The People in HOWDEN - LAKESIDE store are spoiling the brand of HOWDENS : Poor Document Handling : I have been to this store to open a trade account on Saturday 25th Sept. The Gentleman on the store collected all the id documents and completed signed form for account opening. We were subsequently given an appointment for 29th Sept for Kitchen Design. To our surprise when we arrived on 29th Sept for an appointment, we were told account is not yet opened. They struggled to find the documents and requested to complete the documents again. This is an example of how dangerously documents are handled in this store. Poor Customer Service : We completed the account opening form again on 29th Sept and while we were waiting for kitchen design to go ahead, we were told that kitchen design is not possible as account is yet to open. While this was being discussed, the design manager Lou came out and asked whether we had been to any other kitchen store for quotation. Our answer was yes as we visited Benchmarx before coming to howdens. Since benchmarx is going through supply shortage they were not in a position to deliver kitchen within a week and hence suggested us to try howdens for kitchen, even though howdens is their competitor. I am impressed with the transparency and customer service of Benchmarx. To continue with our Howdens story, As per Lou, we must submit the quote provided by other kitchen Or else it WOULD BE A TIME WASTE FOR HOWDENS TO WORK THROUGH DESIGN AND PROVIDE THE QUOTATIONS. I denied to provide any quotations or design that were discussed with other kitchen providers and on back of this Howdens refused to design and provide the quotation to us. THIS STORE HAS SET AN EXAMPLE OF POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I AM SURPRISED HOW MUCH HOWDEN IS AFRAID OF ITS COMPETITORS. SHAME ON HOWEDENS FOR PROVIDING SUCH A POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYONE READING THIS : - WHEN LOU ASKS YOU " HAVE YOU BEEN TO OTHER STORE", SAY NO OR ELSE HOWDEN LAKESIDE WILL NOT DESIGN KITCHEN FOR YOU - YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOP AROUND AFTER YOU HAVE DESIGNED YOUR KITCHEN IN HOWDEN LAKESIDE. DO OR DIE YOU HAVE TO BUY - THE ABOVE EXPERIENCE IS BEFORE BUYING THE KITCHEN WHEN IT IS AT A DESIGN STAGE. ALL THE BEST TO PEOPLE BUYING KITCHEN FROM HOWDENS LAKESIDE STORE. I HOPE THIS REVIEWS GIVES AN INDICATION OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN TERMS OF SERVICES. I HOPE THIS REVIEW TO REACH TO RIGHT EARS IN HOWDEN TO SAVE THEIR BRAND IMAGE IN MARKET.