British Tradesman

[AzureBlue99]

Currently having the exterior of my block of flats being painted. The company who won the tender say it will take 12 weeks which seemed excessive. It is a British firm, relevant.

They turned up last week. Not only are they lazy fuckers, constantly shouting, their language is appalling. They are literally brain dead morons - crass and basic. I heard them being very leery and patronising to a young neighbour. The concept of doing a good job and moderating their behaviour is clearly beyond them. They turn up at 9.30 and leave at 1.

Compare and contrast with the firm who did it a few years back. Polish tradesman. Efficient, hard working, quiet.

Why are so many British men basic? They are embarrassing. I know not all tradesmen etc are like this, but a lot of the British ones are.

[Blackcats7]

Although I have met a few decent british tradesmen I would largely agree with you.
My most recent example would be that I recently had fibre broadband contractors laying cables on the footpath outside. The eastern european guys were polite and got on with the job. The british lot were loud and then surly if asked anything. In fact they were so bad I had to phone the company after they trespassed and damaged private property. Thankfully the company made them come back and put it right but the british guy doing this made it very clear how angry he was at being corrected and stomped about like a toddler having a tantrum.

[AzureBlue99]

Yeah, this lot are having tantrums. A lot of stomping. Sighing. Effing and jeffing. My husband said yesterday they were like toddlers. They are middle aged men. I am embarrassed for them.

[Neverpostagain]

Our last tradesmen, kitchen fitters were a father and son team and their employees. All British.They were bloody brilliant even down to the apprentice.Not a swear word between them. Quick, super tidy came back to do snagging when they said they would and helped our elderly neighbours out with a couple of small jobs free of charge.

[ApoodlecalledPenny]

Complain to the firm. Not all British tradespeople are like this by a long stretch.

[Hoppinggreen]

I have been trying to get a new kitchen fitted for about 2 years, we had around 5 Firms around and I didnt like any of them.
They were rude, expensive, late and in one case so racist I asked him to leave.
We eventually bought a kitchen from B&Q and used their recommended fitters who were an absolute joy. They worked so hard, were tidy, didnt stop for lunch, didnt want a drink and nothing was too much trouble - there was no tooth sucking and "thats going to cost extra", in fact the Boss gave me recipts for any extras and only asked for the exact amount.
When we booked the B&Q person said that he did have to "warn" us that they were Polish and only The Boss spoke English. They felt they should mention it as some people "didnt like it". The Boss was on the other end of the phone, called in to see me at the end of every day and in a couple of cases we used google translate
If thats what Polish workmen are like I will take them over British ones any day.
I am sure there are lots of MNetters who have great Tradie DH's and I bet lots of customers are awful too but purely based on my experience I would opt for Polish every time.