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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:
BadlyDrawnRoy · 31/03/2025 07:25

Let me know when you're having a party, I'll gladly pop round and leave a shitty mess in your bog, if that sounds like fun to you...

BadlyDrawnRoy · 31/03/2025 07:26

greengreyblue · 31/03/2025 07:03

What?? So you love workman man shitting all over your loo do you?

Let me know when you're having a party, I'll gladly pop round and leave a shitty mess in your toilet for you, if that sounds like your kind of fun....

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 31/03/2025 07:35

I’m confused as to why you seem to think he went into your bedroom and went in the wardrobe for loo roll rather than having just taken it out of the bathroom cabinet which you say was stocked and would have been the most logical first place to look surely over risking getting caught in a bedroom!?

If for some reason he did get it from your wardrobe you clearly state the door to your room and wardrobe was already open and the loo roll clearly visible from the landing / by the toilet, in which case he's ran and grabbed at best, he hasn’t ‘rummaged’ through your wardrobe nor has he looked there randomly without reason.

I generally think you’re over reacting, next time you have people in your house leave enough loo roll out. I’d be annoyed he’s left a mess behind as thats pretty rude but I really couldn’t get too worked up about the other stuff.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 07:41

user9632579 · 30/03/2025 22:47

Still not understanding who doesn't have genuine IBS.

It's my toilet so I come first. I won't put myself out for others. They can go and find a toilet as they would in any other situation where a toilet is not in their vicinity.

"I won't put myself out for others"

Says it all really. And how is letting someone use your toilet, putting yourself out assuming the person doesn't leave it a mess?

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 07:53

foxxxxy · 30/03/2025 22:33

Well IBS is a very broad spectrum hence why it’s used to ring fence a massive range of digestive issues that can’t be attributed to any other diagnosis. People who struggle daily with symptoms wouldn’t be able to work if they stayed home all the time would they?

This. @user9632579 said she would just stay home. But most people do not have the luxury of this which again shows tunnel vision when considering others situations and needs. Most people need to work IBS or not

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 08:37

greengreyblue · 31/03/2025 07:03

What?? So you love workman man shitting all over your loo do you?

I'd prefer they didn't but the alternative is unthinkable 🤢😂

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 08:39

BadlyDrawnRoy · 31/03/2025 07:26

Let me know when you're having a party, I'll gladly pop round and leave a shitty mess in your toilet for you, if that sounds like your kind of fun....

Poo enjoyer alert 😂😂😂 oh come on, let's start the day with a giggle.

Justhere65 · 31/03/2025 09:02

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 31/03/2025 07:35

I’m confused as to why you seem to think he went into your bedroom and went in the wardrobe for loo roll rather than having just taken it out of the bathroom cabinet which you say was stocked and would have been the most logical first place to look surely over risking getting caught in a bedroom!?

If for some reason he did get it from your wardrobe you clearly state the door to your room and wardrobe was already open and the loo roll clearly visible from the landing / by the toilet, in which case he's ran and grabbed at best, he hasn’t ‘rummaged’ through your wardrobe nor has he looked there randomly without reason.

I generally think you’re over reacting, next time you have people in your house leave enough loo roll out. I’d be annoyed he’s left a mess behind as thats pretty rude but I really couldn’t get too worked up about the other stuff.

I agree. So much drama over so little! Just move on from it.

Pippyls67 · 31/03/2025 09:56

I ll absolutely bet this guy has IBS from the way you’ve described what happened. Maybe that day was especially bad. When you gotta go you gotta go unfortunately. Besides going off on the sick and not working what’s he to do? Maybe it’s never usually that bad. I feel sorry for him a little bit. It’s embarrassing for everyone. Him mostly. Maybe he’s just so used to getting grief off people he just doesn’t handle it the best way he could. I knew a guy who had it who’s life was hell. Constant teasing from work mates. Everyone who knew him got to hear about it. They called it banter but it wore him down to the point he wanted to end his life.

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 10:16

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 07:41

"I won't put myself out for others"

Says it all really. And how is letting someone use your toilet, putting yourself out assuming the person doesn't leave it a mess?

It is putting myself out. They shan't be using my toilet.
I have a ready made sign and lock it from the outside.

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 10:18

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 07:53

This. @user9632579 said she would just stay home. But most people do not have the luxury of this which again shows tunnel vision when considering others situations and needs. Most people need to work IBS or not

Where did I say I expect others to stay home?

Others can deal with their IBS as they like. They still won't be using my loo.

Calliopespa · 31/03/2025 10:21

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 06:17

Bet you're fun at parties 😜

What goes on at your parties? 😳

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 10:28

Calliopespa · 31/03/2025 10:21

What goes on at your parties? 😳

Well for starters, we'd prefer you use the toilet. We treat our guests like they're welcome in our home.

For context thou my last party was an absolute hoot and nobody shit themselves, regardless of my diabolical cooking.

Some people on here make me so glad I'm me. I couldn't imagine being so up my own, erm, ahem, well arse 😂😂😂 it's Monday, lighten the freak up and enjoy a giggle FFS. You guys!

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 10:35

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 10:16

It is putting myself out. They shan't be using my toilet.
I have a ready made sign and lock it from the outside.

This is a whole new level of bonkers. Going on - you have my attention. What does the sign actually say? Is it laminated? Do you leave it there all the time or just when trades people visit?

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 10:38

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 10:18

Where did I say I expect others to stay home?

Others can deal with their IBS as they like. They still won't be using my loo.

You didn't. You said YOU would stay at home. But as I said, most people simply cannot do this because of finances. Also most employers will not allow very regular sick days for IBS so people have to manage the best they can. And then they get told, no you cannot use my toilet, by people like yourself.

Calliopespa · 31/03/2025 10:39

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 10:28

Well for starters, we'd prefer you use the toilet. We treat our guests like they're welcome in our home.

For context thou my last party was an absolute hoot and nobody shit themselves, regardless of my diabolical cooking.

Some people on here make me so glad I'm me. I couldn't imagine being so up my own, erm, ahem, well arse 😂😂😂 it's Monday, lighten the freak up and enjoy a giggle FFS. You guys!

Well I was actually having a giggle.

Im sure op lets her guests use the loo. But guests are people you know something about. This was just a total stranger who was quite disrespectful in his other behaviours as well. I can see why having him barge up into her bathroom ( which is not where he was working) and enter her bedroom to get paper felt quite intrusive. Most guests wait to be shown upstairs.

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 10:40

This reply has been deleted

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MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 10:43

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 10:35

This is a whole new level of bonkers. Going on - you have my attention. What does the sign actually say? Is it laminated? Do you leave it there all the time or just when trades people visit?

What Font have you used and have you changed said Font to match the severity of your words? I'm asking for a friend 😂😂😂

MidnightMeltdown · 31/03/2025 11:00

BadlyDrawnRoy · 29/03/2025 19:44

Absolutely, treat others as you would wish to be treated. That includes not leaving the olfactory evidence of a really smelly shit, and a skidmatk the size of a Mars bar stuck on the inside of the bog. And don't rummage in someone else's cupboards 👍

Well if there’s no loo brush and not enough loo roll in the bathroom then that’s on OP. If I had someone coming to my house, whether it was a hairdresser, an engineer, a plumber, a nurse, or a friend, I would ensure that the bathroom is guest ready.

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 11:04

Tandora · 30/03/2025 23:59

Fully agree. Theres been some awful behaviour on this thread.

Shit isn't it 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Calliopespa · 31/03/2025 11:06

MidnightMeltdown · 31/03/2025 11:00

Well if there’s no loo brush and not enough loo roll in the bathroom then that’s on OP. If I had someone coming to my house, whether it was a hairdresser, an engineer, a plumber, a nurse, or a friend, I would ensure that the bathroom is guest ready.

I agree with this.

I would much prefer a workman who was a stranger to me did not ask to use it, but if he asked politely ( not stormed up and into my bedroom to remove paper without asking) I would let them, and would have it ready. Just saves embarrassment. Imagine if he’d called out mid-dump.

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 11:08

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 10:35

This is a whole new level of bonkers. Going on - you have my attention. What does the sign actually say? Is it laminated? Do you leave it there all the time or just when trades people visit?

It states the toilet is broken.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 11:08

MyJoyousBiscuit · 31/03/2025 11:04

Shit isn't it 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Please can we go to the pub together. I think you would be great fun 😊

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 11:08

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 31/03/2025 10:38

You didn't. You said YOU would stay at home. But as I said, most people simply cannot do this because of finances. Also most employers will not allow very regular sick days for IBS so people have to manage the best they can. And then they get told, no you cannot use my toilet, by people like yourself.

That's not my concern.

user9632579 · 31/03/2025 11:09

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Sure.