Customer From Hell - Tile Advice

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Just need to share this, I am working for a female engineer, she is doing my head in, I think I might cut my losses and pull off the job.

To cut a long story short, she engaged me to tile a wet room, a bathroom, a kitchen floor in slate, and a ground floor Cloaks.

I have been on the job a couple of weeks, it is a new build, there are no toilet facilities, but we are used to that, even though it is against the law, we make do.

On Friday the plumber fitted the first working toilet he had a text from her saying do not let anyone use the toilet, as was for her only.

We are just building trade scum (not her words, but mine) are we animals? who don't deserve the basic respect most people would expect?

She sent me a text early Sat morning showing her toilet with poo in it, suggesting me my lads, or the plumber where the culprits, none of us where guilty, the kitchen fitters where in Sat morning.

She has now decided to pick holes in my work, she is not happy with the mitres, or the trim, even though I gave her the choice of different trims. I will post some pics.

 

[Qwerty]

Looks tidy as ever Phil. Shame the "culprit" photo wasn't included
I hate customers like this, it makes for such an awkward situation.
I hope she sees sense

 

[Gazzer]

Not overly liking the trim but if that is what she went for then its not your fault .
Its a crazy world when someone picks up on the smallest of things yet that other thread by Sparkle and she things it can be resolved !

 

[White Room]

I do feel some of these "people" think were at the bottom of the ladder and many times they try and ridicule as a power lust....I'm the customer and I'm allways right.

Had the same with toilet issues on a large job and the owner was "helping me", sometimes 6-7 guys on the job in the middle of nowhere, could've at least rented a portable:mad2:

Lovely work by the way Phil, perhaps she should get herself down to specsavers.

 

[John Benton]

Awful Phil - I mean her choice of floor tiles, clearly nothing wrong with the quality of the work.

Only thing I would say is the bond in the window, I know it matches floor, but my preference would have been random, don't like it myself, but I'm guessing that was her choice!!

 

[John Benton]

I do feel some of these "people" think were at the bottom of the ladder and many times they try and ridicule as a power lust....I'm the customer and I'm allways right.

Had the same with toilet issues on a large job and the owner was "helping me", sometimes 6-7 guys on the job in the middle of nowhere, could've at least rented a portable:mad2:

Lovely work by the way Phil, perhaps she should get herself down to specsavers.

Did the customer use a stick to poke the large job Mark?

 

[kilty55]

nice work phil, are the planks from fired earth?

i also find a lot of these people think trades are the scum of the earth, generally i bite my lip on these jobs and at the end of the estimated job cost add on a lump sum for the extra materials i had to use. give them a taste of there own medicine they so easily dish out!

 

[White Room]

Did the customer use a stick to poke the large job Mark?

If he had gone into the woods he may have found one:lol:

 

[Time's Ran Out]

We know they are out there but it is always a setback when they rear their ugly head!
A case of getting paid then putting her in her place with a few choice words of advice.
Hope it works out ok.

 

[Andy Allen]

You seem to have done alot of work there phil to just walk away, would she pay you for whats been completed. .? If not I would keep her sweet, get some money out of her then just tell her you feel this working relationship isn't working and suggest she finds someone else to finish the job.

 

[nybor62]

great job as allways phil , i dont like the trim , but not your choice, stick it out get ya money , then let ripp , best advice i can give

 

[jonnyc]

what finish would you haven chosen for external corners if she had let you chose.
sometimes phil you can never win .
just need one little thing to go wrong and then clients are all over you.
in this instance you have not even been wrong in first instance.
if it was me and i would bite my lip, at least until cleared monies in.
the biggest problems i have had with payments are from clients who i have argued with!!
it felt good to say my piece at the time but long term cost me loads.
i have less patience as i get older but i have got a bit wiser

 

[Spud]

Finish up what you have priced up to do and give her the bill, it must be silly season as I have the most fussy customer I have encountered in many years at the moment

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

It's getting worse nurse, this woman is a real whack job. I will be meeting her Wed am. whether I come out OK or get arrested, who knows?

I could do without this crap atm.

Definitely a true nutter.:mad2:

 

[Deleted member 9966]

if you're able to sit down when you meet with her Phil, sit on your hands. that will stop you wanting and being able to throttle her, and it will make you look non-confrontational :smilewinkgrin: