Airtasker Handyman wanted more money

[Deactivated] on 07/08/2019 - 13:30
Last edited 07/08/2019 - 14:08 by 1 other user

Recently I advertised on Airtasker app for a handyman to do some work, involved drilling some hooks up for a picture ,
And putting a door handle on , just drilling it on with screws i provided,
About 15 minutes work i guess

I received a lot of bids ,and the one i chose i admit was the cheapest at $50 , however he lived nearby and could come immediately so I accepted the bid

A guy turns up scruffy looking ciggarette in mouth and i greeted him nicely and he came inside my house and i showed him the door handle i wanted putting on

Still smoking his cigarette in the house , He then says , the $50 he bidded ,he made a mistake and Airtasker take out 25% off that and and he then says can you give me a extra $50 in cash as i meant it to be $75

I stood there shocked not knowing what to say, then he goes on and says “I need it before i complete the job “

I said but I already paid Airtasker $50 you bidded right ?

He then says “ yeah buddy but you understand they take out 25% and i made a mistake bidding so can u give me extra cash ?

Now what would you say to him after this?

He was a pushy type of person a little bit n my face aggressive

Ok i admit it was my fault partly for being stingy and choosing the cheapest one but he was closer than everyone else.

Would you have gave into his demands and paid him extra cash ?

I know lol…cheaper for me to buy a drill

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Comments

        • Scorn on 10/08/2019 - 20:44

          "/s" goes a long way in Internet world

          • chumlee on 10/08/2019 - 21:20

            @Scorn: No idea what that means sorry

            • Scorn on 10/08/2019 - 22:43

              @chumlee: Adding a /s to a post points out that you are being sarcastic.

  • garetz on 07/08/2019 - 20:14
    +3

    I would of told him to take it up with airtasker if he is unhappy with their cut.

  • screensaver on 08/08/2019 - 03:00
    +3

    I chose someone who had a lot of reviews, cost me $20 extra than what I offered, before coming. I felt he wouldnt risk his good reviews. He asked me to call him outside air tasker next time

    • brad1-8tsi on 08/08/2019 - 07:45
      +2

      That's a fair call.

      If I was on AirTasker I'd use it purely as an avenue for meeting new clients and continuing the business relationship outside of AirTasker. I'm not sure how that fits in with AirTaskers contract but that would be my goal.

  • brad1-8tsi on 08/08/2019 - 07:59
    +2

    OP. I can understand your difficult situation. In my mind I would have told the guy that his contract was with Airtasker and he should leave. Then I would have taken it up with Airtasker.

    In reality I would have folded, paid extra and then complained. The persons presence in my house would have freaked me out.

    I'd still be complaining to Airtasker. Big time.

  • dbourke7 on 08/08/2019 - 08:41
    -6

    So you got a job done for about the same price as every other quote. Lesson learned, move on.

  • The tiger on 08/08/2019 - 09:27
    +1

    No only those handy men doing it as OP said. Once I accepted a carpet cleaner from local papers to do the steaming carpet after agreed a quoted sum. On arrival and after seeing my house he wanted more. I had no choice but paid him extra as he really looked aggressive. He did the job not too good too. This world!

  • Kaz0551 on 08/08/2019 - 11:10

    just had another one… arborist. my brother underquoted… can you help us out with a couple of hundred for the stump grinder.

  • fishfingers on 08/08/2019 - 11:14

    Why not try Service Seeking or Hi Pages next time. I have done this several times and always been happy with the outcome. Tradies are screened and reviewed.

    • ozbjunkie on 08/08/2019 - 16:28

      So many useless businesses on hipages, and your quote will be higher because hipages charges the businesses that contact you a fee, and I believe that is whether or not you decide to go with them. Better to use hipages to search for tradies with good reviews, insurance, ABN, lisenced, and then contact outside of hipages.

  • robbyjones on 08/08/2019 - 15:45
    +4

    That's extortion and criminal behaviour. Regardless of what you did I would pop down to your local police station and make a report, if for no other reason than to make them aware. I would report it to Airtasker telling them you have reported it to the police
    Scary, but what an A hole

    • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 16:06

      You know as soon as you leave, the police are going to be talking among themselves.

      It's going to be, "…WTF?" followed by everyone else in equal bemusement. Lots of shrugging shoulders.

      • robbyjones on 08/08/2019 - 16:10
        +1

        Maybe, however if this blight on humanity went further with his intimidation tactics then the police would have a starting point. If no-one reports anything due to fear of humiliation then extortionists win. This same mindset is why a lot of people who have been physically or mentally abused don't report it, in reality it doesn't happen as often as you would think.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 16:16

          The blight on humanity is that people don't learn from their mistakes.

          They invite potential criminals into their homes and after a terrifying ordeal, they reflect and think, "I'll make sure the next stranger isn't terrifying".

          So more terrifying people go, "wow, that's a great gig" and soon this becomes standard practice.

          Making a police report of intimidating but not criminal behaviour, and without evidence, isn't going to be taken with any gravity.

          If people become so reliant on others, someone can and therefore will cash in on it. It's always been the case which is why slave owners didn't want slaves reading and dictators ensure their peasants cannot receive decent education. Reliance.

  • burningrage on 08/08/2019 - 17:32
    +1

    Sometime ago I put out an ads in HiPages for painting.

    His quote wasn't the cheapest but he was one of the three who looked decent. First one sent a quoter but wasn't the ultimate painter. The second was the eventual winner and the third one only had very few review and no credentials posted. The first one had the most credentials including certificate of currency uploaded.

    Anyway he asked for an advance due to having to hire his sprayer and stuff. I didnt like it but thought it was reasonable.

    He did a decent job though he spray painted through my fruit trees but nevertheless the job was done.

    He then alluded to me that his biz customers were real slow payer and asked if he can be paid immediately.

    He was a nice guy although didnt appear as professional as the first one but overall a decent guy.

    I didnt like him asking for advance nor did I like him asking for immediate payment ($2k jobs) but I paid him straight away that night thinking he probably needed his money.

    I asked him for tax invoice. He said yes.

    Naturally the tax invoice never came.

    Cant wait for Royal Commission into Tradespeople.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 17:44

      But wouldn’t he have a ABN ?

      • burningrage on 08/08/2019 - 21:32

        I am sure he would as he said he's done lots of works for biz but just so happen payments are slow.

        As I said, asked for Tax Invoice. It never came. His HiPages page doesn't have ABN.

  • bringbring on 08/08/2019 - 18:09

    Ask him to wait outside so you can go to the bank. Return with $25 in 10c coins and throw them at his feet.

    Dance, monkey!

    • GregMonarch on 08/08/2019 - 22:47
      +2

      Ask him to wait outside so you can go to the bank…

      … Then go on a holiday to QLD.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 18:38
    -7

    Its one of those common sense is gone.
    A 'skilled professional' came to your property and preformed skilled work for $50, $50.

    If youre no longer in high school, i cant even begin….

  • Herbse on 08/08/2019 - 18:48
    +1

    I would have told him not to worry about it then and let him go
    Then give the job to someone else for more money but didn't try to scam people

    I'd also not give him negative feedback, because he knows your address. But I would contact airtasker and tell them about it and to address it without him knowing you were involved

  • giventofly on 08/08/2019 - 19:57

    I'm a reasonably sized youngish male, so I suspect my reaction might be different to someone more slight, but I would have told him to GTFO.

    • Wallyt99 on 08/08/2019 - 21:28

      Exactly what I was gonna type! Indeed. He would have been lucky not to get knocked the f out.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/08/2019 - 09:41
      +1

      Your reaction is what's going to get your house broken into at night and you getting beaten the crap out of.

      You can be the biggest most brutal guy but you're not willing to be a jailbird, some people are.

      • giventofly on 09/08/2019 - 10:20

        Hardly think that's definitive.

        I do have cameras surrounding my house and have had my fair share of extremely bad neighbours (drug dealing squatters), so may have been hardened by that.

        My reaction is the wrong one, but it's what I would do.

      • trapper on 16/08/2019 - 13:17

        The kind of people who break into peoples houses at night and beat the crap out of them are not going around trying it on for an extra $20 on airtasker…

        • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2019 - 13:42

          If they're smart, they'd be going into the houses and learn the layout.

          What better way than to go on a site where most users haven't even considered the security aspect of their actions and be paid to case the place?

  • infinite on 08/08/2019 - 21:40

    No.

    It's the easiest word in the English language.

    • Indomietable on 09/08/2019 - 07:00

      No?

    • Dalton on 09/08/2019 - 11:22

      What about "I"?

      Also, "a" is quite easy. Having said that, the 'a' before a consonant and 'an' before a vowel sound is not that straight forward. "An hotel"? "A one of a kind deal"?

      • RubenM on 20/08/2019 - 07:17

        My two year old can't say "a" or "I", but I can assure you he can say "no"!

    • Serapis on 10/08/2019 - 15:46

      I'd have to respectfully disagree and say that 'Yes' is the easiest word in the English language.

      It's a lot easier to absent-mindedly say yes to something and cancel later rather than saying no because people don't particularly like confrontation - the success of those scummy charity collectors partly relies on this weakness.

  • Ahbal on 08/08/2019 - 21:42

    Your first mistake was aistasking something as easy as putting some pictures and a handle up.

    that $70 (even just 50) could have been spent on a drill.

    You definitely need to spend more time on this site :p

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 08/08/2019 - 21:59
    -2

    Don't buy an ozito drill, get a ryobi, or the one in special Aldi next week.

    • dazweeja on 09/08/2019 - 12:19
      +2

      I have two Ozito drills - corded and cordless - both going strong after 5 years. I'd recommend them to someone who is only going to use them infrequently.

    • trapper on 16/08/2019 - 13:18

      Makita all the way!

  • funnysht on 08/08/2019 - 22:25

    There have been so many posts on ozbargains for drills and angel grinders…..

  • eldudebrothers on 08/08/2019 - 22:39
    +3

    This person is appears to be not mentally stable, confrontational, rude and demanding, you have to assume that he is potentially dangerous. Given that he is in your home, knows where you live and scamming you into more money, you have 4 options.

    1. Pay the extra. Let him do the job. Leave it there. Lesson learned. This avoids any possible confrontation and later revenge/repercussion.
    2. Refuse him and tell him to leave. Insult him. Leave a bad review/report him. Get money back. He might do something impulsive putting you at risk, something not worth less then $50.
    3. Tell him that that he can keep the airtasker money, you do not want his services, leave it there. He gets what he wants, it limits your interaction with him, he doesn't know too much about your house, puts you in low risk.
    4. Scream loudly. Don't stop. When he tells you to calm down. Scream louder. Pour tomato sauce on your face. At this point he is likely to run away and never come back. Problemo solved.
    • Wallyt99 on 08/08/2019 - 22:50
      +4

      Number 4 FTW!

    • Blue Cat on 08/08/2019 - 23:02
      +1
      1. Tell him that that he can keep the airtasker money, you do not want his services, leave it there. He gets what he wants, it limits your interaction with him, he doesn't know too much about your house, puts you in low risk.

      And then he will proceed to do the same at the other house, and the cycle continues… Exactly the reason why this happened to OP!

  • tkeesing on 08/08/2019 - 23:00
    +2

    Hi OP,

    The most passive way to deal with situations like this is say you don't carry cash and suggest he take it up directly with airtasker. Simple way of deflecting most of anyones frustration is pointing them in the direction of a perceived greater authority.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 23:12

      I like that

  • rave75 on 09/08/2019 - 00:25
    +1

    Just pay him the 25% airtasker take, ($12.50) problem solved.

  • bocca on 09/08/2019 - 07:38
    +1

    75% of $75 is not $50, it's $56.25

    Which means he probably knew what he was doing..

  • TheBird on 09/08/2019 - 08:09
    +1

    "I'm glad you said it's a mistake. I couldn't afford the Fiddy. Just give me your fiddy, let me bum a smoke and we'll call it even. kktxbai"

  • funnysht on 09/08/2019 - 09:04
    +1

    I wouldnt pay 25% just for the princple of it….i rather pay 100$ for someone else dodgy fkerr.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/08/2019 - 09:40

    By any chance was he drunk? And did he have a certain accent? You can privatemsg me if it's confidential but I'm interested to know if it's the same guy.

  • roundnumbersonly on 09/08/2019 - 10:21
    +1

    I've found way better tradies through FB marketplace - prices are often better, if not the same.

    My last Airtasker agreed to the an electrical job, came over and halfway through requested that I pay him cash (at the agreed price) and then cancel the job on airtasker to get a refund. I reluctantly agreed because I needed my power back on, but on hindsight, he could have stung me twice

  • Neptunesblood on 09/08/2019 - 11:55

    I can’t believe you let him in still smoking.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/08/2019 - 12:02

    You should've utzed him for more money

  • FiDad on 09/08/2019 - 12:45

    OP I think your late polish grandma will be disappointed in you after reading this post. I guess she might even think this is a disgrace

  • pformag on 09/08/2019 - 13:40

    Youtube how to do this and you can save $50 and the hassle.

  • Traveller107 on 09/08/2019 - 15:38

    I Find it hard to believe people still use handymen. Every useless drug addict and dole bludger out there "becomes a handyman" temporarily when they are in need of cash.
    There are plenty of qualified and licensed trades out there including semi retiring builders who tackle multiple type of jobs and charge similar money. Shop around and only ever hire licensed and insured tradies instead of letting every random conman into your home.
    Always get firm quotes in writing and make sure you check their license online on the qbcc or other relevant websites.
    And remember it's your home, your secure space so never be afraid of showing someone the door if they are out of line.

    • try2bhelpful on 09/08/2019 - 15:45

      Please, have you got a link to a website for reliable trades that do, reasonably, small jobs. A while ago I needed to get the floor in my laundry tiled and I couldn’t even get someone to quote. In the end we got a good tiler because he was doing some work for another friend, who was local, and he could alternate between the jobs whilst glue, grout, etc was drying. Very happy with the job, and price, but he wouldn’t have touched us otherwise.

  • luffyex2010 on 09/08/2019 - 23:29

    I would get the advertise girl with trimmer to do my gardenning…..she's got more muscles than my family combined.

  • Kranbone on 10/08/2019 - 02:13
    +1

    If this happened to me I'd probably do this

    "So Airtasker are ripping you off mate? Let me call them and we'll sort it out"

    • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2019 - 07:04

      Lol😁I should of said that to him !

  • arcticjuggernaut on 10/08/2019 - 09:08
    +1

    The 1 time I have used airtasker the guy wanted more saying it was too hard to quote from a photo posted. He did it as soon as he got here though. It's probably very common, although doing it 1/2 way through is a dick move.

  • twocsies on 10/08/2019 - 11:57
    +1

    Just report him and be done with it. He clearly violated the AirTasker terms of service.

    Offers placed must be totalled to the full amount per task. All costs must be included in your offer…
    https://support.airtasker.com/hc/en-au/articles/224861347-Pa…

    The first penalty for violating this rule is a seven day suspension:

    Cash payments:
    Requesting or accepting payment in cash regardless of whether it’s before or after the task is assigned.
    https://support.airtasker.com/hc/en-au/articles/115014761427…

  • Lexan on 10/08/2019 - 12:34

    I bet airtaker guy is taking advantage to all his customers. Better to report him

  • CalmLemons on 10/08/2019 - 15:07

    I don't understand why people use airtasker.

    Find how to do it yourself on youtube/read a tutorial or get a friend.

    No legitimate trade would do an airtasker job.

  • Serapis on 10/08/2019 - 15:42

    Still smoking his cigarette in the house , He then says , the $50 he bidded ,he made a mistake and Airtasker take out 25% off that and and he then says can you give > me a extra $50 in cash as i meant it to be $75

    I stood there shocked not knowing what to say, then he goes on and says “I need it before i complete the job “

    I said but I already paid Airtasker $50 you bidded right ?

    Wait why is he requesting another $50???

    25% of $50 is only $12.50 and I doubt he would tell Airtasker he received another $50 so he would be pocketing $87.50 instead of $75…

  • profar on 19/08/2019 - 15:01

    I have a legal weapon with the primary purpose of a home invasion deterrence .

    Might have lost my temper accidently and this guy might have ended up with a few nails on his a$$ if he didn't get the # out .

    Yeah I know that taking it too far but seeming his at your property you have every right to start recording proceeding and if the Twit has any brains ( looks like his drug of choice is only nicotine ) he will be on his best behaviour .

    These people normally use the tactic on elderly people and really are scum of the earth and I think OP should grow some if at least to help stopping this predatory behaviour .

    I know he knows where you live surely you can report anonymously as a minimum .

  • shaun1800 on 06/11/2019 - 18:36

    Had a similar thing just happen to me. Guy offered $50, I accepted. Then in a private message, he said $50 wasn't worth his time and asked me to pay him another $80 cash on site. Apparently, he does this all the time. Very dodgy and annoying, now I don't know whether to cancel and start again or just pay him and get the job done.

    • minniethemoocher on 08/11/2019 - 21:55

      I believe that is called the foot in the door technique.

    • Chickenleg on 09/11/2019 - 08:47

      Cancel, then screenshot the message and report him

  • PleaseNotChokey on 13/11/2019 - 12:13

    Report this nitwit immediately. I hope you refused to pay the money (unless you felt physically threatened or something).

    I would hope airtasker take this kind of thing incredibly seriously - not only because it puts people in an awkward position (as people have said, they know where you live), but because they're stealing money from airtasker.

    Disgusting behaviour.

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