poor kitchen Fitting/ Customer service - Help needed?

Kingoid

Hi, I was unsure as to which forum to post this in!


I bought a kitchen from B& Q in February 2010 which was fitted in April 2010.

The kitchen fitting was of an unacceptable standard (please see list below) and due to this, the kitchen finally got completed mid May

I was also very disappointed with the level of customer service I received. After contacting my ‘project manager’ on numerous occasions nobody seemed to want to take responsibility for the errors and after being passed from pillar to post B & Q eventually sent out the manager from the kitchen fitting contractor to assess the situation. However, upon his arrival he revealed that he was not a kitchen fitter and could not give us any answers which deemed his visit pointless.

I chose B&Q to install the kitchen after reading the brochure which states the following:

• “Your dream project installed the easy way – let B & Q do it for you
• “we organise everything so you don’t have to”
• Trust B & Q local installers – they all work to national standards
• Have peace of mind with oyr 2 year workmanship guarantee”

Last week we had the tiler come and tile the kitchen (who is also a builder) who noticed that the worktop had sunk due to the sink not being sealed. Another contractor (from B&Q) came to assess the situation and confirmed that a new worktop will have to be fitted.

I have written a complaint to B&Q but what else can I do. Any tips? Could I get any compensation as I have been messed around so much. I’d at least like the cost of the tiling/ plastering back.

List of Faults (Before the new sink problem)

(Sorry its not an edited copy, I have misplaced it L)

List of faults

• Cupboard wall unit (left of cooker hood bottom plinth) – Excessive gap on left side. Right side of door requires adjusting
• Wall unit (Right side of cooker hood) – hung incorrectly which in turn won’t allow the left hand side door to be fitted correctly. This cupboard is visible out of plumb
• No electrical sockets or sleeving have been made good as described in B & Q quote
• Worktops run approximately 10mm out of level from end to end. Breakfast bar is 5mm out of level from end to end.
• 3 draw fronts on breakfast bar are out of line and out of plumb with corner bar,
• Poorly fitted mitre at the breakfast bar end
• End panel won’t allow freezer door to close
• Base corner post fitted out of plumb
• Doors on double base unit left of double oven require adjustment
• Double base unit composing of two drawers and two cupboards to the right of the oven – out of plumb and badly adjusted
• 150 H line base which includes pull out rack – Badly fitted, mal aligned to corner post next to sink unit. Handle is out of plumb
• Sink unit is fitted out of square. Back leg of sink unit is fitted on to a reclaimed piece of kitchen caroass which measures approximately 50mm x 300 mm in an attempt to bridge 2 missing sections of floor board.
• Four pin electrical adapter used to plug in washer because cable would not reach to electrical socket fitted. The washer leaked into the adapter that was lodged under the washer. Rycam said this was a temporary measure but they had signed the kitchen off as finished and all the plinths were fitted. Consequently the adaptor was full of water
• The legs on the washer had not been utilised in its initial fitting. Instead the fitters had used 2 pieces of reclaimed worktop and a piece of reclaimed plinth which had clearly been hammered into place. Subsequently the piece of worktop (on which the washer was stood) got wet from a leak caused by a damaged flexible waste pipe which in turn caused it to swell trapping the washer with some considerable amount of pressure between itself and the kitchen counter and also between itself and some previously installed plaster work. This in turn on extraction of the washer caused damage on the angle bead on the plaster work. Consequently I had to pay for a builder to extract the washing machine and a tiler (who has charged me for an aborted visit). This cost I will be passing onto B & Q
• The plinths have an unacceptable gas in them

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated

Thanks

Julie

Kingoid

Can anyone help?

Freddie_Snowbits

Kingoid wrote: »

Can anyone help?

Get a sledge hammer and finish the job.

If you have not paid for the work, do not pay. If you paid on a CC, contact them, if you paid in cash, read my first quote.

As for the washer, it should have been checked as it was reinstalled, but photographs would help your case.

Mind you, I would give them time to remedy the faults.

Kingoid

Thanks for the reply, appreciated!

Meepster

Unfortunately for you, this isn't uncommon with B&Q kitchen installs. Their fitting service is, and always has been, deadfull at best.

The only thing you can do is keep hounding them unfortunately. In the meantime, a call to trading standards would be my first port of call, as the electrical installation of your washing machine does not meet current regulations, whether it was a temporary measure or not. Take photographs of it ASAP so you have evidence. It is a majoy Health & Safety issue that could potentially lead to further problems.

Unfortunately, it is too late for my best advice with regards to B&Q kitchen installations: Don't do it!

I hope they remedy the situation for you ASAP...

Kingoid

mwilletts wrote: »

Unfortunately for you, this isn't uncommon with B&Q kitchen installs. Their fitting service is, and always has been, deadfull at best.

I know that now

I did write to trading standards, should have mentioned that.

righter

Stand outside B&Q,making sure you are not causing an obstruction, and are on the public area....with a board with photo`s on offering the benefit of your advice on B&Q kitchens to intended customers.....refund soon in order...worked for me in the past