How to know when your contractor will actually arrive
What to ask when you book, what to do on the day, and when a delay stops being normal.
You took the morning off. The window was eight until twelve. It is now half past one and you have called twice with no answer, and you still do not know whether to give up on the day.
Most of this is avoidable, and a fair amount of it is decided at the moment you book rather than on the day itself.
Ask these when you book
- Will I get a specific time or a window, and how wide is the window?
- Will you text me when you set off?
- What number will it come from, and can I reply to it?
- If the job before mine runs over, will you tell me, or should I call you?
- Who do I contact if I have not heard anything by the end of the window?
The answers matter less than the reaction. A contractor who runs a tidy schedule answers these easily. One who gets vague about how you will hear from them is telling you something about the day you are going to have.
Get it in writing
A phone call arranging a Tuesday afternoon is not a record. Ask for a text or an email with the date, the time or window, and the address on it. Almost every no-show argument comes down to two people remembering a conversation differently, and one message solves it before it starts.
Thanks. Could you text me the date, time and address so I've got it written down? My number is the one I'm calling from.
On the day
If the window is four hours wide, do not build your day around the start of it. Somebody is genuinely first and somebody is genuinely last, and there is no way to tell which you are without asking.
A reasonable check in is one message at the start of the window asking roughly where you fall in the day. Then leave it alone. Calling repeatedly during a job does not move you up the list, and a tradesperson under a floor cannot answer anyway.
Morning, just checking roughly where I fall in your day so I can plan around it. No rush.
When a delay stops being normal
Running late is ordinary in this work. Jobs open up into bigger jobs and traffic does what it does. What is not ordinary is silence.
A good rule: an hour past the end of your window with no contact at all, treat the day as lost and say so plainly. Ask for a firm slot instead of waiting on, because a vague "later today" tends to eat the evening too.
Hi, I haven't heard anything and it's now past the window. I need to plan the rest of my day. Are you still coming today, and if so roughly when? If not, can we book a firm time this week?
If they never turn up
Keep it factual. Note the date, the agreed time, when you called, and whether anyone answered. If you paid a deposit, ask for it back in writing rather than over the phone. If you leave a review, describe what happened and skip the adjectives. Dated specifics read as credible. Anger reads as a difficult customer, even when the anger is entirely fair.
Common questions
Is it rude to ask a contractor for a specific arrival time?+
No. It is a normal question and most will give you a best estimate. What is worth avoiding is treating the estimate as a guarantee, because their morning genuinely can run over.
How long should I wait before giving up on the day?+
About an hour past the end of the window with no contact. At that point ask directly whether they are still coming rather than waiting on in silence.
Can I track a contractor like a food delivery?+
Only if they use software that offers it, and most trades still work off phone calls. It is becoming more common. Ask when you book whether you will get live updates.
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