Contractors and cell phones

[CreteCoater]

@gus ^ I know what you are saying. I'm a busy business owner running a crew of polished white collar professionals. If my guys handled their client communication the way some of the slacker contractors have dealt with me they would be fired. I won't stand for sloppy work, or errors. If you committed to show up at a certain time; BE THERE. Not two hours later with a smirk and a Chick-fil-A cup giving me some ******** line about your cell phone was [out of signal, out of battery, acting up, new phone;lost your number, left at home, lost]

It must be nice to be so perfect.

 

[CreteCoater]

Let me guess.....he was the lowest bidder

OK OK OK !!!! I understand ALL of your points!!!!!!! But let me give you just 1 example of why I was calling. I work from 7;00 to 6:00, I leave home before they get to my house, amd get home after they leave. One night I came home to check out the progress on the siding, I noticed the siding up to the bottom of a window was obvously crocked. I thought maybe my window (old house) was off and made the siding look crocked. I layed a level on the window sill, right on! So the sidings off. I thought I had better call my guy and let him know before his crew gets too far and has to rip it all down and start over (he has multiple crews and other jobs besides mine). I called the next day, left a message, no response. Came home that night and the whole side of the house was done, NOT STRAIGHT at all! When I finaly did get to show him the problem, he agreed it was wrong and he DID fix it. So I cant complain there. But I bet him and his crew would have been a hell of a lot hapier if they had noticed this earlier! This was not the only problem like this. Also during my work day, the ONLY time I can make a personal call is during my lunch hour, which I can take when ever I want. So if I call and you don't answer, that only gives you an hour to call me back. If not, then I guess theres always tomorrow! I try not to be a big bitcher, cause I deal with that at my work too. I just have questions that I would like answered. I could have chosen anyone to do my job, I chose to hire you and I am the one who is gonna pay you. You can't answer my calls???

 

[usafmora]

See people there are two sides to every story!

 

[1500hd]

@gus ^ I know what you are saying. I'm a busy business owner running a crew of polished white collar professionals. If my guys handled their client communication the way some of the slacker contractors have dealt with me they would be fired. I won't stand for sloppy work, or errors. If you committed to show up at a certain time; BE THERE. Not two hours later with a smirk and a Chick-fil-A cup giving me some ******** line about your cell phone was [out of signal, out of battery, acting up, new phone;lost your number, left at home, lost]

Agree! Just return your calls.

 

[Dicholscrn]

Wow. Getting bashed by all these people for this? Lmao. I agree with you OP. A client hires me for a job. I now work for that person and it is my responsibility to answer the phone. I answer 24 hours a day because to them it must be important. A mechanic answering a phone? Who the f cares? Apples and oranges. A framer, plumber, sparky working on the job should probably not being talking directly to the owner anyways. When an owner is paying me to build a project for them, either my super or myself best be answering any call or question they have.

It seems most here are talking about residential which maybe has its own different rules from commercial but I'm not going to lose million(s) $ contracts because I'm busy eating lunch........

 

[Steves32]

I'm a contractor....and I use a cell phone.
I'm usually pretty good about answering it though.
However- when I'm about to sit down w/ a customer to talk about their contract- guess who calls? YOU!

I'm betting you are young & need instant gratification. Sorry- won't happen THAT fast.
Before cell phones- we had pagers. Talk about a PITA! Pager goes off- customer won't let you use their phone or you are on a new construction site w/ no phone in area & pay phone miles away. You are obviously too young to have dealt with that.
Before pagers- we had answering services. Didn't pick up the messages until the next morning or sometimes days later. That is if you were lucky enough to get them at all.
We will call you back- it's not all about you.
Patience grasshoppa
I return ALL of my calls. Maybe not this minute but I will.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Re: Contractors and cel phones

I'm looking for a good moaner.

Sorry...all dudes.

 

[Gus68]

No NOT the lowest bidder. Talked to some people he has done work for and they all liked him. I'm not saying he isn't any good, I was very happy with his work, and he did fix any mistakes. Just could have avoided many, and lots of mis comunication cause of the DAMN voice mail. Oh he did call me back, usually as day or two later after the fact.

 

[ZRX61]

My phone msg is something along the lines of: "You know who this is, you just called the number. Leave a message & if I think it's important, I'll call back. If you don't get a call, I guess it wasn't important"

 

[Gus68]

No NOT the lowest bidder. Talked to some people he has done work for and they all liked him. I'm not saying he isn't any good, I was very happy with his work, and he did fix any mistakes. Just could have avoided many, and lots of mis comunication cause of the DAMN voice mail. Oh he did call me back, usually as day or two later after the fact.

 

[higXtech]

My phone msg is something along the lines of: "You know who this is, you just called the number. Leave a message & if I think it's important, I'll call back. If you don't get a call, I guess it wasn't important"

That really isn't something to brag about.

 

[ZRX61]

That really isn't something to brag about.

It helps clarify matters for people who I don't want to talk to

 

[Steves32]

More than 1/2 of my calls per day are telemarketers.
Who buys **** from them?

 

[4wd4ever]

Wow. Getting bashed by all these people for this? Lmao. I agree with you OP. A client hires me for a job. I now work for that person and it is my responsibility to answer the phone. I answer 24 hours a day because to them it must be important. A mechanic answering a phone? Who the f cares? Apples and oranges. A framer, plumber, sparky working on the job should probably not being talking directly to the owner anyways. When an owner is paying me to build a project for them, either my super or myself best be answering any call or question they have.

It seems most here are talking about residential which maybe has its own different rules from commercial but I'm not going to lose million(s) $ contracts because I'm busy eating lunch........

Ok well next time your mercedes or BMW is in the shop and they are billing you $150 an hr don't ***** cuz it took so long...he might have been calling his contractor!!!!

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I am a contractor. I had a HVAC sub once that was a real PITA. He never answered his cell phone, you had to leave a massage and he would call you back if he wanted to. He was holding me up on finishing a job once. Everything was done except installing the outdoor AC unit and firing it up. I couldn't get paid until he finished. After about a week, I left a message that he WOULD return my call within two hours, or I was going to rip all of his duct work and indoor equipment, tubing, wiring, etc, out of the house and have someone else replace it by the next day? He called me back and after a large *** chewing, finished the job the next day! Then wanted his money PROMPTLY! I never used him again, and will never, ever, use anyone else that doesn't answer his cellphone when I call!! Lesson learned

 

[Climber]

I am contractor, and my cel.phone for customer convenience. Even I can't answer all calls right away, but every 2 hours we have 5-min brake and wile my employees taking water/cigaret/sandwich I am checking massages and answer back.
Communication is part of business, is part of customer service. Customer pays money - customer set rules. You just charge accordingly.
If don't want to be disturbed during work hours - don't give your cel phone # or hire answering service. This kind of service is reasonably cheap.

 

[hudone]

I am contractor, and my cel.phone for customer convenience. Even I can't answer all calls right away, but every 2 hours we have 5-min brake and wile my employees taking water/cigaret/sandwich I am checking massages and answer back.
Communication is part of business, is part of customer service. Customer pays money - customer set rules. You just charge accordingly.
If don't want to be disturbed during work hours - don't give your cel phone # or hire answering service. This kind of service is reasonably cheap.

Wow one business man on this whole tread that gets it.

 

[DisplacedMic]

Re: Contractors and cel phones

we do alot of work as subs in shipyard, power plants and chemical plants. most of these plant has gone to no cell phone within the fence, for no body, super, suppliers, foreman. no cell phones at all.

their reason, cell have cameras, also labor spending too much time talking to wife.

their wives...right

 

[DisplacedMic]

lots of interesting perspectives on both sides of this issue. i am generally surprised if a contractor answers his phone. i don't mind communicating via voicemail as i know we are on different schedules. i usually try to make a point that they can feel free to call me early AM or after dark as that's when they're less likely to be busy with the another job.

however it drives me nuts when these guys wait days and days to get back to you - and then it's some last minute emergency.

trying to get some trees out of our yard now. thousands of dollars. like it or not guys, it's a buyers market. i get estimates and you better believe your level of communication, speed in response and ability to show up on time factors into my choice of who to hire. i'm not unreasonable & i dont mind leaving voicemails, i do mind not hearing back for 4 days and then getting a voicemail at 8pm thursday night that you can meet me at my house friday at 11am. you are too busy for my businesses.

some people can work that way, i won't. the important thing is not to take it personal.

they guy is really good? he's probably really booked. if he is worth the wait, wait the wait.

the guy is way overbooked? you don't want him anyway.
the guy is disorganized? you don't want him anyway.

it's definitely a 2 way street here.

enjoyed reading the thread

 

[mmhouse]

The poor guy is trying to work and make some money. It's a very tough business these days. Give him a break!

 

[junk4dummies]

Sorry in advance about the rant, but I think all contractors should NOT be alowed to own a cel phone! I am getting my house sided and a new roof put on and also in the process of planing a new garage. I have had to get ahold of my guy doing the house MANY times, and it's always the same thing, &#@^ VOICE MAIL and *%&# phone tag!!!!! If you are gonna have a phone on you, ANSWER THE DAMN THING!!!! If you can't, hire some one who can!!!! And in planing this garage, I was looking for an electrical contractor. I called 8 of them, only two answered the phone! I shouldn't say that, a third actually answered his phone but it was, "Hello, ********what? ***&%%$&% who is this? T&$&^%&^% Im sorry what was that &^(%&$% . I hung up! I played phone tag with the rest, have yet to actually TALK to any of them. I work all day, I am the customer who wants service! I should be able to call you when it is convienient for me NOT you!!!!!!

If he had to ask who it was then you did not anounce yourself. Phone manners say you are to state who you are and your purpose for the call. You always give your name then ask for the person you want to speek to. If you are calling direct you still give your name. If a person does not know you don't blame them if you did not give thier name. I have been a contractor for 40 years and an architedct for about 20. Clients seem to think you are there for their every call. I only build comercial buildings. For the past 30 yeasrs I build custom homes that I design and pay for. I do bot work for any home owners. I own the house when I am done and I sell it. I make all the money and don't have to deal with dumb @... clients that think that thier every whim should be answered. If you are having trobles getting hold of your contractor when you really need to talk to them then you have a bad contractor that is not doing his job. Contractors are spread very thin and ruin on barrowed money. There is no money in remodeling. That is worse than working by the hour. I did it twice then siad the hell with the client. If I had a bugeyed client that was always calling I would not take his calls either. It is a 2 way street. If you took the cheap bid shame on you. The low bid almost always is someone who is hungry and needs the work. That is not the person you want. You should get several references before you sign with any contractor. Just room for though. It sounds like you are both to blame, Oh weight, you are the one with the bad contractor. Who's fault is that? It sounds like you should be mad with yourself because there are man very good contractors out there.

 

[rockchucker]

If you called me in a rant like your original post I would not want to talk to you either.(period)

 

[tatra]

heard one voicemail announcement that i really liked " sorry i cannot take your call at the moment because i am either with another client who , like you desreves my undivided attention or i am driving and will call you back at the earliest possible time"......

 

[Roots]

We once had a customer who tried to demand (after a fixed bid was already accepted) that every person on our crew kept a log book attached to them, documented their work progress in fifteen minute increments, and than had to justify why they should be paid for those 15 minutes of labor. Oh, and they had to be turned into the the customer every 15 minutes as well. That didn't go over to well...

 

[Frank The Plumber]

That is called a contract breach.
You walk away from those. They are proofed as hiney holes.

 

[gabeancounter]

Hopefully getting my CO tomorrow on a new house. Have to place many calls to subs and leave many messages. I would rather them not call me back, but my message is clear in the reason for the call. "Siding on north wall is slanted- need to correct before they get to far." I will make a follow up call if it is getting to the last day on the job. " John, the rest of the siding looks good, but I still need us to correct the noth wall. Thanks"

Margins are tight, no need for long phone calls to eat up additional time.

 

[Gus68]

Ummmm... The #$^$^%$ and ****&*^*^^* in the OP was supposed to be static. Sorry for the confusion. And again, NO he was NOT the cheapest bid. I have plenty of friends he has done work for, and they were all happy with his work, AND I AM TOO! I am jusst bitching about having to deal with voice mail and phone tag. And I don't think he was checking his messages as often as he should. How do I know if he got my message, if I get no response or no results.. What if I just have a sipmle question? As I said earlier, I only have a small amount of time I can make personal calls during the day (I don't have time to pester him a hundred times a day) Is it too much to ask that he answer my call or atleast call me back SOON!. As for looking fo electrical contractors and cement contractors, I have called about 8 of them since the OP. (called once and left a message) I have gotten ONE call back!!!!!!! The two that have actualy come to meet with me (and will probably get the job) are the ONLY two that actually answered the PHONE!

 

[BWS]

No cell here.....folks know where to find me.


But posted to say or comment........wonder how pissed you'd be when talking to me,face to face.If what you're talking about was even remotely of some value......that I would even look up from whats at hand.........make no sound,no facial expression,no nuthin......then go back to what I was doing.Would you get upset?


Probably should not post chit like that.....but its funny because it happens.Best of luck with your "guy" and your build.BW

 

[1948]

Re: Contractors and cel phones

After a couple clients like that.. my contract actually states calls to be limited to emergencies, otherwise emails with questions preferred method, or list kept and gone over either in person, or twice weekly phone calls. If calls become excessive, a charge of $20 per call will be applied. Something like that.. my attorney wrote it up and put it in my contract. I'm not kidding!!!

wow, i need to apply this!

there was one guy..... not sure if he was drunk or on pills or what. but would get pissed off that i wasnt sending him enough updates at about 11pm-1am at night! and proceed to text me or call me..... that got really annoying. he told me i didnt have a time frame, then one night he calls me up and says he wants his car in 30 days(nowhere even close to being able to move because its still in pieces) so i busted my *** and got it together the best i could in the time givin(was finishing up some things the night of him getting it) so he takes it home and proceeds to trash talk me all over the internet on top of all the harrassing phone calls and texts. did i mention that i didnt make one cent off this work also.....

 

[bams50]

Hopefully getting my CO tomorrow on a new house. Have to place many calls to subs and leave many messages. I would rather them not call me back, but my message is clear in the reason for the call. "Siding on north wall is slanted- need to correct before they get to far." I will make a follow up call if it is getting to the last day on the job. " John, the rest of the siding looks good, but I still need us to correct the noth wall. Thanks"

Margins are tight, no need for long phone calls to eat up additional time.

This is perfect. You kept on top of things like you should but didn't make a pest of yourself. It's how adults would handle it.

The contractor isn't there to be your buddy, or your debate partner, or to calm your fears. He's there strictly to do a job. I can see that both sides should make that clear going in; no calls answered, leave a message and let the guy do his work, or let you know why he disagrees, and work it out.

I think it all goes back to making this clear BEFORE the contract is signed- and have this spelled out in the contract.

Good info here for when I start my new building.

 

[jumpingryan]

Sorry in advance about the rant, but I think all contractors should NOT be alowed to own a cel phone! I am getting my house sided and a new roof put on and also in the process of planing a new garage. I have had to get ahold of my guy doing the house MANY times, and it's always the same thing, &#@^ VOICE MAIL and *%&# phone tag!!!!! If you are gonna have a phone on you, ANSWER THE DAMN THING!!!! If you can't, hire some one who can!!!! And in planing this garage, I was looking for an electrical contractor. I called 8 of them, only two answered the phone! I shouldn't say that, a third actually answered his phone but it was, "Hello, ********what? ***&%%$&% who is this? T&$&^%&^% Im sorry what was that &^(%&$% . I hung up! I played phone tag with the rest, have yet to actually TALK to any of them. I work all day, I am the customer who wants service! I should be able to call you when it is convienient for me NOT you!!!!!!

Contractors are generally owner operators.... That means they don't always have time to answer the phone.... The pros are generally too busy with their current clients.....

I am going through the same thing.... With a masonry contractor, but i understand that the season has started, and lots of others booked before me. Leave a message, and if they get back to you, deal with them. If they are ready to start within they hour for work that is not an emergency.... Be wary.

Ryan

 

[ears]

Had a local driver post his cell phone bill on the bulletin board. He was mad about his bill and the number of times the office called him. He got $30 a month and wanted more. The problem was the bill was showing 2 and 3 hours worth of phone calls while he was working and charging $200 plus an hour to the customer. Moving furniture, if the driver isn't working everything crawls to a halt. He ended up fired not long after that.

 

[Gus68]

OK so let me get this straight. My contractor has his crew working on my house while he is off checking on his other crew he has going, or getting materials, or what ever it is that he needs to do. He doesnt come back to my place all day. While he is gone one of his guys starts the siding on one side of my house crooked, which as we all know will make the rest of the siding crooked. Maybe this guy is new, or young, or a drunk, I don't know. For whatever reason he started the siding crooked, but by the end of the day he is only about 4 feet up the wall. Now if it was me, I would want to catch this mistake before it goes too far, because to fix it I would have to rip off everything and start over straight. So I the home owner come home after every one has left, walk around to look at the progress, and see this mistake. Now being the "GOOD" customer that I am, I DON'T call my contractor to ask about this, because I am just the home owner who is paying for the work, and know NOW after reading all of the posts that this would bother my contractor, slow down his progress, anoy him to no end, and probably make him raise his rate. So I will just let this and some ither things be. When he comes after all is said and done, to get his payment, I should THEN point out the ENTIRE wall that is crooked and have him rip it all apart to fix it. Because that would irritate him less.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Ummmm... The #$^$^%$ and ****&*^*^^* in the OP was supposed to be static. Sorry for the confusion. And again, NO he was NOT the cheapest bid. I have plenty of friends he has done work for, and they were all happy with his work, AND I AM TOO! I am jusst bitching about having to deal with voice mail and phone tag. And I don't think he was checking his messages as often as he should. How do I know if he got my message, if I get no response or no results.. What if I just have a sipmle question? As I said earlier, I only have a small amount of time I can make personal calls during the day (I don't have time to pester him a hundred times a day) Is it too much to ask that he answer my call or atleast call me back SOON!. As for looking fo electrical contractors and cement contractors, I have called about 8 of them since the OP. (called once and left a message) I have gotten ONE call back!!!!!!! The two that have actualy come to meet with me (and will probably get the job) are the ONLY two that actually answered the PHONE!

So the word is getting around then.

 

[Zeke]

Gus, you have a way of misconstruing the point. Why not take a pic and text the contractor? Pics are worth a 1000 words. Let the contractor decide on how it will be fixed. Meanwhile, you have a time stamped piece of data that you can refer to at will.

 

[Zeke]

Oh, and Gus, don't call. I won't answer.

No, really, I won't.

 

[Gus68]

I won't

 

[Frank The Plumber]

OK so let me get this straight. My contractor has his crew working on my house while he is off checking on his other crew he has going, or getting materials, or what ever it is that he needs to do. He doesnt come back to my place all day. While he is gone one of his guys starts the siding on one side of my house crooked, which as we all know will make the rest of the siding crooked. Maybe this guy is new, or young, or a drunk, I don't know. For whatever reason he started the siding crooked, but by the end of the day he is only about 4 feet up the wall. Now if it was me, I would want to catch this mistake before it goes too far, because to fix it I would have to rip off everything and start over straight. So I the home owner come home after every one has left, walk around to look at the progress, and see this mistake. Now being the "GOOD" customer that I am, I DON'T call my contractor to ask about this, because I am just the home owner who is paying for the work, and know NOW after reading all of the posts that this would bother my contractor, slow down his progress, anoy him to no end, and probably make him raise his rate. So I will just let this and some ither things be. When he comes after all is said and done, to get his payment, I should THEN point out the ENTIRE wall that is crooked and have him rip it all apart to fix it. Because that would irritate him less.

You should duct tape some post it notes to that with your message on them.

Did you think that posting here and asking us would calm your frayed nerves? It's not like we can write a prescription for something to ease the conciousness.

How would you like to have like 15 guys just like yourself calling you incessantly like some chubby girl you had a few too many beers with last Friday night and snuck out the bathroom window upon.

Call Me. Call Me? When will you call? Love You. Call me. I'm Late. Call me. How are you? How Is your day going? Hey by the way, the siding is crooked. Love you, call me? One of your guys just dumpered on my lawn, call me? Hy what ya doin? Call Me? I hate You! Just Kiddin. I'm Later now. Tee Hee.

X 15 to 20

 

[Gus68]

I'll just hire the guy who answers!

 

[bams50]

OK so let me get this straight. My contractor has his crew working on my house while he is off checking on his other crew he has going, or getting materials, or what ever it is that he needs to do. He doesnt come back to my place all day. While he is gone one of his guys starts the siding on one side of my house crooked, which as we all know will make the rest of the siding crooked. Maybe this guy is new, or young, or a drunk, I don't know. For whatever reason he started the siding crooked, but by the end of the day he is only about 4 feet up the wall. Now if it was me, I would want to catch this mistake before it goes too far, because to fix it I would have to rip off everything and start over straight. So I the home owner come home after every one has left, walk around to look at the progress, and see this mistake. Now being the "GOOD" customer that I am, I DON'T call my contractor to ask about this, because I am just the home owner who is paying for the work, and know NOW after reading all of the posts that this would bother my contractor, slow down his progress, anoy him to no end, and probably make him raise his rate. So I will just let this and some ither things be. When he comes after all is said and done, to get his payment, I should THEN point out the ENTIRE wall that is crooked and have him rip it all apart to fix it. Because that would irritate him less.

NOW you're getting it!!

Really though, you're sneaking away from your original post. This example is extreme; nobody would do what you posted, or say that you should. Originally you said you "had to get ahold of the guy MANY times". That was the red flag to everyone. Most people have dealt with or seen in action the PITA customer who constantly complains and nitpicks and drives a worker crazy, mightily hindering his progress; then calls to harass him about why he's taking so long! That's what brought all the comments.

This post sounds like someone who has lost an argument and, rather than admit he might be wrong, tries to draw attention away from the original complaint with some silly scenario. If you go back and read this with an OPEN mind, you'll see it's a little childish, and detracts from whatever point you're trying to make.

My point here is not to pick on you. I'm just hoping you'll think through what's been said. Otherwise we can go 'round and 'round the mountain, even though the points are made.