Kitchen falling apart after less than 2 years. Fitters refusing to help..

andyclure

Hi, we had an escape of water about 2 years ago which, among other things, meant our kitchen needed replacing. To cut a long story short, the insurance company sent us details of the 'recommende/approved' contractors (Falcon restoration/building services) and we went with them as we thought this would give us more come back in the event of problems.

We had endless problems with the contractors, they'd come for a day or two then go for 4 or 5 days, come back, start part of a job, then leave etc etc. Anyway, we chose the kitchen and after 6 or 7 weeks of work (should have been 2 at tops) it was finished. The kitchen was poorly fitted and you could tell this, we stated this and got the contractor to sort some bits out, they did but we were still unhappy. We pointed the shortcomings out but they stated that we didn't understand joinery and that was how it was meant to be. Lookign back, I should have been more forceful and insisted that they re-do the whole thing. But after 7 weeks of living with my parents we just wanted to get home.

Anyway, shortly after the kitchen started falling apart (literally), doors fell off, drawer fronts fell off. They rectified these but in general it only looked like a stitemporary fix. The last visit was last year (just under 12 months since it was fitted) and they fixed a drawer and some hinges. Since then the drawers have gone again, they came out today and have pretty much washed their hands of it. They said as it was 'son long ago' (2 years) it's nothing to do with them and we shouldn't have accepted the fitting int he first place as he coudl see it was poorly fitted (yes he actually said this).

So, question is. What can we do? Is there anything in law that says they have some responsibility for the fact that it wasn't fitted correctly? Do the insurance company have a responsibility to us as they effectively recommended these cowboys?

I'm tempted just to rip it out and pay a professional to do it properly myself but the thought of them getting away with this makes me really angry.

tigeress289

I can see how you feel but I have to put some blame on the insurance companies. In most cases when you claim, you have to use one of their approved contractors. In most cases these are working on very tight budgets which they think are fine to begin with when they work with insurance companies, thinking they have guaranteed work. In reality, it is a different ball game, as they then start to cut costs to try and make money. It sounds like your units are low end trade and will always be a problem. I would take it up with your insurance to start and see if you can get anywhere with them. As for the contractor, there is no way he can earn anything and more than likely is running at a loss. So be very surprised if you get any further with him. It might pay to renew the base units that are causing the most problems first. The fronts can be transferred. It is not a good position, but you have to move on as it will eat away at you. Put it down to experience and build on that.

rustyboy21

I tend to agree with post #2.

I would complain to the insurance company, they are the ones who made you use them in the first place. If you are now with a different insurance co now, put a claim in, they may be able to counter claim off the original insurance co.

Worth a try.