needs a colleague to come to do something outside with the plyons and phrased it as "if it's after 2pm they won't bother coming". He eventually starts work after 40 minutes after faffing and I go upstairs to do some work.
5 minutes later I hear a panicked call asking if he could use my bathroom. Before I could say anything he was half way up the stairs. I froze and he directed himself to the bathroom. He was in there for 20 minutes and I was now downstairs feeling quite upset. Eventually he comes downstairs and doesn't say anything. I went upstairs to survey the damage and it was horrendous to say the least. To make things worse he rooted through my wardrobe to find the toilet paper.
I feel disgusted and sick..but feel like I'm overreacting as I don't know if he was unwell or has a medical condition.
He's got to come back tomorrow and I don't want him here.
aibu to call OpenReach to request another engineer???

OP posts:
AlanShore · 25/03/2025 16:13

Why did he root through your wardrobe for toilet paper?
Don't you leave spares in the bathroom?

DelilahRay · 25/03/2025 16:14

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the request of the user.

Redpeach · 25/03/2025 16:14

20 mins in the toilet? He was piss scrolling

DontGoChasinWaterfalls · 25/03/2025 16:15

I leave supplies in bathroom cabinet but I leave the larger haul of toilet paper from Costco in my wardrobe which he may have seen going into the bathroom as its visible at the bottom of my wardrobe, the door was left open as I was sorting some clothes out.

OP posts:
FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 25/03/2025 16:15

He sounds like a useless, rude and lazy tradie... But i'm not sure if I would feel violated in your situation and I do tend to ensure the loo has toilet roll if I know someone is coming to the house.

Knittingpasta · 25/03/2025 16:15

I have ASD and a phobia about non family members using the bathroom! I can lock the door from the outside so always do that if anyone is coming round then I just say someone is in there

DontGoChasinWaterfalls · 25/03/2025 16:15

Redpeach · 25/03/2025 16:14

20 mins in the toilet? He was piss scrolling

He definitely didn't just do a number one!

OP posts:
DontGoChasinWaterfalls · 25/03/2025 16:16

I feel like he violated my house.. I suppose is what I mean.

OP posts:
Delatron · 25/03/2025 16:17

He shouldn’t have gone into your bedroom! Or left the bathroom in a state. I’d tell him to leave. Phone BT and get someone else around.

JohnTheRevelator · 25/03/2025 16:17

Jeez that sounds bloody awful. He rooted through your wardrobe looking for toilet paper?! Crossing boundaries I think. I know you can't help it if you have a medical condition,but an apology wouldn't have gone amiss. And there's no excuse to leave your bathroom in a mess. I would definitely call OpenReach and request another engineer. After that list of fuck ups,no way would I be having him back in my house.

Port1aCastis · 25/03/2025 16:17

How do you know this man rooted through your wardrobe for loo roll erm why don't you have loo roll in the bathroom? Why were you 'frozen'?

Delatron · 25/03/2025 16:17

Yes request someone different .

Dearover · 25/03/2025 16:18

Would you prefer him to go behind a bush in your garden or disappear for an hour to find a public toilet?

CatsChin · 25/03/2025 16:20

I don't understand the toilet paper situation.

Are you saying that you didn't have any toilet paper in the bathroom, so the poor chap, caught short, needed to find some? It doesn't sound awful.

How did he leave the bathroom in a 'horrendous' state?

Gaterade · 25/03/2025 16:22

Dearover · 25/03/2025 16:18

Would you prefer him to go behind a bush in your garden or disappear for an hour to find a public toilet?

I’d be for the public toilet option

saveforthat · 25/03/2025 16:22

We had a British Gas engineer once who was really rude, late, in a rush and also did a horrendous dump in our loo. He had to go up in the loft and we could here him shouting and cussing (we had young children at the time). Whilst up there he dropped his phone/pager thingy down into the cavity wall, it was irretrievable and he tried to blame us.
Years later we had to have the downstairs skirting boards removed. Guess what we found?

LauderSyme · 25/03/2025 16:23

YANBU to feel uncomfortable and upset. He took liberties.

SomersetBrie · 25/03/2025 16:23

Dearover · 25/03/2025 16:18

Would you prefer him to go behind a bush in your garden or disappear for an hour to find a public toilet?

I'd prefer the public toilet to having to clean up after him.

TulipCat · 25/03/2025 16:23

I'd say it's a mixture of him being a bit crap and you being a bit unreasonable. Shoes/shoe covers - tradesmen do need to go in and out. It's just shoes, and it hasn't been wet in most of the UK recently. You could put a dust sheet down if it bothers you. Door latch - has that never happened to you before? Sounds like a non-event

Him coming upstairs and going looking for loo paper - absolutely not, he shouldn't be doing that

GreenCandleWax · 25/03/2025 16:25

Phone BT or OpenReach and complain. He was totally unprofessional and out of order. How dare he come upstairs in your house uninvited, particularly if you are a lone householder. Quite unacceptable. As for the bedroom wardrobe and bathroom -- words fail. As he was obnoxious anyway, i wouldn't let him use my bathroom.

Dearover · 25/03/2025 16:26

Gaterade · 25/03/2025 16:22

I’d be for the public toilet option

But she has already complained that he was late and then faffed around.

Now all I can see is a BT engineer with his trousers around his ankles frantically trying to find a toilet roll because everything is hidden away.

Violated....get a grip

pimplebum · 25/03/2025 16:26

He went into your bedroom wardrobe ! Are you absolutely sure if this ? If so report

all workmen I know offer to remove shoes , I decline because we have floorboards and they are in and out so a huge faff for them

if he left your toilet in a mess I’d also not be happy

StartEngine · 25/03/2025 16:28

Port1aCastis · 25/03/2025 16:17

How do you know this man rooted through your wardrobe for loo roll erm why don't you have loo roll in the bathroom? Why were you 'frozen'?

She explained why. To both really. Do you question everyone’s chosen adjectives?

Dearg · 25/03/2025 16:29

I get why you are pissed off, but him rushing up your stairs does rather sound as if he was unwell or has a bowel condition.

Going into your wardrobe is wrong though. Overall if he made you uncomfortable, ask BT to send someone else. Although in my recent experience they will then claim they have to ‘start a new job number so you will have to wait’

They are generally awful in my experience.

Worriedgrandmasss · 25/03/2025 16:30

All sounds a bit far fetched TBH . How would this chap know to look in your wardrobe for loo roll? Nothing worse than needing an urgent poo away from home! What would have been his alternative option ?

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