Unauthorised photography within my home and sharing of the photographs

[Changerofthename1]

I found out that a contractor has taken photographs of the inside of my home that I did not authorise, one of them has got my child in the corner I’m fucking furious about. Obviously it’s gone from one employees phone to another and then it’s been forwarded onto who is thinks is me but actually I’m using an email address that isn’t the one that he would have on my contract if that makes sense so I think he’s on thin ice with that.

This can’t be legal surely ?

So, I'm guessing the contractor has come into your house, spotted your artex ceilings/walls (or some other dangerous building material) and can't start work because they'll need specialist removal. They've taken a photograph of said artex for their records because this changes the terms of the contract.

They have taken a photo for legitimate business purposes which is allowed under GDPR. The photo is of the room and the fact your toddler is in it in the corner is incidental. The main content of the photo is the room. Had your toddler been the main focus of the photo and the room was merely background, you might have more of a legitimate complaint. If you are genuinely concerned about your son being in the photo, ask them to blur him out.

I'm afraid you also aren't the legal owner of the materials either unless you paid the money direct to the supplier of the building materials. It sounds like you went through a third party (the contractor)?

er no, not if you breached the contract which they have photo evidence of. that’s what’s making you so pissed off, not the oh so terrible invasion of your toddler’s privacy. You’ll not admit that but the judge will see it instantly

What’s the point in making theoretical scenarios up?
if you want privacy in your home don’t invite contractors in to work for you, go live in the mountains where there will be 0% chance of your child photobombing again LoL

Well we’ve had theories and scenarios of sacrificed pigs/ chickens, 20 Benson and hedges, the contractors babysitting and artexed ceilings so I thought I’d just join in.

The realms of fantasy know, no bounds.

But it's not the same is it 😂 taking a picture of a child on the toilet is not legitimately photographing a breach, whether in the corner or not. Any sane person realised that.

The contractor clearly gave no thought to the fact your child was in the photo, unless as everyone has stated, that was the reason he couldn't carry out the work. In which case... evidence. 😂

I don’t know what lives some of you must live to create these little fantasies in your mind

A world where the OP won't actually give the information needs, so posters are speculating

I've lost count of the number of times the OP has been asked for the exact reason why the contractors could not start work.

OP is extraordinarily silent on this, while at the same time, giving odd details such as her toddler not smiling in the photograph (still none the wiser why that is even relevant)

In the absence of an actual explanation most PPs have understandably concluded that the reason why the contractors cannot start work is in part or in whole due to something the OP has failed to do. And the photograph is proof of OP's failure.

The reason you are getting wild theories OP is that your story is confusing, and has more holes than Swiss cheese. If you had just laid out the facts right from the beginning, then it would have gone very differently.

If you do decide to take this further I think it would be beneficial to look at all your grievances and be clear on which ones are actually beneficial to your case and which ones make you sound unhinged.

If I'm being generous I would agree you have a point, but my god, it isn't half buried under some utter nonsense.

er no, not if you breached the contract which they have photo evidence of. that’s what’s making you so pissed off, not the oh so terrible invasion of your toddler’s privacy. You’ll not admit that but the judge will see it instantly

Agree with this, I don’t believe for a second that the OP is really bothered about the photo, she is just using it as a convenient smokescreen to cover up the real issue. For contractors to walk off a job there must be a bloody good reason, walking off a job means they don’t have any work, they don’t get paid, it doesn’t benefit them at all, an extension is weeks of work that they now won’t be undertaking so clearly OP has massively cocked up and is hanging onto any little thing to blame the contractors and not herself.

I think you’re angry about the wrong thing here. It does not seem to be the case that the toddler was the focal point of the image - you said he was in the corner. The rest of the room was the focal point of the image.

I would say in this context, they are allowed to take photographs of your house. They are due to carry out a building extension to your house which costs thousands of pounds and requires weeks of work. They’re not merely hanging a painting or something. They have taken these photos for the purpose of gathering evidence for any legal dispute that may arise.

You’re free to take your own photos to dispute what they have to say.

overall though I think you need to focus on the refund. Not the toddler being in the corner of a photo

@LadyVictoriaSponge I think the contractors have been paid, they’ve been given £5k in advance for materials. If they’re not doing the work, that’s not a bad outcome for them.

The reason is relevant because it is why they felt they needed to take photos to prove that that reason is valid.

'The 2 year old in front, contractors outside in the hallway, photo of hallway, 2 year old in corner of the shot. The point is that’s gone from at least one blokes phone to somewhere else to my email.'

So it wasn't even intentional? Are you just fuming because they wouldn't carry out the work and your trying to deflect?

I would get over it OP

The thing is, Wonnie hasn't asked you to come to her house. That is rather a major and highly relevant difference.

If the DC is inadvertently in the background of the photo watching TV then surely their face is not even in the photo. I just don't understand any of the angst over the photo

Is there a reason you’re not answering this, OP? Because I feel like this missing chunk of info will either justifying the taking of photos, or not.

They didn't come into your home and start photographing your kid.

Your kid got in the way.

I'd love this to go to a judge - you're seriously unhinged!

If you've breached the contract and they have already had expenses, then no you won't be entitled to a refund.

Why are you so coy about giving the reason they say they can't do the work?

MN needs to know! Were there sex toys lying about? Was that the reason? Did you have 15 cats in the room? An orangutan? WTF was the reason?

Because its irrelevant to the OP.

The legalities sounding their breach are open and shut, black and white. They dont have the capacity to provide the service they have retained a deposit for. End of story. That’s it. Nothing more exciting.

Been paid in full for an extension before work has even started? or been paid £5k for materials which they will have to pay the builders merchants?

Is this really a genuine post? I could more easily believe that this is a Russian bot than a real person with a genuine issue.