Not fit for purpose
Widow’s fury after company’s £5k bodge job on new kitchen
Evonne Crothers was devastated when her husband passed away suddenly of a heart attack.
Stuart, 51, was found by their son in their kitchen.
Distraught Evonne decided the only way for the family to move on was to renovate the kitchen. But after spending £5305, the installation is riddled with faults and she can’t get the firm to fix them.
Evonne, 45, said: “I’m really upset as Stuart would have sorted things but he’s no longer here to do that.” Evonne , of L a rk ha l l , Lanarkshire, signed up with Luxury Kitchens, a trading name of LKD Ltd, after spotting them on the internet.
She said: “The boss, Campbell Kane, offered a free measurement and design consultation and said that if I ordered before the end of the month, fitting was free.
“It sounded like a good deal. I went for grey marbled worktops and stone- coloured units.
“The package included a hob, dishwasher, tumble dryer and oven.”
Evonne, a mum to Ross, 15, and 17-year- old Graeme, had to pay £ 4306 two weeks before fitting in August 2016 and the rest once the work was done.
After three days, the fitters claimed the work was complete.
Evonne said: “I noticed there were no mitre joints on the worktop and these had been included in the original design. When I complained, the fitters said the joints were to specification. It was is Myfather landI forgetfu ing ed becom diagnos be He’s hewill worried stage. am tia atsome banking demen his with with entwe metodeal agreem keen for formal behalf? a isthere on his nowbut canact legal up so I y isthe couldset attorne of for. It power looking Yes, a are his entyou to act as docum allowyou attorne y would welfar e) ial (and longer financ isno your dad Contac t when doso. able to solicito r. a late on the third day and I ended up agreeing to pay the balance.
“I asked for a receipt and they said they didn’t do them. Then alarm bells started to ring.”
The next day, Evonne, a training supervisor for adults with support needs, realised just how poor the installation was. She said: “The worktops were at varying distances from the wall. It was ridiculous.
“The sink mixer tap was loose and has fallen off. Plinths didn’t fit properly and the cooker hood had dodgy taped-up electrics.”
Evonne complained and Kane came out to look at the issues. She said: “He put some silicone along the back of the worktop, which is no good at all. He blamed my walls for the uneven worktop.”
She approached Trading Standards, who told her to write to the firm saying they had not used reasonable care and skill.
But three letters later, she’d had no reply, so she called me in.
Kane featured in my column in 2016 after he’d taken thousands of pounds and failed to deliver kitchens. He later offered refunds.
Evonne added: “They don’t return my calls or messages. I only want my kitchen finished so I can try to move on.”
I got on to Luxury Kitchens, who said: “We tried to contact Mrs Crothers with no answer. We will continue until we speak with her. We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience. We will get her kitchen up to an excellent standard as quickly as possible.” ge Vi cre sis sh Ju se wr Du no in my possession, nonone of which I can papay into the bank.
“I even involved an Ofcom-approved resresolution service anand Virgin wrote to me in December to sasay they were sending the money plus £100 to say sorry. They still didn’t get it right.”
So I got on the case and Maureen has now received the right cheque.
Virgin said: “We sincerely apologise for the upsetting experience.”