2008
If you're planning a trip to the kitchen showroom this bank holiday, taking advice from Consumer Direct North East could help you avoid some of the fitted kitchen pitfalls.
17th March 2008
Last year, Consumer Direct North East, the government advice service, received more than 600 complaints about fitted kitchens. Nationally, the service took over 11,000 complaints. Many of these concerned substandard work, defective units and delivery and fitting delays.
David Sayer, Head of Governance for Consumer Direct North East and Trading Standards for Manager for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council said:
'Buying a fitted kitchen can be an incredibly expensive investment so it pays to shop around and do your homework. And if things go wrong, you need to take prompt action to help you resolve the problem quickly.'
Consumer Direct North East has put together a list of tips:
- Try to make it a term of the contract that work will be completed by a fixed date.
- Before you sign a contract, make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what is covered and what is not.
- Study the plans to check that you have exactly what you asked for as this will form part of your contract.
- If you are buying on credit shop around for deals - you are not obliged to accept the shops' own credit.
- Consider paying by credit (rather than a debit) card as this will give you extra protection if things go wrong.
- If you experience a delay, complain in writing as soon as you can making time of the essence.
- If the work is shoddy, gather together everything you can by way of evidence - this could include photos or video footage. Try to keep in mind that you may have to go to court to obtain redress so ask yourself what evidence you would need to put in front of a judge.
More information and advice on consumer issues is available from Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or by visiting the website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
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Notes for Editors:
1. Consumer Direct North East is working in partnership with all 12 Local Authority Trading Standards teams across the North East, offering clear practical consumer advice. This covers the NETSA region (North East Trading Standards Association) which encompasses the following Local Authorities:
Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar, South Tyneside, Stockton and Sunderland
2. Consumer Direct North East, based in Redcar, was launched in May 2006. The service is the latest addition to the Consumer Direct network. There are now eleven regional operations in England, Wales and Scotland.
3. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, managed by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered working in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards. It provides clear, practical consumer advice to help consumers resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods or services.
4. The service is delivered through contact centres across England, Scotland and Wales and is available to consumers via a single, telephone number and the Consumer Direct website (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk).
5. The information and advice helpline is available on 08454 04 05 06 from 0800-1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900-1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
6. To call a Welsh speaking Consumer Direct adviser, telephone 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
7. Calls cost a maximum of 4 pence per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles or other networks may vary. Your service provider may charge a minimum cost per call. The advice and information given is free.
8. Since it was first launched in 2004, Consumer Direct users have saved significant amounts of money through refunds, replacements and repairs.
Media Enquiries: Sue Gungaram T: 01642 495 681
