Wickes/ Sheridan Kitchens and Granites Problems

rkdsunny

Granite not sealed on first instalment, twice treated by Sheridan staff, leads to discolouring the length and breadth of worktop. Wickes won't replace it as they say Sheridan says its ok. Hitachi finance demanding money. I haven't signed the satisfactory work completion. Now Wickes say they can remove granite and refund its cost or we keep it and get £250.00 as compensation. That may damage rest of kitchen. I offered to have granite replaced by quartz.

getmore4less

Insist on a replace and make good.

if they can't then the kitchen comes out....

what's the situation with finance are they not also liable like credit cards.

why deal with sheridens if your contract is with wicked.

rkdsunny

Thanks. Got email from Hitachi finance registering complaint.I am surprised how Wickes informed Hitachi that instalment is complete and I didn't sign completion . Installation customer team won't change worktop as Sheridan told them it's ok and changes due to natural material.I am thinking of going to Ombudsman Consumer Goods And Finances.Meanwhile first instalment due to start Oct3rd shall I start paying?

MrJester

rkdsunny wrote: »

Thanks. Got email from Hitachi finance registering complaint.I am surprised how Wickes informed Hitachi that instalment is complete and I didn't sign completion . Installation customer team won't change worktop as Sheridan told them it's ok and changes due to natural material.I am thinking of going to Ombudsman Consumer Goods And Finances.Meanwhile first instalment due to start Oct3rd shall I start paying?

Hitachi Finance only begin to demand payment if you have at some point signed for "receipt of goods". So whoever installed, at the end of the job got you to sign something then they notify Hitachi that the work was done.

Do indeed start paying Hitachi, because they will quite happily put a negative on your credit file if you don't keep up payments.
What sometimes happens is if it is agreed by all parties that the work is not indeed finished, then Hitachi can refund you any payments you already made and reinstate the agreement into a new one, or move the payments over to a new agreement.

cddc

Which Granite is it? What is causing the discolouration?

rkdsunny

Thanks to Graduate Gamer for reply. I am waiting for reply from Hitachi and Wickes as First direct debit begins 3rd October. Granite is Indian Fantasy. Wickes don't want to refund cost of stone and leave it as it is because doing this will mean they accept it was faulty. I have suggested that they replace it with Quartz that is not porous. Can I ask them to offer further discount on kitchen n as they discounted about 30% initially and now their advert on TV are giving 50%.this way they don't have to admit liability for stone?

cddc

Ivory Fantasy (along with Baltic Brown and many others) varies hugely in colour from batch to batch and length to length. When you say it is discolouring what is causing this and how does it manifest itself?

To be honest, when buying a pale Granite, you are normally better off going somewhere where you can see the slabs you are going to get, rather than from a national (and I say that as someone who works for one!). You can guarantee that no two will be alike. A couple of small lengths on a small display give you no indication of how yours will look.

MrJester

rkdsunny wrote: »

Thanks to Graduate Gamer for reply. I am waiting for reply from Hitachi and Wickes as First direct debit begins 3rd October. Granite is Indian Fantasy. Wickes don't want to refund cost of stone and leave it as it is because doing this will mean they accept it was faulty. I have suggested that they replace it with Quartz that is not porous. Can I ask them to offer further discount on kitchen n as they discounted about 30% initially and now their advert on TV are giving 50%.this way they don't have to admit liability for stone?

If you think you can get a further discount out of them for the trouble they caused, then go for it, worth a try surely. I've no idea about the specifics of liability for the different types of product!

The next bit rkdsunny PM'd to me, but I thought I'd add it here as then it may be useful to anyone else. Hope thats ok sunny.

Thanks for advice on Hitachi . I didn't' sign the completion of instalment as asked by Wickes installer. He refused to give me certificates for gas electricity work. I phoned Hitachi as to why they released money to Wickes without my signature. They said that Wickes told them jobs done!!! I am intrigued. Hitachi said its between myself and Wickes to sort out matter. Aren't Hitachi legally bound as they are lender?

No problem. Yeah this happens, you don't sign the completion, so they forge it (literally) or submit it electronically to Hitachi.

It is between yourself, and Wickes the retailer to discuss coming to a conclusion BEFORE Hitachi have to get involved, any involvement from them as regards to the product or etc is at their own discretion but they only legally have to solve your issues with your product IF the retailer has A) refused any further assistance or unresponsive or C) you disagree with the retailer on the outcome they have offered.
Only then do Hitachi have to legally step in and then they will delegate between yourself and the retailer, at this stage you are more likely to get a result you want because the retailer wont ignore Hitachi the lender, otherwise they risk losing the partnership.

So go as far as you can with the retailer (Wickes), only when Wickes clearly state (preferably in writing) that they can't offer you any more to what you want (if it hasn't been satisfactory outcome), then Hitachi will listen and step in for your particular issue.

Hope this helps.

cddc

Agree with Joe Jester here.....Get as far as you can with Wickes & Sheridans, then get Hitatchi involved when you get a full and final answer.

Hopefully you will get one soon and they go some way to meeting your expectations.

rkdsunny

Thanks to all posted replies. Phoned Hitachi they said Wickes asked for payment so they transferred funds. Wickes phoned to say as goodwill gesture they can refund cost of granite But won't pay for work to refit another worktop. I said that any damage to surroundings will have to be borne by Wickes and I will demand payment from them if I have to get another fitter. Or they simply offered £250.00 as goodwill.They told me to go to Furniture Ombdusman. I have offered them to take 10/15% off price of kitchen that comes to £1500. They won't. How can £250 compensates against granite that cost £2500? Plus installation costs.

cddc

Probably because they can charge back the granite refund to Sheridan's.....

Wickes supply the kitchen and subcontract Sheridans for the granite.