2008
If you're planning a trip to the kitchen showroom this bank holiday, taking advice from Consumer Direct Scotland could help you avoid some of the fitted kitchen pitfalls.
17th March 2008
Last year, the government advice service nationally received more than 11,000 complaints about fitted kitchens. Many of these concerned substandard work, defective units and delivery and fitting delays.
Gordon Macdonald, Consumer Direct Scotland manager 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 more quickly.'
Consumer Direct 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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Editor's Notes
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisors in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
6. Northern Ireland has its own service called ConsumerLine (available on 08456 00 62 62) which is similar to Consumer Direct. Visit the ConsumerLine website.
MEDIA enquiries: Jean Mackenzie 01851 822300
