Moben Kitchens

[Jackie T]

Hi all...I'm a newbie on here and also at my wits end. I've been totally stupid and feel like kicking myself...here's the story so far...Last week I asked for someone to call round and give me a free quotation for a new moben kitchen, the guy called the next day(Sunday) and designed my kitchen then quoted me for £5,570. I stupidly agreed to this without doing any kind of search grrrrrr...he then asked for a 25% deposit which I gave him in a form of a cheque £1,400. I've been online and the reviews for these kitchens are awful, how I wish I would of done some research earlier but hey ho..I didn't. I've now been onto the consumer direct help page and it's stating that because I 'invited' this guy into my home I don't have and legal rights and can't cancel! I've checked and double checked the order form which I signed on Sunday and moben don't offer any kind of 'cooling off' period. I'm at my wits end, what would happen if I just cancelled the cheque today and wrote to explain that I couldn't get the finance from my bank? Would they be able to take any legal action? HELP!

[Jimbo44]

I suspect you're "up a bit of the proverbial gum-tree" with this.....although I'm very willing and happy to be proved wrong.

 

Stopping the cheque at your bank is something I wouldn't reccomend, as is saying that you couldn't get finance from them either (unless this is true!). I believe I'm correct in saying that, as a last resort, the kitchen company could sue for "loss of profit" in this case. Again, I'm happy to be proved wrong!

 

It would be interesting to know what the contract/order form you signed says about cancellation.

 

I assume from what you say that the kitchen contract doesn't include any form of finance provided by them (or by a finance company of their choice), maybe even as a separate document? If this is the case, then you should have "cooling off period" rights under the CCA.

 

Jimbo44

[Jackie T]

Nothing at all about any cancellation on the order form I signed accept in paragraph 5 where it states : The company will arrange for a technical surveyor to visit the customer's premises for the purpose of measurment and survey of the premises,plumbing,drainage and other services. If, following such a survey, it becomes apparant that the installation has been underpriced beyond the reasonable expectation of the agent then the Comapny will inform the Customer and both parties will attempt to agree a revised price for installation. In the event that a new price cannot be agreed then either party is entitled to terminate the contract whereupon any monies will be repaid in full. A revised price?!!! It's already costing £5,570!! I hope they do least I could get out of it then!

 

I didn't sign for any credit or finance with them as I was going to get a loan from my own bank, I wish I would have now, at least I would of had some legal rights! I have also realised that I have to pay upfront once the delivery of the kitchen has been delivered and not on completion which is another worry after reading all the nightmare stories of incomplete kitchens and them using cowboy fitters. I'm not sure how much clout Qualitas has but according to the terms of trading they are part of this so there may be a little light at the end of this dark tunnel. I still find it incredible that the 7 day cooling off period isn't applied to everybody and it will make me check and double check EVERYTHING I go to buy in future!

[spencer1959]

Not sure if this will help but this was posted on another board:

 

by Mr and mrs lucky - Friday 9th of June 2006

 

Me and my husband recently went to Homebase to have a look at their kitchens. We were told by the staff there that they offer a “FREE” designer service “NO OBLIGATION TO BUY”. A nice sales man came to our house at 10:00 in the morning and stayed for a staggering 5 and a half hours. He showed us some designs we discussed our requirements, which were straight forward - we have a very small kitchen and there is not much to talk about - altogether he did an hours work (which took him 6 hours).

 

Anyway, he did a design and gave us a quote for £5833 (excluding the wall plastering and building work). I thought this was a bit too much considering that we have a very small kitchen. When we told him we were after a quote cause we are still looking around for more quotes - and that we had made this clear to the lady at the Homebase store, the salesman was very pushy and convinced us to sign with the agreement that we could cancel within 14 days. He wanted a deposit of £584 but we refused and only gave £50 deposit. We read all the small print to ensure that we could get our deposit back if we changed our mind.

 

After the salesman left, me and the husband decided to do some internet searching about the company. We were alarmed by the number of people having bad experiences and we decided to cancel the order. It was two days after we signed the order and according to them we had another 12 days in which we were allowed to change our mind and get a full refund.

 

I called MOBEN Monday morning and told them I wanted to cancel my order. I was told that they would call me back in 10 minutes cause “they have to fetch my file from downstairs”. One hour past and I have heard nothing from them. I called again and he said exactly the same. Another hour past and I called again. I spoke to a very RUDE lady. She treated me like dirt and told me off for wasting the salesman’s time and that they would charge me £584 pounds a non-refundable deposit. Obviously I explained that we agreed a £50 deposit with the agreement that this would be returned back to me. She insisted that they will withdraw £584 and there is nothing I can do about it. Within our conversation she abused me and threatened to put the phone down.

 

I immediately called my bank and explained the situation, we cancelled my debit card to stop them from taking any money from me. I also called the police who gave them a ring and they came to a negotiation. The police called me back and I was told to send a letter of cancellation to MOBEN to get my order cancelled.

 

Luckily I was a step ahead of them and stopped them from ripping me off !!!

 

Thank you to all who posted your bad experiences – a real eye opener!!!! MOBEN’S “so-called” customer service is a DISGRACE !!!!

 

have a look at my website also to see what these cowboys put us through

Moben Fitted Kitchens - Help with choosing a quality fitted Kitchen

[Jackie T]

WOW! Thanks for that link, I had read many complaints but never seen any pics of their 'workmanship'. I actually called up my bank and cancelled the cheque, they asked who the cheque was made out to...I said 'Moben' and the woman said 'ah say no more!' I sent a letter recorded delivery to Moben saying I wished to cancel and that the cheque had been stopped, heard no more from them till 10 days later when a surveyor called round to survey the kitchen! He informed me that he hadn't been told of any cancellation and that my kitchen was due to be delivered in 5 days time, unbelievable. He went on his way and the next day I received a message on my phone could I ring back and make an alternative date for the surveyor to call and rearrange the fit date for the kitchen!! Obviously no communication from one office to the other. Last week I got a call from Moben again, the guy on the phone said he had just got my letter of cancellation, nearly 2 months after the letter had been sent!! In all fairness the guy was really nice and apologised for their lack of communication with each other, even so I still think I had a lucky escape with this company I've never seen as many disgruntled customers write in over any one company.

[softybabe]

Jackie T, i reckon u should make urself a congratutory cuppa and cake. U had a lucky escape! Moben is also kitchen's direct apparently so do be careful.

 

SB

[spencer1959]

Jackie T, i reckon u should make urself a congratutory cuppa and cake. U had a lucky escape! Moben is also kitchen's direct apparently so do be careful.

 

SB

 

I done some digging and found this also this the the group of companies that moben - kitchens direct - dolphin etc to the HomeForm Group

Impressive website/factory eh? shame there installations are not as impressive

[Moben conned me 2]

:x I wish I had seen all the complaints on Moben before but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Get an independent fitter because when it starts to go wrong all you get is excuses and bad service. Fitter has more to lose being a small company than the big companies such as MOBEN

 

Project Management and Moben are not on the same planet never mind understanding the concept of planning for tradesmen and time lines !!!

 

My kitchen is finally finished now and looking good but only down to the fitter !!! Finished 6 days after was told it would be finished (Sorry 4 days as weekends don't count in their book !!! - Time must have stood still for us with no cooking facilities to miss these 2 days !!) with the Gas man finally turning up on 3rd attempt. Mind you we are on a new estate and those toms toms are so confusing !!

 

Anyhow bottom line avoid them like the Plague as you do not get your money's worth in regard to having the kitchen done in the time they state and the amount of time spent on phones repeating yourself and dealing with people who can only blame others for their shortcomings !!!!!!

 

Moben = NO THANKS

[caro]

I thought they went out of business a couple of years ago - or at least I was told that last year when I needed a new kitchen.

[Roy Rocket]

Stay clear of Moben! Please see my reply to 'Moben-help'.

[Adam Ant]

There is only one answer to the problems you might have with Moben - that is to go to the small claims county court. After a very short and informal hearing the judge awarded me compensation plus all costs. Very simple and very quick!

[sera5]

I ended up in my local County court with the parent company that owned both Moben and Kitchen Direct; after I'd paid £12,000 and was still awaiting my kitchen being finished. Their quote time for stripping-out my old kitchen and installing my new one was five days.... eighteen MONTHS later I was still dealing with this totally incompetant company; and then decided to take legal action.

 

They came down heavy with their Lawyer; I went in-person because I couldn't afford legal representation. We were in-and-out within twenty minutes. The judge Ordered that they refund almost £4,000 and Ordered that they repair faulty work; and supply and fir the remainder within six weeks.

[caro]

Thanks for the info sera and Adam. Hope you're both sorted now.