The Belgam experience... (Fitted Kitchens in General)

Member Name: Cheez-dorf

Product:	Fitted Kitchens in General
Date:	31/03/09 (171 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality kitchen for the price

Disadvantages: Shambolic customer service, no communication, delays

I have read a number of insanely positive reviews on Belgam Kitchens, and that is one of the main reason that we chose to use them rather than one of the mainstream kitchen companies. We are currently having our kitchen fitted by Belgam and I had intended to write a review once the kitchen had been completed. However, since completion date will be "some time in the future", I decided to write an interim review to let you know what the experience of fitting a Belgam kitchen is like - in real time from the point of view of a real customer. I can tell you that so far it has not been a rewarding experience!
The list of problems we are having is long, but the crux of the matter is that the organisation has been a complete SHAMBLES and communication with the customer is almost non-existent. The person dealing with our kitchen at head-office has absolutely no control of what is going on, with the result that on the days when the fitter is here he is unable to complete whatever it is he needs to because some piece of kit is missing or damaged. We are, for example, still waiting for the delivery of the fridge, washer/dryer, water filter unit, cabinets etc etc etc. All of these were due to be delivered well over a week ago (keep in mind that they have had well over 2 months lead time to put in these orders). In the case of some items (such as the water filtration unit), despite assurances from our fitter that he had it with him in his van, we discovered this morning that it has slipped through the net and wasn't even ordered until we chased it up (again) with the fitter (who is on another job for the rest of the week).
We were due to have our granite work surface templated last night (any time during the day up to 7:30pm apparently) since the stone-masons were down in London for the day. Waiting until 7:30pm wasn't a problem since we were also waiting for delivery of the fridge and washer/dryer which were guaranteed to be delivered by 7:30pm as well. Another wasted day since neither pitched up. We are again sitting around waiting for the stone mason today (who hasn't pitched up after we were assured that it would be first thing this morning) and will be waiting around again tomorrow for the appliances to be delivered.
In terms of the quality and the fitting, our fitter John seems to be an on the ball, no non-sense chap, and his workmanship looks very solid so-far I have to say, but he can only work when he has all the stuff he needs to fit, so it has taken twice as long (so far) to fit the kitchen as originally indicated and we still have a long way to go I suspect.
As it is, this has all the ingredients of a stereotypical nightmare job which is never ending.... I will provide an update on my experience following the next visit from the fitter... Whenever that is...

Summary: Total lack of customer service lets them down