Kitchen firm delays infuriating for family

Thursday, November 20, 2008, 09:20

A FAMILY-OF-SIX FEAR they are facing Christmas with an unfinished kitchen after spending £1,100 with a company under investigation by trading standards.

Michael and Shirley Way, from Railton Avenue, Blurton, ordered units from Oldham-based Rock Solid Kitchens in December last year.

But they are still waiting for the correct parts after a mix up with the first delivery on March 11.

Mrs Way, a 44-year-old business development manager, said: "We have tried to put the kitchen together as best we can without the missing parts. It is a botched job.

"To me the sink fittings appear flimsy. The legs on the cupboards are not secure and I do not feel they will last for very long.

"I wish I had seen the quality before I had bought this kitchen.

"I would never have considered spending £1,150 on this quality of goods had I seen them."

The Ways, who have four children, are the second couple to contact The Sentinel with complaints about Rock Solid.

Earlier this month, we reported how Simon and Sarah Shore from St Bernard's Road, Knutton, were living off takeaways because of alleged delivery mix ups with the firm.

Oldham Trading Standards has confirmed it has received numerous complaints about the company and advised affected people to contact Consumer Direct.

Mrs Way said: "The firm offered us a £50 service to have all the cupboards ready assembled. We thought was an excellent opportunity and agreed.

"On March 10, we ripped out our old kitchen and removed the sink on the understanding that our kitchen would come with the cupboards complete.

"We booked a plumber and a kitchen fitter on this understanding.

"The kitchen was delivered but it was not all assembled. There were only some carcasses, and even those were not fully prepared for putting up.

"A large number of parts were also missing and we had some we didn't order."

Over the last few months, Mrs Way says wrong parts have been delivered, and she has lost days off work when scheduled deliveries have not turned up at all.

After phoning to resolve the problem, she claims customer service staff were rude and one kept her on hold for 45 minutes.

She added: "They did send us a £70 cheque for items we returned only for it to be returned as it was a closed account."

Mr Way, a 42-year-old clerical assistant at The University Hospital Of North Staffordshire, said: "I am very annoyed and frustrated about the whole situation.

"We have tried to put the kitchen together as best we can, but even now we have a door missing and cupboards of different sizes."

A spokesman for Oldham Trading Standards said: "We have received quite a few complaints about Rock Solid Kitchens. One of the owners of the company, Alan Ford, is currently awaiting trial at Manchester Crown Court for alleged conspiracy to defraud and trade description offences."

Rock Solid Kitchens was unavailable for comment.

Shirley Way pictured in her kitchen
Shirley Way pictured in her kitchen

 

   










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