workmen

the annoying bit is that they say they will call back they don't always give a date or time Im waiting for a guy to call 6 weeks after his estimate. GRRRR I don't think I will have him again. He is doing bigger jobs and going to fit my smaller job when he has time. Its bad enough when I take time off work to wait for them coming but just as annoying when they leave it open about dates. Do none of them realise that we are keeping them in work

Waiting for the painter - part 2. Says he'll start next week! X

I think it depends on where you live. Although I live in a highly populated part of the country I live in a village and I use adverts in my parish magazine as a source for finding local workman - and because they know they will be seeing us round the village, in the pub, at the shop they do not readily mess you about.

It's getting worse instead of better - or at least, I am. Turned up.

tuned up, not turned.

I don't know if I was simply lucky but all the trades people I employed when lived in the North-east from 2010 to 2013 turned when they said they would, did an excellent job and charged a reasonable rate. They were also polite and good-natured. Consequently, I wouldn't say that your problem applied only to the North-east.

Despite me tending my mum's garden when I visit, her flowerbeds have become quite overgrown as I can only spare two or three hours weeding time when I visit.

There was an advert in her local village news for a man purporting to carry out garden maintenance. When I telephoned to ask him to give me a quote for sorting out the flowerbeds, he tried to put me off by saying he charged £16 an hour. I said that was OK as it needed to be done and I thought it might take around 8-10 hours. He then said he'd rather not do that sort of work - it was difficult and time-consuming. I said that since his advert stated he undertook "garden maintenance" I assumed it would include things like weeding, pruning, etc. Oh no, he said, he mainly did things like laying patios and erecting fences.

I got the impression he just wanted to do "big" jobs and perhaps make more money by inflating the cost of materials.

So annoying.

My DH is a window cleaner - he rings some of his customers the night before, and if he ever cant make something he has booked in ( like yesterday when he was ill ) we ring.
He does get annoyed when customers know he is coming, but either leave their gates locked or their 4th floor windows open , which you cant see from the ground, and complain when water gets in !

Ethel I have had similar problems trying to get someone to revamp my kitchen.
Two promises to come but no show. I imagine he has better fish to fry but not to turn up at all without an apology is sheer bad manners.

No excuse for it is there? I have no experience of this though, as all work we have had done in the years we have been here , workmen have shown up and done the job.Look for 'trusted traders' online or very local people, and text or phone them before the date to check they will arrive. Good luck!

We used to have similar problems but since we moved here everyone has turned up on time and all jobs have been done well. I wonder if something become the 'norm' in some areas.

Perhaps next time you could call them the day before and check they do actually plan to come?