I hate it when people don't turn up when they say they will!
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
September 30, 2015 4:15am CST
We were supposed to have a visit this morning from a workman who said that he would be here between 8.00 and 8.30. After my wife had gone to work I therefore got myself ready in good time so that I would not be caught on the hop at 8.00.
Imagine my surprise (to coin a phrase) when I was engaged at a delicate stage of my bathroom activities at 7.40 and heard a gentle knock on the door downstairs! When I was able to get the door there was nobody in sight.
He phoned later, to say that he thought I wouldn't mind if he arrived early and got the job out of the way. Well - I did mind! I had taken all necessary steps to be ready for him - even if he had arrived ten minutes early - but apparently I was supposed to assume that he might turn up at any time that suited him!
If I ever make an appointment to see someone I make every effort to be on time - not late and not early. I reckon that a little lateness is more excusable than earliness - because at least you don't catch people when they are not expecting you.
The guy is coming again tomorrow - I have made sure that he knows that before 8.00 will not be acceptable!
6 people like this
9 responses
@topffer (42155)
• France
30 Sep 15
It happened to me 2 weeks ago in my new house. I don't live there during the renovation work, and a plumber came an hour too early when I was not yet in the house. I waited half hour at the given time, phoned to him, and he finally came an hour later
. People should respect their timetables...
. People should respect their timetables...1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
30 Sep 15
The least he could have done was called before showing up like he did. Here in the states any contractors usually end up being late, never early. Though it's gotten better in recent years with the implementation of "appointment windows" where they tell you an approximate, it still isn't nearly on point enough.
1 person likes this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
29 Dec 15
Oh John, I hate it when they show up early, but I thought that was a Canadian thing. When I lived in the UK I would normally be waiting for hours.
@maggs224 (2317)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Dec 15
We Brits like to keep our appointments and we are in the habit of saying the time we mean when we make them.
Getting used to the way different cultures handle their time keeping was one of the things I have found difficult in the past.
My Spanish friends and Latin American friends are very different from the average Brit. The time they give is only a rough estimate and it seems like anything up to about half an hour late is not considered late at all. It might just be my friends, but from general observations they live a much more laid back style of life here in the warmer climes lol...
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
30 Sep 15
I know what you mean. Please show up on time. Not before or not at all. If you must show up early. Call to see if I will be available. If no, show call and let me know. I hate waiting for nothing.
