Was the boiler man out of order?

Yes, definitely out of order. How unprofessional!

Very bad manners.
If he didn't have anything suitable to put on the worktop he should have asked.

He was out of order not to ask for an old towel or something to stand on, but would not be at all surprised to find that would contravene today's Elf 'N Safety.So go girl with that bottle of Dettol!

They should be equipped with plastic overshoes - our fitters are, where I work. (Those in the UK, that is. We sell flat pack furniture and the British are the only people in Europe who expect someone to come and put it together for them!)

I don't know what it's like in the UK, but workmen often just don't see the niceties of running a business here in Germany. When I was out of work, I seriously thought about offering a service for them. A bit of bookkeeping, correspondence and such, but mainly, decent customer service - such as equipping them with cloths or protective sheeting, phoning to make appointments (and keeping to them!), providing proper written estimates and invoices.

I have spoken to some where they were obviously at the dinner table and you could hear the kids in the background. Most unprofessional.

Plastic over shoes - what a good idea. Anyway glad it is not just me. I was horrified. I am pretty sure those filthy boots wouldn't end up on his own worktop.

He could have taken his boots off and climbed up in his socks.
Or would that have been worse?
As Roses said - go girl with the Dettol!

Yes, he was definitely out of order. I wouldn't go so far as to give him the boot, but he certainly needs to pull his socks up.

Socks or a towel would not have provided a good sercure grip). So unless you want to put him at risk of slipping and injuring himself, just disinfect the surfaces. Common sense nothing to do with "Elf and Safety"

Love it henetha ?

The man who fitted my smart meter had flourescent pink, crockodle print underpants on........they showed every time he moved.........yuk...........and the meter doesn't work.

Ask his boss to provide him with the correct equipment.

...he was probably doing his best.

I must admit I find most workmen I've used are very considerate, removing shoes to come in to use the loo, wearing overshoes when they put my bedroom furniture together. Removal company putting dustsheets down so as not to spoil carpets. I would be horrified at outside shoes/boots being worn to stand on kitchen worktops.

My DF was a Painter & Decorator & always carried a pair of "indoor shoes" for working inside customers houses.

Apart from the hygiene angle, kitchen worktops, particularly those with a cupboard beneath, are not generally strong enough to support the weight of a person. Also I find now that most tradesmen carry disposable shoe covers with them to protect carpets, etc.

What happened with your previous engineer - did he carry ladders?

The problem is partly the position of the boiler - above a worktop. He would need a small step ladder. We had our boiler moved into the barn (or garage) because it was in an awkward place in the kitchen. Now the maintenance man can work from floor level.

Oh yuck, of course he was 'out of order'

a lot of the workmen who have come to my house, more so recently, have those plastic bags over shoes. one who was working on problem with boiler even lay down a plastic sheet over carpet, said it saved taking shoe bags/own shoes on and off as back and fro his van. he even had a small mini hoover he used when he had finished around where he had been working. i ask them to remove their shoes at front door if they dont have the bags.they also tend to carry those fold up/concertina style ladders.

I always give them plastic overshoes ..... Though they look at me like I'm stark raving mad!

To do that work he has to be Corby registered and that is not acceptable. You should report him to them.

An ignorant man? who took advantage of you and I doubt he would,if he was married, done that in his own house.
You have every right to complain and I would have a quiet
word with his company and make it clear to them and why you do not want that engineer in your property again.
I have had the same engineer for my central heating boiler for the last ten years. The company email me two weeks before the service is due and I have always made it clear who I want.I would go as far as changing the date if my regular engineer is not available Better the devil you know.

It's Gas Safe these days, CardiffJaguar, not Gorgi.

The workmen employed by the local council are usually pretty good, but a while ago a man came to do a repair in the bathroom. I heard him sawing a piece of wood, and after he left I found that he had laid the wood over the new wooden toilet seat and had sawn into the lid. I wasn't too pleased as the seat was a decorated one and was white, so the saw mark really showed up. The council offered to give me a new plastic seat!

No it wasn't right, but I'd have disinfected the unit once then forgot about it! He could ve done worse! Anyway, paper/plastic overshoes are dirt cheap so keep a pack in and ask workmen to use them .

Completely out of order, i would be horrified and out with the dettol too. I was amazed recently when plumbers from two different companies didn't wash thier hands after fixing our loo. Basic hygiene i think.

Definitely should have asked for something to stand on (old towelm of sheet even paper ! especially on a kitchen worktop ! but if he didn't damage anything all you can do it give it a deep clean ...and possibly keep an old sheet folded away in a kitchen cupboard in case it ever happens again !

Here I find the opposite ....workmen come to the door in muddy boots and apologise and ask if they should remove them ...no, not a problem I say ..I have white tiles in the house and all they need is a quick Dettol spray and floor cleaner from my spray mop or the steam mop and hey presto ! as clean as before ...I think my cats are far worse ...you never know what they have been putting their feet in !!!! I tell them to wipe their paws on the mat but they take no notice !

If you have carpet that must be worse ,,,,, !