Grand Designs, Blackpool

I've had a bad experience with grand designs am in process informing blackpool trading standards. If you are in same position then I urge you to get in touch with them too, the more people in same position the better the outcome hopefully.

Kitchen Design, Blackpool, are unreliable and supply sub standard units, worktops.Mike is very intimdating after a while, but too late after he has started the job. Reading the reviews, I have been quite lucky.He has been promising for over a month to correct his work, but to date has not turned up. He rarely returns calls, and even if he does does not carry out his promise to turn up. My kick boards have all warped and some kitchen doors, most of the smooth closing drawers don't work. My dad had to remove the intigrated dishwasher door, as it did not fit properly and is now damaged, so my kitchen is no longer complete. I even had to replace the light, as he didn't replace the incorrect ones he originally fitted. I am so frusteated with workmen and I have had many in my house in the last year. Once they have your money, things start to detiorate.

GLad to find this site, and see that others have had similar experiences.

If you want a DANGEROUS UNSAFE and POORLY FITTED kitchen then look no further.

Problems I've had so far with a kitchen fitted by Grand Designs 6 months ago:

- MAJOR GAS LEAK in an appliance that Grand Designs fitted - was condemned by National Grid Emergency Call out

- NO ELECTRICAL SAFETY CERTIFICATES PROVIDED - and after checking from a qualified electrician, found to be substandard.

- WORKTOPS have come away form units, and have warped - Owner Mike promised to replace but hasn't. Wont respond to calls or communication even though he ordered independant report, which found his installation was to blame.

- Fridge door doesn't close properly

- Sink leaks

- Had to wait months for some drawers which he didn't order in time, and had to constantly chase him up for

- Oven not installed properly, and had to call out someone else to put right

I would NEVER recommend this company, it has cost me a fortune to have it installed, and Mike said that he would do a top-notch job, but I have had nothing but problems, and was lucky my house didn't blow up due to the gas leak. It has been a nightmare trying to get him to put right any of his shoddy work. His customer service is nonexistant, and he just lies constantly and fobs you off, as does anyone in his shop.

All this is TRUE, and I wish I could put photos on here then no-one else would have to have the same experience.

I have had to get someone else in to put right all the things that are wrong, and it is costing me over £1500!!! I now know there are more honest, better & reliable kitchen fitters and workmen out there who don't cost the earth, unfortunately Grand Designs isn't one of them.

just had my second kitchen fitted by this company finished today..i have had it put in a new flat for my tenant..the other kitchen was fitted in my sons bungalow..after shopping around for value for money and quality this company came up trumps..you dont get the shirt and tie job and immaculate vechicles and complete puntuality but what you do get is a cracking kitchen at a cracking price..both jobs done have been superb value for money..nearly half the cost from there nearest competitor..found the owner mike to be straight with me and easy to approach..helpfull and very good at his job..if your looking for the shirt and tie job then this company is not for you and you may as well spend an extra 2 grand else where ..both my kitchens was fitted in the knott end area..excellent price excelent service... excelent kitchen..i recomend this company

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE, IT IS A WASTE OF TIME.

I GOT A KITCHEN FROM HERE, AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED TO FIT IT, SOME PARTS HAD STILL NOT COME, AND THE THE FITTING WAS RUSHED. THE OWNER MIKE IS A NIGHTMARE TO GET HOLD OF, HE NEVER ANSWERS HIS PHONE OR RETURNS YOUR MESSAGES AND GOT FED UP WITH THE SHOP MAKING UP CRA**Y EXCUSES FOR HIM. HAD TO CHASE HIM UP FOR AGES TO MAKE SURE THAT HE CAME BACK TO DO THE WORK, AND HE PUT PRESSURE ON TO PAY EVEN THOUGH WHEN I BOOKED HIM TO DO THE JOB, HE SAID THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY UNTIL I THE JOB WAS FINISHED AND I WAS HAPPY WITH IT.

NOT HAPPY WITH IT NOW - HAD LOADS OF PROBLEMS, BUT MIKE IS JUST NOT INTERESTED NOW HE HAS HIS MONEY. THIS FIRM IS CHEAPER THAT SOME OTHERS I WENT TO BUT IT SHOWS.

PO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND AVOID IT. I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I WENT WITH THESE

Hi everyone i went to this company as they said they could supply a kitchen for a reasonable price..i was quoted £1000 for a reasonably small kitchen but the units seemed well worth the money..i gave £500 up front and the remainder on delivery..On delivery he said he could not get 1 unit and a sink in the van but would deliver next day it did not happen... when i was ready for having them fitted, I rang Mike

who could not help me enough..his price was for 3 days work £350 which again seemed reasonable... i also reminded him about the sink and unit so he said he would fetch them with him which he did..he rang to say he would be at my house for 10 am finally arrived at 12 with an excuse and started to fit the kitchen..put in 3 hours then said i will be back tomorrow ..i was more than happy as long as he got my kitchen done..the following day he arrived at around 11.30 and re comenced the kitchen but by 12 he was dropping hints to go for dinner..by 12.15 he decided to take is lunch..1pm he arrived back all units fitted apart FROM THE FACT THERE WAS A MISSING DOOR AND HANDLE + A END CUPBOARD PANEL...THIS WAS 2 WEEKS AGO!!!! HE HAS HAD HIS MONEY ..NO AFTER CARE OR PARTS STILL..SICK OF THE SHOPS EXCUSES FOR HIM AND MIKE NEVER ANSWERING THE PHONE OR GIVING SOME S**** EXCUSE..I THINK HE IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMENED THIS COMPANY TO ANYONE....BEWARE DONT GET RIPPED OFF.... IF YOU DONT MIND HAVING A INCOMPLETE KITCHEN THEN THIS IS THE COMPANY FOR YOU... HOWDENS QUOTED £1450 ..AND AS WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT FITTED WE WENT FOR GRAND DESIGNS PRICE...BUT THAT WAS FOR A COMPLETED KITCHEN FITTED ..WHICH I DONT HAVE ...HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THEY DONE THE SAME WITH ..I WONDER HOW MANY OAPS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.. WHO CANNOT FIGHT BACK FOR THEIR RIGHTS....I ALSO WONDER IF THE MONEY I PAID HIM IN CASH WENT ON THE BOOKS AS I DO NOT HAVE A RECIEPT OF HIM ALTHOUGH I HAVE ASKED FOR ONE !!!!!

Glad to see i'm not the only one. Give this firm a wide berth - it's not worth the hassle.

Kitchen finishing is poor & have had lots of problems; despite being told the week before everything had been ordered & was ok. Into fitting I was told some items were no longer available & I had to have alternatives, got different accessories than I had originally chosen too, one item never arrived & I had to track down my own on internet, sink leaking, worktops not secured properly & have moved etc etc.

Nightmare to get hold of owner & when you do he usually says he will sort it but doesn't.

Save yourself some stress & go somewhere else.

The end result was OK, but had quite a few minor faults which developed in the weeks after. It looks OK on face value, but some of my worktops have come away from the units & some of the finishing isn't as good as I hoped. Also when faults developed, and tried to phone or text him, I got no reply. Felt the job was rushed to begin with, but things were forgotten and took a long time to arrive.

Found the owner Mike to be very hard to get hold of, and pretty unreliable when it comes to being there at certain times etc. Wouldn't recommend, mainly due to the hassle involved in getting in touch with him. Spent several days/afternoons waiting in for him to bring one thing or another - only for him not to appear, and no phone call etc.

Previously known as North West Kitchens but now ewly refurbished & called Grand Designs. Shop fitting looks great, and was initially impressed that the owner came out to view my kitchen quickly and made a good plan.

Paid half the total cost about a month before to secure the order, and was told that the rest is payable on completion. Started off OK, but fitting was very hurried, and men seemed to disappear for hours on end. Fitting was rather haphazard, and the owner not very organised (and later discovered fitting was shoddy).

Recieved some things that I hadn't chosen, but felt pressured to have them, and also turned out that some items were not available (despite being assured that everything had been ordered and was OK) and was told that they would arrive approx a week after it was mostly finished.

Pressurised into paying the total amount for the kitchen despite some items still not being complete, which made me feel uncomfortable. Continually had to chase up missing items, and some arrived 4 weeks later, some I have yet to receive (!). Some parts of the kitchen have come apart already, worktops have warped and have discovered some other faults, but phone calls go unreturned.....

Kitchen OK I guess, but not as good as I'd hoped for - average quality units, poor fitting & no customer care - owner only communicates before money is paid. Once you have paid up, he doesn't want to know. Went against my better judgement by doing this, shouldn't have paid up before full completion, but I know how difficult it is for small businesses at the moment, so gave him benefit of the doubt -wish I hadn't though.

Certainly wouldn't recommend.