Customers of a kitchen company have been left out of their own pocket thousands of kilos after the showrooms are all closed without warning.
Kitchen Love, who operated in the northwest of England, had dozens of glowing five-star reviews online from Happy customers.
But it closed last year, as a result of which orders unfulfilled and angry customers were asked to ask the police to investigate it.
Now owner Graham Griffiths – who saw an earlier kitchen company in 2018, has admitted that he 'failed' customers.
However, he denied accepting payment for products that he knew he could not offer.
Among his unfortunate customers are Louise and Michael Twist, who have been putting aside money for years to create the kitchen of their dreams for their family house in Mawdesley, Lancashire.
They watched different companies before they chose Kitchen Love, who had showrooms in nearby Ormskirk and in Cheadle Hulme and Formby.
Mr Twist, an accountant, did credit checks at the company and found nothing to arouse his suspicions.
Kitchen Love owner Graham Griffiths (photo) saw an earlier kitchen company liquidated in 2018 and admitted that he 'failed' customers' but refused to accept the payment for products he knew he could not offer
Colin Halliday (left), Louise Twist (center) and Wendy Charlton (right) have all lost thousands of pounds because of the closure of kitchen love
Last April they corresponded to a final invoice of approximately £ 30,000, with the majority of the money being paid in installments before the work started.
The project included complex structural changes in their home, with new floors and a completely new kitchen suite.
Builders took out the existing kitchen and part of the external wall of the house, but the couple says there were repeated delays.
“We knew something was wrong then,” said Mrs. Twist.
“But they had our money, so we were actually stuck.”
The couple – which has three young daughters – struggled to prepare meals without taking a kitchen, resorting to the use of an external barbecue or accepting the help of family members.
Towards the end of September their house was finally ready for the devices to be mounted.
But when the units were delivered, they were relieved when Mr. Griffiths arrived with what they claim to be ex-display.
“They were not in boxes and we refused Point Blank to take them,” said Mrs. Twist.
Wendy Charlton (photo) and her husband paid more than £ 15,000 for a kitchen that could not fit kitchen love
They say that Kitchen Love refused their request for a repayment, so they rejected the money through their credit card emittent and paid another company to fit in the kitchen.
However, other customers have lost thousands, including Wendy and Gary Charlton, from Aughton, Lancashire, who paid £ 16,000 in advance after a recommendation from friends.
Their old kitchen was removed last September, but was confronted with 'apologies' while they were waiting for the new one to be installed.
“It didn't take long, we realized that the company had cash flow problems and could not deliver us,” said Mrs. Charlton.
'We had to pay another company to fit. We have paid for everything twice.
“We had no means to claim back because it was done by bank transfer.
“It's a life lesson, I think. I still learn at 60. “
Colin and Liz Halliday from Skelmersdale handed over more than £ 6,000 to the company last October before they changed ideas.
Colin (photo) and Liz Halliday from Skelmersdale have been destroyed by the test that has left them £ 6,000
However, despite trying to cancel the contract during the 14-day cooling-off period, they say that their requests for a refund are stones.
“It scared me to deal with someone else,” said Mr. Halliday, 68.
'My wife is devastated – she is desperately looking for a new kitchen. We are of retirement age and we cannot afford to lose £ 6,000. '
They are all part of a WhatsApp group whose members claim to have briefly changed by Kitchen Love, who has now stopped the activities with his showrooms closed.
In response, Mr Griffiths laid the failure of the company on a combination of 'personnel problems' and 'landlords who move the goal posts', and said that he himself lost almost £ 500,000.
But he admitted: “I ran the company – and I drove it wrong.”
He strongly denies that he has sold products and services to customers that he knew he could not offer, but says he will not return to the kitchen trade and said, “I have failed a lot.”
Customers say that the police told them that the failure of the company was a civil case.
A few starts legal proceedings against Kitchen Love, while others have complained according to the trade standards of Lancashire.
It in turn advised that someone from their own pocket has been omitted to request a refund through their bank or to contact Citizens's advice.
