AN angry couple have claimed Wickes turned their dream kitchen into a nightmare after being left with no oven for seven months.
Barry, 64, and Jane Sanderson, from Newcastle say they have been forced to live without a fully functioning kitchen since February after a renovation disaster.
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A mix-up with worktops led to a hefty delay that saw the fuming couple see their dream kitchen into a total nightmare.
And they are now so fed up that they say that they have asked DIY giant Wickes several times to rip out the new kitchen, but claim that they have refused.
Barry said they also felt they had been misled by Wickes, North Shields over the finance they had agreed to take, reports Chronicle Live.
He claims they were told that the finance company, Barclays, would not pay Wickes for the kitchen until it was installed to their satisfaction.
Yet he says that payment was transferred when he and Jane were living without an oven or microwave, which he does not consider to be a working kitchen.
Barry said: “It’s way beyond snagging – yet Wickes have also advised me that because I have a sink and a hob installed that no compensation will be given as this is deemed as a working kitchen.”
Both Barclays and Wickes have apologised to the couple and said that the outstanding issues will be resolved early next month – more than seven months after the project was started.
Wickes stripped the couple’s old kitchen out on January 29, and began fitting the new one on February 10.
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However the work ground to a halt just two days later, when Barry says the wrong worktops were delivered.
After a discussion the couple decided to change the worktops as they claim they were not informed in the shop that the ones that had chosen were prone to staining.
These worktops would come with the additional costs of needing to be maintained with abrasive creams and pads.
“We were then told that there would be an additional £2108.12 because of the change of worktops, which I thought was extortionate,” said Barry.
He says that Wickes then offered a £600 discount as a gesture of good will, but didn’t give a date for completion.
Barry continued: “So we were left with with only a hob and sink and a partially fitted kitchen, then we heard that in April that Wickes had received the payment from Barclays.
“I was told much later by Barclays that the terms and conditions of the financial agreement state that Wickes can be paid on delivery or partial installation of the kitchen, which is absolutely not what we were told by Wickes, and we would not have taken finance out on that basis.
“We were happy to pay in full for the kitchen but thought that Wickes would have an incentive to finish everything off to our satisfaction if they would not be paid until they did so.”
And Barry says he and Jane have been told on” three separate occasions that a fitter would be in contact” only to hear nothing or have no-one turn up.
He added: “It has got to the stage where I hate this kitchen. It was meant to be a dream but it’s turned into an absolute nightmare.
“I was diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year and Jane is in the process of preparing to donate a kidney to her brother – the stress of this is the last thing we need.”
Wickes have apologised to the couple and say that they hope to install the new worktop in September.
A Wickes spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to hear of Mr and Mrs Sanderson’s installation issues as we always aim to carry out our work to a high standard.
“The delay to the kitchen installation was caused due to changes to the worktops. Following delivery of the worktops, Mr Sanderson was advised of the necessary care and high maintenance required.
“A request to change the worktop style was made, however as they were the same material, a goodwill gesture was offered to help cover the costs. Mr and Mrs Sanderson have since chosen laminate worktops as a replacement.
“Our customer relations team have been in touch to arrange for the oven to also be installed within the next week, however Mr and Mrs Sanderson are keen for all remedial work to take place at the same time.
“A new point of contact has been assigned and remain in contact to ensure this is completed to the highest possible standard.”
While a Barclays spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Mr Sanderson has had cause to complain.
“We have received confirmation from Wickes that the remaining work will be completed in early September 2022.
“Therefore, as a gesture of goodwill, we have extended the first payment due date for the loan until September 2023, to ensure that Mr Sanderson has a full 12 months from the kitchen being finished before having to make any repayments.
“If the installation is not completed, we have invited Mr Sanderson to get back in touch with us, and we will review the first payment date again.”
