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IT'S HELL'S KITCHEN!
The DIY giant's contractor left a dangerous gas leak while installing a cooker in the kitchen.
Helen and husband Michael, 54, lived to tell the tale only because a burglar broke into their house. He smashed a kitchen window allowing the build-up of gas to escape.
The B&Q installer is being reported to the Heath and Safety Executive.
Helen, 53, said: "The whole house could have gone up killingmy husband and myself. Our kids could be burying us just now."
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Helen and Michael, of Stevenston, Ayrshire, paid £5700 for the kitchen in February and the work - which was supposed to take days - started in June.
But a catalogue of errors meant it was only completed last week. During the nightmare installation B&Q:
Measured wrongly, leaving cupboards and a dishwasher that did not fit.
Overcharged them by more than £1000, claiming to have fitted two sinks, two floors and three sets of taps.
Charged £150 for installing a nonexistent washing machine and £77 to move and plug in their existing fridge.
Took £747 to fit the cooker with the gas leak claiming "that's how much it costs".
Left them with handles and drawer fronts falling off and ruined their lounge and hall carpets.
Helen, a full-time carer to three children aged 11, 12, and 13, said: "I ambloody mad at the way we've been treated.Michael is not a handyman and I went to B&Q because I didn't want any hassle. I thought I could trust them."
Helen, who has five grown-up kids of her own, phoned B&Q in a panic after Scotland Gas Networks condemned the cooker as "immediately dangerous".
She said: "The engineer was horrified that a CORGI-registered fitter could make such a mistake."
B&Q sent an installer within an hour and Helen can now use her cooker.
They refunded her for the overcharge but would only offer £400 to say sorry. They also said in a letter to her: "We apologise for this appalling service and it won't be tolerated."
Angry Helen said: "It's a joke considering all we have been through. It's cost me a lot trying to sort it out." I got on to B&Q but they refused to increase the £400 ex-gratia payment.
They said: "The compensation is fair and based on the circumstances and substantiation of the costs incurred.
"We will consider subsequent out-of-pocket expenses so long as Mrs Blaikie can provide proof of these."
Helen is now taking her case to the Furniture Ombudsman, formerly known as Qualitas. If they rule in her favour, B&Q will have to pay up.
They may be the third largest DIY retailer in the world but their customers deserve better than this.
Sent: 09/09/2007
Email us direct at: repairs@londonheatingservices.co.uk
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