Why do tradespeople constantly let you down…

I ended up having a blind fitted by Hillary’s as I was desperate to get it done and they were easy to deal with. Having said that they made a mess fitting it ( screwed it to part of the wall that I’d asked them not to and completely covered the air vent). They also didn’t have as much choice as Blinds2Go who are actually the same company. The whole problem I have with my garage roof is because I used a roofing com pan that was recommended by a friend.

Glad your chap has turned up and you are pleased, MayBee70.

Last week I rang a local very reputable company, but nobody answered the phone on several occasions. I left a message. Two days later I left another message as they had not got back to me. They have an office, so there is no excuse. It is not just a single trader.
I contacted another firm. Their receptionist was lovely, very polite, very professional. Someone came the same day to quote. They were extremely pleasant and polite, however when their quotation came, it was much higher than expected for a small job. So I am attempting a third contact.
Par for the course.

We are in a new area so we use word of mouth, neighbours, or checkatrade which we’ve found works well.

Feeling even worse now as he's been so incredibly helpful about several problems I have with the house. Think I've actually found a really good reliable company that can help me get on top of a lot of maintenance problems. Fingers crossed.

They waste even more time if they come round & assess it all & then don't bother to quote!

MayBee70

Oh no. I feel awful now. He had forgotten and then couldn’t find my phone number. Came round today and said he can work around the asbestos and the other problems. If I get a good quote from him I’m going to risk it. Every house in this road has the same asbestos and most of them have sold at one time or another; any house of this age will have asbestos somewhere.

Glad you managed to sort it out. Asbestos isn't uncommon and won't stop houses selling, but buyers may offer a reduced price as they'll need to get the work done. If he's slow quoting then badger him, it proves to him you want the work done. Trades waste a lot of time quoting and not getting the work.

I have been stood up by five electricians in a row now. They all agreed to come and have a look and fixed up a time then failed to show up. I am beginning to wonder if it is me.

I do agree about Poles & their work ethic. Also one Pole I worked for got the Lord Mayor's medal for intervening in a handbag snatch on a crowded street.
Having trouble with our (highly recommended) builder at the moment, seems interested in doing the job, has come around twice, once with one of his joiners to double-check before quoting, but can I get a quote out of him? Or a date to start? It's an older house but nothing particularly tricky about the (many) jobs & it's going to be a lot of money. I said if you aren't interested, just say & I can look for someone else but he said he's really sorry about delay & keen to do the job - 2 weeks later still no quote.

Yes, it's far from uncommon in older houses. I'm pleased you have sorted it out, and can enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Oh no. I feel awful now. He had forgotten and then couldn’t find my phone number. Came round today and said he can work around the asbestos and the other problems. If I get a good quote from him I’m going to risk it. Every house in this road has the same asbestos and most of them have sold at one time or another; any house of this age will have asbestos somewhere.

NonGrannyMoll

I think a lot depends on where you live. In some counties, it seems that promising to call round and then not turning up is almost a part of normal working practice. In their minds, it translates as "Yeah, whatever, I'll come if I feel like it."
Where we used to live, we enjoyed great service from just about everyone we dealt with. We moved to a famously "sleepy" county and the experiences here could not be more different.
They might turn up or they might not. They might do what we ask or they might not. They might finish the job or they might not. They generally present a different idea from what we want, which they claim would be cheaper (cutting corners is a way of life for them, even though they'd earn more money if they'd only do what we ask).
I wish leaving the EU hadn't driven out so many Poles. Their work ethic was second to none. Now we're left with tradesmen many of whom are clearly neither trained nor experienced (in spite of the blurbs on websites dedicated to checking out tradesmen's credentials!).
Rant over. I'll get me coat.
It's a sign of the times. What can be done about it, heaven only knows.

I'm laying odds you're in Pembrokeshire.

Do tell if there's other counties in the country that do that "Pembrokeshire Promise" though....

MayBee70

Doodledog

I'm pretty sure it is illegal to take asbestos to the tip.

It was a few years ago; not sure if things have changed since then. I could probably have the roof re felted over the asbestos but wouldn’t want to risk anyone’s health doing it. The porch is leaking, though, and I’m worried about the asbestos breaking up. I was going to have the ceiling plastered, not knowing there was asbestos there. I used to attach mobiles to it years ago. Had no idea it was dangerous.

It’s not just the fact that someone would be risking their life but have you thought of your children who will inherit your house?
Most probably they will sell it. A survey will show up the asbestos.
Most buyers will walk away.

Doodledog

I'm pretty sure it is illegal to take asbestos to the tip.

It was a few years ago; not sure if things have changed since then. I could probably have the roof re felted over the asbestos but wouldn’t want to risk anyone’s health doing it. The porch is leaking, though, and I’m worried about the asbestos breaking up. I was going to have the ceiling plastered, not knowing there was asbestos there. I used to attach mobiles to it years ago. Had no idea it was dangerous.

I'm pretty sure it is illegal to take asbestos to the tip.

SporeRB

Are you on good terms with your neighbour?
You can ask him whether he is willing to take your garage roof down and take it to the tip for you and pay him for the works?

Not the grade of asbestos that it is. I think he’s mad doing it himself. And also exposing other people to it. It’s a complicated job anyway as the garage roof goes over the porch which is quite flimsy and will have to be dismantled.

Are you on good terms with your neighbour?
You can ask him whether he is willing to take your garage roof down and take it to the tip for you and pay him for the works?

Doodledog

There are companies that specialise in dealing with asbestos garages. I haven't used one, so have no idea about costs etc, but it might be worth googling to see what is in your area. As they will use employees rather than the self-employed they are probably more likely to be reliable.

I had a quote of @ £8,000 just to remove the asbestos. I phoned another company that my daughter used that had done some work for her much cheaper than other companies that had quoted but they won’t touch my asbestos. My neighbour just removed his himself and took it to the tip . Just clearing the garage is going to be a massive job.

There are companies that specialise in dealing with asbestos garages. I haven't used one, so have no idea about costs etc, but it might be worth googling to see what is in your area. As they will use employees rather than the self-employed they are probably more likely to be reliable.

The thing is I didn’t ask him to come round. I was going to email photos. He’s the one that said he’d stop off on his way home. I now don’t want to send the photos or have him do the work. What he doesn’t realise that, if he’d done a good job at a reasonable price I was so relieved that someone was prepared to help me that I was thinking about giving him a substantial tip as a thank you. Now thinking that I’ve got to go back to removing the whole roof, building a new porch and replacing the garage door (also there’s a drainage problem as the water from the roof is channeled into a soak away; there’s no guttering).It’s going to be a very difficult, expensive job; a logistic nightmare.

I think a lot depends on where you live. In some counties, it seems that promising to call round and then not turning up is almost a part of normal working practice. In their minds, it translates as "Yeah, whatever, I'll come if I feel like it."
Where we used to live, we enjoyed great service from just about everyone we dealt with. We moved to a famously "sleepy" county and the experiences here could not be more different.
They might turn up or they might not. They might do what we ask or they might not. They might finish the job or they might not. They generally present a different idea from what we want, which they claim would be cheaper (cutting corners is a way of life for them, even though they'd earn more money if they'd only do what we ask).
I wish leaving the EU hadn't driven out so many Poles. Their work ethic was second to none. Now we're left with tradesmen many of whom are clearly neither trained nor experienced (in spite of the blurbs on websites dedicated to checking out tradesmen's credentials!).
Rant over. I'll get me coat.
It's a sign of the times. What can be done about it, heaven only knows.

MayBee70

I know this sounds daft but it took me back to being stood up when I was a teenager and that awful feeling you get where you reach the point of realising that they’re not going to turn up! I think it only happened to me once but it obviously left a scar .

Sorry you feel like this, it’s obviously very upsetting for you. I hope it’s sorted soon.

nanna8

No problems here except they charge like wounded bulls because there is a shortage of tradesmen. They are one of the richest group of people in Australia, especially plumbers. Not complaining, they deserve good pay.

I love 'charge like wounded bulls'😀

I might steal that one.

We got up this morning and the back door wouldn’t open no way. We rang a locksmith we used a couple of years ago he was here within the hour checked fixed and all done and hubby off to the match now. Now that’s what I call service! My husband is self employed handyman ( nit locksmith) and he gets recommended from previous clients not huge jobs but eneough to keep him in work and from under my feet!😂

I don’t know of any tradesmen who haven’t ended up with physical problems because of their job so I guess they need to make as much money as possible when they can. My carpet fitter ruined his knees, my plumber has a bad back and the guy who fits my blinds has bad shoulders from always working with his arms above his head.

No problems here except they charge like wounded bulls because there is a shortage of tradesmen. They are one of the richest group of people in Australia, especially plumbers. Not complaining, they deserve good pay.