TARADALE SCAFFOLDERS ADD $400 'ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT' LINE TO QUOTE
The homeowner asked what it was for. The scaffolder charged him another twenty for asking.
A Taradale homeowner has been handed a scaffolding invoice that includes a $400 charge for 'attitude adjustment'. The crew leader has declined to explain what it covers.
The job is a villa reno off Gloucester Street. It was meant to take a week. It has taken three. Back in 1974 the whole street was painted by a bloke called Ron off a stepladder. Ron is dead. So is the stepladder, probably.
Homeowner Reuben Castelow, 51, said he'd asked the lead scaffolder, Mitch, what the $400 was for. "He said, and I quote, 'mate, if you have to ask, that's exactly what it's fucking for.' Then he charged me another twenty for the conversation."
Mitch, contacted on site while eating a mince and cheese from the Taradale Bakery, was more forthcoming. "Bloke rang me three times before 7am about the bracing colour. Before fucking seven. That's the adjustment. He's been adjusted." Asked if the charge was standard, Mitch said Hastings crews "charge double and don't put it on the invoice, the soft cunts."
A Scaffolding Association spokesperson said attitude adjustment was "not a recognised line item" but conceded it was "increasingly common east of the ranges." They added that querying a scaffolder's quote was "technically a homeowner's right, rarely a good idea."
Castelow has paid. The scaffold is still up. Mitch says it'll come down Tuesday.
Know someone this is about? Send it to them.
Spotted something like this in your area?
Send us a photo and a sentence. We'll write the article.
SUBMIT A YARN →Free. Anonymous if you want. Takes 60 seconds.
Reader Letters
Taradale_Trev
Bloody hell, Mitch is a legend. Sometimes the only way to get through to people is a bit of attitude correction. If it wasn't for tech and taxes, I'd be running my own scaffolding gang.
Wayne_from_Clive
@Taradale_Trev Mate, attitude might fly but ripping people off's a different story. Used to work with Mitch, top bloke but he talks a big game.
Garry_Pukehou
Back in my day you fixed things with a handshake, a box of Speight's, and a promise to mow the lawn next summer. We didn't need 'attitude adjustments'. We called them fistfights.
Margaret_HB
Honestly, sounds like this Mitch is a bit of a knob. Charging extra for asking questions? Might as well pay my kids every time they ask why.
Bob_the_Builder_Napier
I'm amazed anyone's getting work done at all. My builder's been in Australia since he started my deck. It's only half finished! Reuben, count your blessings.
BarryB_Napier
@Bob_the_Builder_Napier classic avoiding the real issue here. What's happening to our neighbourhoods? Soon we'll need a mortgage for a renovation!
Mince_and_Cheese_Connoisseur
The real scandal here is missing the pie review. Heard Taradale Bakery is legendary for their mince and cheese.