When someone says they’ll turn up “about 10”…

[SadlyNotATroll]

What time would you expect them to arrive? I was expecting someone to clean my oven this morning at “about 10”. It’s now half 11 and he’s not arrived yet. I reckon he’s forgotten, DH says he never gave a firm time so he might still show up. I’ve messaged him but had no reply. I don’t want to sit in all day waiting for him but not sure if going out would BU?

i wouldn't accept that from someone doing work for me. A fixed time is the only way i will make appointments.

And he is an hour and a half past the time? Go out. (is your DH in? why is it an issue then?)

I’d expect half an hour either side, but would find it irritating. Give me a time and stick to it! I’m with you @SadlyNotATroll, I reckon they’ve forgotten and if your DH disagrees, he can stay at home waiting for them!

We both want to go out and do Saturday stuff together but he feels it would be rude of us while we’re still waiting for him. I’ve paid a deposit which I don’t want to lose but I’m getting very annoyed now!

I'd say 10 minutes either side and if going to be much later, then a phone call or text to check that's ok.

About 10, from a tradesperson, would mean to me anything between 9.45 and about 10.30 depending on how long the previous job takes and the traffic. If they were going to be any later than 10.30 because the last oven was in a real state and the job ran long or whatever I’d expect a phone call.
You’ve given this guy an hour and a half and also messaged him but no reply so I think you’d be absolutely fine to go out and get on with your day rather than waiting around not even knowing if he’s even coming.

YANBU that's way later that "about 10"
I'd expect them to turn up between 9.45 - 9.15. Even 10.30, but I would expect a message or call if they are running this late.

It's really unprofessional to not get in touch or answer your calls. I'd leave it a bit longer then assume they are not coming and just get on with your day.

They're clearly not coming

Oh, I'd be extra mad if I'd paid a deposit.

Tradesman? Either he will turn up at 3pm or not at all.

Next time hire a tradeswoman, they actually turn up on time.

Id say just before 10 (9.45 onwards) to 10.45 max.

If it is a trades person then I wouldn’t wait any longer.

This is why loads of tradesmen voted for Brexit to get rid of competition and start taking the piss again. If it had been a Polish guy, he would have been outside your house at 9.59am finishing off his fag before ringing the doorbell.

Half an hour either side is the limit.

I’d probably message to say I was going out (mainly to stop myself feeling guilty) and go out.

My mum around 11, my dad 9:30. Someone I'm paying for a service i'd expect between 9:45 and 10:15 and contact if it was going to be much outside of that window. I would've called by 10:30 and said I'm going out I will need my deposit back

10-1015 is fine
10-30 is annoying
after 10.30 is be fuming

they probably do this regularly - and keep the deposits

@Ihatethistimeline that is spot on

Did you book this through seeing a Facebook advert?

I only ask as it’s a well known scam. Someone pops up on all the local fb pages advertising oven cleans. Takes a £10 deposit and that’s the last you hear from them. I know as it happened to me.

I'd give half an hour either side. He's not going to show up now.

Send them a very strongly worded message mentioning reviews on social media, they ll get back to you in no time

If you've paid a deposit, you should have got a firm appointment time. He's never coming now.

I’d probably ring about 10.30am

You've obviously had much better experience with trades people than I have. In my experience, about 10 would mean anytime between now and the second coming but will absolutely not be anywhere about 10 on the stated day.

That said, I did have a plasterer once who not only turned up when he said he would but phoned me the one time he was running late and arrived 20 minutes after the original time.

However, I wouldn't consider someone coming to clean the over as a tradesperson. That would be more akin to the window cleaner. My window cleaner is reasonably punctual but really, it doesn't matter what time he comes as the windows are outside. For an oven cleaning, I would expect them to turn up within 30 minutes of the specified time.

OP - I would message him and say that you will be going out at such a time and that you will need to rearrange as he didn't turn up at the agreed time.

Between 09:45 and 10:15