About a builder. This is my little rant about what happened when a traveller knocked on my parents’ door, offering to fix their roof.
Today I had a rather unnerving experience, that left me quite shaken, so I thought I’d tell you about it so the same thing doesn’t happen to you.
Well, actually it happened to my parents. The doorbell rang last week and a guy was at the door saying,
‘Hi, I was just passing – I’m doing a job round the corner – and I noticed that a few of your roof tiles are missing. Would you like me to just get up there and fix it for you?’
‘No thank you.’ etc etc.
‘Would you be interested in selling your caravan to me?’
At first my Dad said no, but Mum was keen on getting rid of their caravan that they didn’t want any more, so they took him up on his offer and they collected it later.
Today they got a phone call from the guy accusing them of killing their puppy because there was a gas leak, which is completely ridiculous. He was abusive and threatening, but unfortunately the police couldn’t do anything about it. I was there when he came back and it was a good job we stayed to hang around as my husband was there as protection. The guy tried barging past him and into the house, and asked where my parents’ cars were. He literally snatched the money out of Dad’s hands before showing where the gas problem was – which he had broken himself. It was actually really frightening and I’m so glad that we were there otherwise who knows what might have happened.
Having written a novel in which I basically stick up for travellers and the poor assumptions people tend to make about them, I was so disappointed in this guy’s behaviour which was a complete stereotype of dodgy traveller builders.
Had a traveller knocked on my door giving me a good price for work that needs doing at my house, I would have liked to have given him the chance. Now, however, there’s no chance I’d make that risk and would warn you not to either; unless you’ve had chance to get to know him, or have had recommendations from neighbours.
Like I said, I am frankly disappointed.
