Builder 45 minutes late with no text or call and now wants to come

[rosecin]

I had a small job in the garden that needed doing and the builder was booked for 3pm.
No text or call to say he was running late etc.

I deleted my address from WhatsApp as he hadn’t read the message yet at 15:39 and then he calls.

I didn’t answer as I have kids to look after etc and this has caused me a massive inconvenience today and my whole day was arranged to accommodate this.

AIBU to block him and find someone else?

I think he is handyman but is described as a builder.
All I wanted was some hanging basket rails erected with some hard soil softening as having children me or DH just simply some have the time.

The soil is rock hard full of stones and we wanted some plants put in.

He isn’t free until Monday anyway now.

Good luck finding a builder or tradesperson that turns up exactly when they say they will.

Next door's roofers are already three days late.

I don't think I've ever had a tradesperson come on time, like ....ever!

This

Sadly OP this is typical and to be expected. I once had a tiler want to come a week late because he'd missed an appointment as he'd gone fishing instead!!

You need a gardener for improving soil and putting plants in, not a builder. Most gardeners have basic DIY skills like drilling for hanging basket brackets. I would look again for gardeners/horticulturists or similar. It's a rare builder who understands horticulture and you'll be wasting your time and money getting the wrong tradesperson to do the job.

I agree with the majority of other posters. When you want work like this done by a builder/handyman they often have several other jobs in the day and not just yours. Sometimes these jobs will run to time and plan and sometimes they will run a little over. You have to allow for this overlap/delay and be flexible.

If you had just let him come 45 mins late he would be well into the job or finished by now. Instead you now have to wait until he can come on Monday. So you did yourself no favours there at all by being impatient.

Are they typically on time.....?

It annoys me alot that tradesmen are so often like this - I agree it’s not acceptable.

There is a lot about the way tradesmen function that would be unacceptable in any other profession.

I think it’s rooted in the fact they are predominantly male and the customers doing the waiting etc are so often female. They expect no end of accommodation.

Problem is you might not find anyone else!

It's 'blud', not 'blood'. Had he actually text you that then you'd know how it was spelt (although I suspect he didn't).

First time dealing with tradesmen eh?

Its infuriating, but if there was a chance he was coming on the same day I would say you did well.

They’re so hard to come across. I think I’d have just waited in all
honesty.

I’ll remember that one for my boss on Monday

Exactly. 45 minutes late isn't that bad. Not coming at all. Saying they're coming then don't. Too annoying.

Oh well you can’t enjoy the job over the weekend now can you?

Also booking a handyman for 3pm is bound to cause issues with running late TBH. Underestimated traffic, time to do jobs etc.

im surprised he’s coming at all.

I just spoke to him via text and he says he isn’t free now until Monday.

Well, if you hadn't decided to cancel on him, you'd have had it done by now.

Yes, I don't understand why OP booked a builder for this.

Anyway I agree with the others, YABU.

I sort of agree and disagree with other posters

I agree that this is what tradesmen are like.

I don't agree that it's because their jobs are so uniquely hard that they cannot possibly organise themselves to be on time or at least communicate delays.

They just can't be arsed because they know that they can mess people around and still get work.

I now pretty much exclusively book with large companies - like Aspect, Fantastic Services, task rabbit for small things - and, amazingly when it has a consequence for the tradesman if they are late, they actually can show up on time. It is more expensive but it's 100% worth it not to waste time

Practical jobs won't always take a set amount of time so builders/plumbers/electricians etc will often run late through no fault of their own. Yab hugely U

It’s just laziness and lack of consideration. If there is any risk of a job taking longer than anticipated then you don’t book appointments then

What nonsense. All jobs have a risk of taking longer than anticipated and most tradesmen I know are the very opposite of lazy.

Why on earth are you getting a 'builder' to put plants in?

Well that's just wasting more of your own effort and time isn't it.

Builders are often a bit late, especially If your not the first job of the day as things can overrun. Just accept him and have him do it. Then you don't need to think about it anymore.

Has nobody ever been late for something for you before? Blocking them seems extreme.

I've never had a tradesman arrive on time in all my life, EVER. They're always finishing someone else's job, stuck on traffic or buying whatever material needs to be bought to do your home job.