Wickes customer left without hob for three months after kitchen disaster
A Wickes customer has revealed how a kitchen fitting turned to disaster. They say they have been without a hob in their new kitchen for three months after an emergency engineer was forced to disconnect it.Writing into the Guardian, they wrote: "When Wickes installed my new kitchen, I noticed an odd, worsening smell that I put down to the ongoing works."It was nearly two months later that I realised it was gas. My supplier dispatched an emergency engineer, who discovered a leak in the newly fitted hob and categorised it as an immediate danger. The gas supply to the hob was disconnected and Wickes sent a replacement, but no one came to install it.READ MORE UK households urged to set their living rooms to one temperature"Three months on, I’m stuck with two hobs, neither of which I can use. Wickes knows I am undergoing cancer treatment and therefore vulnerable, but it doesn’t respond. Lack of cooking facilities is affecting my diet, and the anxiety and stress is not helping my condition."The high street chain, which has Birmingham branches, subsequently sprang into action after the national newspaper got involved.The Guardian reported, within 48 hours, the old hob was removed, the new one connected and a gas safety certificate issued.On Facebook, stories of Wickes kitchen nightmares are doing the rounds, with one writing: "Our Wickes kitchen installation has been a disaster from day one, and nearly two years later we are still living with the consequences."The installer cut compact laminate inside our home, filling it with hazardous dust and smoke. Wickes’ own assessing fitter later described the job as the worst installation he had ever seen and confirmed the entire kitchen needs to be ripped out and replaced."We were left with unsafe plumbing that caused flooding, badly cut worktops patched with silicone, cardboard used to level surfaces, and splashbacks bonded so badly they will damage the walls if removed."Despite all this, Wickes ignored evidence, ignored their own fitter’s findings, and repeatedly failed to send a manager to inspect the kitchen."Instead of fixing anything, they attempted to declare the kitchen “functional” and even tried to activate finance repayments while the installation was still in dispute."
