Nosey Plumber

macman

If the WC is not in the bathroom, maybe he was looking for that? How does he know in advance that a particular room is your office, unless he opens the door and finds out?
You either needed to challenge him at the time, or forget about it.
It's akin to staying in a hotel and then complaining about the room afterwards.

SadieL

The WC is in the bathroom. He was supposed to be looking at the waste pipe on the bath. Nothing else. He had no reason to be in my office on another floor of my house. As for challenging him at the time... it's ok saying that if you're not in the situation. Being on my own I did not feel confident to challenge him. I just wanted him out of my house. Why should he need to know that a particular room is my office. My other rooms are none of his business. It is nothing like staying in a hotel and complaining about the room afterwards. What a bizarre thing to compare it with! A tradesman should be trustworthy in your house. How does that compare to a hotel stay???

gibson123

Sadie I am a fan of gut instinct, if you felt uncomfortable then complain.

I usually put trust in tradesmen, but I once asked a decorator to leave who was in my daughter's room for absolutely no reason, he said he was looking for the loo!, however he was on the opposite side of the room from the door when most people would have just noticed it was a bedroom then closed it straight-away, not walked in and nosed about.

Mababejive, your job sounds fun!

SadieL

Thanks gibson. I think you are right and I am going to complain to the boss. The whole episode had given me the creeps.

Mr_Ted

:(Would you normally leave a complete stranger to have free roam of your property, I wouldnt;)

It is possible he needed to look out of a window, but i have known equally dodgy tradesmen, and customers:)

Sexual inuendo, aggresive, annoying, loud, untrustworthy, both sexes:eek:

Found same as has been mentioned already and customers who put £10 notes under caspets:eek: to see if theyre touched, and at one time a huge amount of dosh in a cupboard:(

As a tradesman if anything untoward is found i would prudently ask if it could be removed.
In other instances call in a second tradesman to act as a witness, or to just report it to the office and leave;)

As a customer, you have the same options:)

SadieL

What do you do when you're having a new kitchen or bathroom fitted then? Watch them the whole time? :rotfl:

Fire_Fox

SadieL wrote: »

What do you do when you're having a new kitchen or bathroom fitted then? Watch them the whole time? :rotfl:

Make them a cuppa or three and a bacon sarnie, obviously.

maintenanceman

I have to be i other peoples properties when they are not about. The first rule is to notify them that i wll be there and when. My second rule is that I would not like anyone snooping on my privacy so I extend that courtesy to other people. In fact I feel embaresed to go into other peoples rooms unless They know I have to go there( bleeding rads etc). There is no reason for someone to go anywhere they shouldn't be and they should ask unless in case of an emergency.

juliebunny

I personally feel that trust has to be earned. A tradesman is a stranger until he has earned your trust. I've been mainly lucky with them and I still believe that most people are trustworthy, but I only expect them to be in the room where they are doing work. Or they can use the loo of course!
I've asked been asked on dates by 2 tradesmen, a locksmith and a Sky engineer!! Wasn't single at the time, but do they all hit on everyone they visit or am I special:rotfl::rotfl:I do love a bf who is handy around the house, I will say that!

As to the original dilemna - yes, complain about the nosey bloke and you'll be doing others a favour. It's really hard when you are on your own. I had the hump when a plumber took my old taps without asking me (to sell for scrap no doubt) but when you are alone in the house with a stranger, it can get uncomfortable very quickly.

I always hide valuables too when I have tradesmen in - take away any temptation.

Jimbo333_2

Might sound extreme, but if the tradesman is going to be left to roam the house (during the day, everyone at work- many of us can't avoid this scenario) then they're going to have a connection to me: friend, friend of friend, friend of colleague etc.

This has made life difficult: all of my friends work in offices, so a lot of networking was required. But I now have tradesmen I trust, and they're new friends too. :-)