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Problem with 'workman'. Help please!

(134 Posts)
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Gingster Fri 04-Jun-21 08:55:08

Oh I see Fanny . So his business was still operating then !

Stick with Ben then. Tell John you weren’t to know he was in hospital as no one had bothered to let you know.

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FannyCornforth Fri 04-Jun-21 08:49:29

Gingster for the past year or so, it was the woman doing it, I hadn't seen hide not hair of John for a while.

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FannyCornforth Fri 04-Jun-21 08:47:43

Hello
Thank you so much for your replies.
M0nica mentioning trading system is a very good idea.
It doesn't really make sense, as I'm sure that the young woman (who seemed to be doing the job anyway) or another of his acquaintances could have got in touch with his customers.

John complained to me that he'd lost so much business. It's hardly surprising is it!

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Gingster Fri 04-Jun-21 08:46:01

Oh dear what a pickle Fanny.
As the first chap has been cleaning the bins for 10 years, I suppose your loyalty should be with him. Indeed he has been ill and hadn’t been able to let you know he wouldn’t be around.

Phone the second chap and explain and politely say sorry but your original man had been in hospital.

I think ‘John’ probably needs your custom more.

Difficult situation indeed, Fanny.

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timetogo2016 Fri 04-Jun-21 08:45:06

Well i think you should stick with Ben,John is bullying you IMO.
If he did have covid and was in hospital,surely someone would have contacted the people he works for just to put them in the picture.
I would stand my ground and tell him Bens staying put,in a nice way IF you can get a word in that is.

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wildswan16 Fri 04-Jun-21 08:42:39

I would text him - thanks for explaining, I'm sorted for now. Keep it short and sweet. (Can you block his number on your phone so you don't have to have another conversation?),

You've already spoken and been sympathetic with his position, and really can't do much more.

Presumably you are confident Ben is reliable and will continue to give good service.

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M0nica Fri 04-Jun-21 08:41:48

Ring Trading Standards or speak to Age UK or the CAB

DD found Trading Standards very helpful when she had a dodgy workman demanding money and ratcheting up his prices. She started the conversation with him. 'I have spoken to Trading Standards and they say........' he grumbled, left and didn't come back.

If he comes back just say 'I have spoken to xxxxxx and they advise me that.......'

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FannyCornforth Fri 04-Jun-21 08:34:50

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

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FannyCornforth Fri 04-Jun-21 08:34:04

Hello Everyone!

I tried to name change prior to posting this, but failed.
Anyway, the problem is with the bloke (now blokes) who clean my bins.
These are the facts. I'm trying to keep it simple.

John (not his real name) has been cleaning my general waste bin once a month for over ten years.
I pay him in advance, once a year by cheque.
To begin with he did it on his own, but more recently a young woman (may be his daughter) has been doing it.
Once he rang my phone to ask me when the Xmas bin collection was, so that shows that he had/has my number.

Towards the end of last year, he didn't come to clean the bin for at least three months.
I phoned his house but no answer (no email or website)
NB I have paid John in advance until August 2021

So - I arranged for a new bloke (let's call him Ben) to clean the bins. He seems a really nice chap. I've emailed him in the past and also once texted him and got a quick and friendly reply.
Ben has been cleaning my bins now for three months.

Anyway, yesterday, just after Ben had cleaned the bin, John knocks on the door. The young woman is waiting in the van.
Before I have time to say anything, he goes on and on about being in hospital for nine weeks with Covid.
It was obvious that be wanted me to cancel with Ben and resume with him.
I explained that I tried to contact him, but he just went on and on about having Covid and nearly dying.
I said that I understood because my DH had had the same experience.
John didn't listen and kept repeating the same stuff, a lot of which sounded a bit nonsensical.
To get rid of him I asked for his number and I said I'd have a think and let him know.
He said that he'd come back next month - which sounds a bit threatening to be honest.
I know that I should probably just told him to sling his book, but it all took me by surprise and I didn't know what to say - he wouldn't let me get a word in anyway!

Basically - what would you do? Should I text him or phone him?
I do really want him to have my number.
And I'm also not sure what to say. I know this sounds daft and that I'm being a big wuss!

Thank you!

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