How do you deal with really rude builder?

[anonymous-user]

Teddy Lop said:

I'd wager there's no other industry or job that sees such a broad ability/attitude spread as the skilled trades, while honest punters do get screwed over by bad operaters, some of the posts you read making sweeping statements are probably the absolute "customers from hell" yet they have no idea... We've all worked for them, rites of passage, they set you up to fail before you've walked through the door.

I think the problem is that the building trades industry is now miles behind other industries and sectors with regards to what’s expected from customers with regards to communication and reviews and customer service.

Often it’s the difference between dealing with self employed tradesmen and maybe larger companies in other sectors and there’s often pretty low barriers to entry when setting yourself up as a tradesman compared to other businesses.

If many of these poorer tradesmen were renting villas or running online shops or restaurants or other businesses where trip advisor reviews etc mattered they’d have gone bust years ago.

If I want to say rent a villa in Greece I can see photos read honest reviews and contact the owner/agent easily and get information quickly with minimum fuss.

Trying to find a reputable tradesmen to do a job is much harder and riskier and a much more unpleasant experience.

Customers in most industries expect to decide on a product or service after being able to gather honest information and feedback online and then for it to be delivered quickly and efficiently with professional communication and minimum fuss.

Unfortunately this isn’t always the case when dealing with tradesmen and as is often said the tradesmen are in an industry where there is a huge variation in quality of individuals. Plus you have the added intrusion and inconvenience of them often being in your home where any less desirable characteristics or traits get noticed more and magnified massively.

[227bhp]

Teddy Lop said:

I'd wager there's no other industry or job that sees such a broad ability/attitude spread as the skilled trades, while honest punters do get screwed over by bad operaters, some of the posts you read making sweeping statements are probably the absolute "customers from hell" yet they have no idea... We've all worked for them, rites of passage, they set you up to fail before you've walked through the door.

The motor trade is one I can think of, covering both mechanics and car sales.

[PositronicRay]

227bhp said:

The motor trade is one I can think of, covering both mechanics and car sales.

Don't forget the parts dept.

[MB140]

I’ve not had a lot of experience with the building trade but my brother is a sparky by trade (commercial only hates domestic), he restored his house top to bottom bare shell (built in 1890) when he first bought it. His opinion is that most traders on sites speak like st to each other and this occasionally spills over to customers.

His rule of thumb is.

If there available straight away or very soon then their probably no good. Tradesman that have a good reputation often have long lead times as there always booked up. My brother for example is nearly always booked out 6-9 months in advance.

[227bhp]

MB140 said:

If there available straight away or very soon then their probably no good. Tradesman that have a good reputation often have long lead times as there always booked up.

Send me your address and i'll buy you a little Xmas present.

[227bhp]

PositronicRay said:

227bhp said:

The motor trade is one I can think of, covering both mechanics and car sales.

Don't forget the parts dept.

That's why I used the cover all of Motortrade, but not really thinking parts would be in there, what makes you include that?

[Alucidnation]

V8RX7 said:

albundy89 said:

This one is specifically for v8rx7.
You say you have dealt with builders and done the work,also bear in mind generally they are not the brightest,educationally speaking. etc etc etc.

You have never had a builder walk away but have thrown a few off site and picked up the pieces etc etc

All I can say is , are you for real or is it holiday time at the primary school.

don't get your knickers in a twist just because you're too incompetent to run sites.

Ask any decent Site Agent - they will all have thrown some off site, I have for: repeatedly lighting fires, fighting, being drunk... a carpenter who was using a screwdriver as a chisel, a roofer who started at 5am as it was hot but there were agreed working times, which he was breaking.

Humouring those you need is also a vital part of the job - just because you can't do your job, doesn't mean others can't do theirs.

You chucked a roofer off site for starting too early, rather than having a word with him?

[eldar]

moles said:

Checkatrade is owned by Homeserve not British Gas.

You are quite right

[anonymous-user]

Leicesterdave said:

I've had my roof done over the last 2 days ....

I never get tradespeople- I pay in good faith (in this case £950)

What did you have done, and was he a tradesperson (ie roofer)?

[PositronicRay]

227bhp said:

PositronicRay said:

227bhp said:

The motor trade is one I can think of, covering both mechanics and car sales.

Don't forget the parts dept.

That's why I used the cover all of Motortrade, but not really thinking parts would be in there, what makes you include that?

Experience.

[bmwmike]

Aluminati said:

What domestics don’t seem to understand, is the internet has made you all an expert in the required field.
.

I think,with respect, that what a few of the trades don't seem to understand is that what they do really isn't all that hard and it doesn't take a genius to work out that they are being ripped off with a crap effort.

[Jaguar steve]

MB140 said:

I’ve not had a lot of experience with the building trade but my brother is a sparky by trade (commercial only hates domestic), he restored his house top to bottom bare shell (built in 1890) when he first bought it. His opinion is that most traders on sites speak like st to each other and this occasionally spills over to customers.

His rule of thumb is.

If there available straight away or very soon then their probably no good. Tradesman that have a good reputation often have long lead times as there always booked up. My brother for example is nearly always booked out 6-9 months in advance.

Yup. Trades come in Good Cheap and Quick versions. The best you'll ever get is get any combination of two out of those three virtues though.

[Aluminati]

bmwmike said:

Aluminati said:

What domestics don’t seem to understand, is the internet has made you all an expert in the required field.
.

I think,with respect, that what a few of the trades don't seem to understand is that what they do really isn't all that hard and it doesn't take a genius to work out that they are being ripped off with a crap effort.

If it’s that easy, why do they get someone in to do it ?

[anonymous-user]

Aluminati said:

If it’s that easy, why do they get someone in to do it ?

For the same reasons as me. They can do it but don’t have the time.

[Alucidnation]

V6 Pushfit said:

Aluminati said:

If it’s that easy, why do they get someone in to do it ?

For the same reasons as me. They can do it but most of the time fk it up.

FTFY.

[Julia121]

Being a girl helps cut down the rudeness I think. Perhaps a touch of man make up and wear something girly next time....

[anonymous-user]

Alucidnation said:

FTFY.

Haha. Not really in my case, I’m better off doing what I do for a living - but having said that I would rather do my own stuff to my own standard.

The one qualification being by backs fked ATM so ive got a mate doing it all helping me

[anonymous-user]

We still don’t know what OP actually had done

[Black_S3]

Leicesterdave said:

He made loads of rude little comments like 'Look you're an intelligent guy no?

Should have kicked him off the job when he said this... manipulative pressure selling.

[Jambo85]

V6 Pushfit said:

For the same reasons as me. They can do it but don’t have the time.

Or they’re not “certified” by a relevant ponzi scheme eg. gas safe / NICEIC