Howdens - Canvey Island

5 days ago

Worst customer service ever had to deal with

If I could give a zero I would. I’ve held off writing this review for 18 months. We bought a bungalow 4 yrs ago and after 2 yrs we decided we were going to renovate it all, every room was stripped, walls knocked down, new roof including rafters, we went the whole hog! our builder had an account with Howdens so everything was bought from there, kitchen , flooring throughout kitchen , dinning area, lounge and in the en-suite, new veneered doors in every room , you name it we had it done! We paid for all the flooring to be levelled and sealed etc to make sure it was all ready for the flooring to go down. We chose the Stiff Vinyl Planking as it stated on the box 30yrs warranty for domestic use and 15yrs for commercial, had its own cork underlay, it was scratch resistant and water proof and could be washed so that’s why we also had it in the new en-suite as well, it also went with our grey decor and looked great. About a month after it was installed all the planks in the en-suite started to spit and crack ! I called the builders back and they pulled it all up and replaced it as we had some spare, they thought it might have been due to a thin foil layer of underlay that they installed in there so the floor was laid without the underlay and has been fine ever since. Now in the kitchen there were a couple of planks that started to split so I called the builders back and asked them what they thought ? i asked them if they had levelled and sealed the floor and they said yes and even showed me photos of it being done ! they said all they could do was maybe take the one plank out and replace it or get it magically repaired. I wasn’t prepared to accept any of this because I was concerned that later on in time it might start cracking in other places. They suggested to see how it goes and see if any more place cracked. I did get two independent floor fitters to come take a look and the first thing they both said is.. we don’t fit this stuff because of the problems with it splitting etc… also it’s expensive poor quality flooring and they won’t fit it. They also got hold of a spare plank I had and he got hold of where they clip in together and it was all breaking off!!! It’s very thin and poor quality he stated, and suggested that I rip it out and replace for decent stuff not the howdens rubbish . There is only my wife and I who live in the bungalow we wear slippers all the time indoors as we wanted to look after our flooring. Over the next few months we could see scratches appearing, we couldn’t understand why because all the furniture we have was all fitted with velvet pads on all the feet, if anything I went over the top with the pads as I didn’t want to damage the floor. Then around six months ago I started the process of getting Howdens involved because I wasn’t happy with this flooring. After weeks of emails complaining , waiting for a response from the quality department as this was passed on from the store manager who also took time to respond. I was contacted and was told that an employee from Howdens who worked for the quality team wanted to come and have a look at the flooring , or I could chose an independent company to take a look but that would cost me £150. As I was not prepared to part with any money I would have to have their employee come. That took another couple of weeks to arrange an appointment, when he did come he checked the flooring, checked the levels etc. and said that the cracks were possibly due to something under the planks like a screw or grit os a foreign body and as for the scratches said that it was scratched by something being dragged over the floor or grit on the shoes and scratching the floor! Also furniture being dragged across, I showed him the felt pads on ALL the furniture. He said he would file his report and I would hear in a week to ten days. Three weeks went by and I still hadn’t heard anything so I complained to the manager and she was surprised that the quality department hadn’t been in touch. A couple of days later I received a brief report over the phone stating what the Quality guy who came round had told me. I didn’t expect anything less really because the guy works for the company and of course they’re not going to do anything! So now I’m left with a floor that’s cracked in places and loads of scratches everywhere! Then about a month ago one of the veneered door that we bought from Howdens the veneer is peeling away!!! its not even a veneer but a plastic coating . More poor quality rubbish!! I got in contact with the store manger yet again and they finally replied who asked me to send a photo of the door which I did, they have passed it on to the quality department and I’m still waiting to here back from them! DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM HOWDENS ITS POOR QUALITY EXPENSE RUBBISH ! I paid nearly £30,000 for Howdens rubbish !! so people Think before you get anything from HOWDENS awfull company to deal with!! NEVER AGAIN

Mick B

6 days ago

Had all I needed

Had all I needed

KeithHumphrey

a month ago

Friendly Ladies

Friendly Ladies and easy to deal with

Andy Clark

2 months ago

Very easy to order products.

Very easy to order products.

Canvey Island

3 months ago

A good service

Everyone from the branch that I used was really helpful. The design was just what I wanted and the after sales help was great.

Martin Crow

4 months ago

Thank you to the team at Howdens for…

Thank you to the team at Howdens for all your help and advice with our kitchen purchase and installation. Whenever I call everyone has been very helpful, especially Ladawan who designed a beautiful kitchen for us. Thanks again, would highly recommend.

Gareth

4 months ago

Very helpful staff

Very helpful staff

Roger Davies

7 months ago

Excellent service every time.

Excellent service every time.

Ken

7 months ago

DO NOT BUY SUPER MATT DOORS UNLESS YOU WANT SPEND HOURS EVERYDAY TRYING CLEAN THEM

Firstly the positive,Adawan and staff at Canvey are helpful. Adawan,designed our layout and made really good job and everything fitted ,however the after sales team and head office not so much. Second complaint and agree with the elderly gentleman that said steer clear of the super Matt cupboard doors,they are an absolute nightmare,show every tiny mark and really hard to clean and like him I was given a pack of white sponges,thanks for those,I'd already got them from home bargains. Next issue was the blue chipping off cupboard door,which give them their due,they replaced. But!! now to the grey composite sink...omg!! Two months in,got a manager round with Adawan,showed them brown marks that wouldn't clean off,couldn't believe they said warranty on sink was 50yrs (something wrong somewhere)... was told by manager Mark Sales to keep eye on it and get back if got worse,it has. Phoned and photo was sent to whoever,who said inappropriate maintenance,in other words we wasn't cleaning it (how rude), £9,250.00 kitchen and we not going to clean it 🤔🙄. Fast forward,6 months,looks as though we've had it 10 years and still being told to clean it with all different stuff,including them saying bleach solution,😱.Everywhere says not to use bleach in composite sink and if I did,they'd then say,it your fault you've taken the surface off. It's got a guarantee,it's rubbish, so change it instead of keep making excuses. Oh and by the way,my last sink ,black composite was from B&Q had it 12 years ,no problem at less than half price of howdens..rip off!!.Wish I'd purchased kitchen there now. After sales need sorting.Please don't insult me with the usual response....already emailed the address you give and guess what,no reply,had to go in store. SEPTEMBER 10TH.........AND APART FROM ASKING MY EMAIL USED,STILL NOTHING FROM HOWDENS...

Cass

9 months ago

Plinth sealing strips

Bought 3no 18mm sealing strips only to find they were 16mm snapped one trying to fit ,returned to store friendly staff refunded on 2.

G DENNIS HANDYMAN SERVICES

10 months ago

Very helpful and understanding of what…

Very helpful and understanding of what I need and resolving my needs to a high satisfaction

Mr Ford

11 months ago

I have been waiting for answer from…

I have been waiting for answer from someone from Canvey despite,God knows how many emails ,response is, some one will get back,two months later,plus second trustpilot,nothing!!!!!!asked why Matt finish was so bad to keep clean,now sink is marking ,drain board shows rings from cups ,glasses that won't clean off ,totally unimpressed with kitchen that cost £9,000+ after sales is useless. Need someone to address problems .

Cass

11 months ago

Don't buy Matt finish

Emailed local branch twice with no response. Purchased Matt marine blue kitchen . Omg!!! what is wrong with the finish on these door and drawer fronts..just have to touch them with one finger and it leaves marks,tried soapy water and even magic sponge,dries and Mark s still there,it's on going nightmare . Only had it completed in January and hate it already ,nothing should be this hard to wipe down. Also maybe the light but too cupboard doors look much darker than bottom ones,which look faded

Cass

a year ago

The staff are very professional and…

The staff are very professional and helpful.

Ken

a year ago

The staff are so kind helpful and…Duffstar

The staff are so kind helpful and knowledgeable

Anthony Duff