Name: Howdens
Rating: 1.82

“Had a problem with the dishwasher. Took 15 calls to get through. Staff not interested, told to call back. Did so over 4 days and fobbed off. Terrible attitude with customers who spent thousands. Will never deal with Howdens again. Beware of them”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“My floor is lifting at edges of the strips. The staff member who came to look at it misquoted everything I said to him in his report and then issued me instructions on how to wash a floor. I took the complaint further and was told I should not be mopping the floor. I don’t!! I told them I use a well-wrung out VILEDA mop!!! I was never told that I needed to use a well wrung out cloth only (and nothing else) to clean the floor. I am 57 and know how to wash a floor!! There is only my 20 yr old son and I living in the house. We are also out most of the time so the floor sees very very light use. I stated that I clean the floor twice a week at the most. The employee reported that I said “I clean the floor at least twice a week” and then told me this was too often!! If I had young children or pets I would expect the floor to withstand daily cleaning and not to be lifting after less than two years use. Two of my kitchen cupboard doors are also “blown” in the corner - also showing signs of being poor quality. I’m being fobbed off and I’m disgusted and am taking this to both Trading Standards and small claims court action.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“BUYER BEWARE Howdens claim to only have trade accounts so even if you pay for your kitchen directly to Howdens and they give you their after sales number, it is ordered through your fitters trade account and therefore you have NO consumer rights. Example, the Lamona fridge my elderly mum purchased directly through Howdens broke down two months after the 2 year warranty expired, it is beyond repair and she can not afford a new fridge. Howdens have treated her appallingly and say it is not their problem. You can not take them to court as you are not a customer of Howdens and the really great trades person that fitted the kitchen can not make Howdens replace or fix the fridge either. Independent company that we called out to fix the fridge initially said he is always being called out to repair Lamona fridges, Howdens now put a 3 year warranty on them but fail to put right the design faults. We can say that the cabinets and worktop are fine and happy with them which is lucky as you can forget your consumer rights if there is a problem.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Terrible service. Incorrect plans, measurements, quote, booked appointments to visit the depot and the required Manager takes the day off (3 times) They were unable to provide samples of worktops or even cabinets. Complete incompetence. We binned them before it got worse and engaged a local family kitchen builder.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“Great company. Good prices all from stock. Price match on certain products.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“Excellent service at Harlow Branch thanks to Dave for planning and advice on white goods.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“Appauling service, ordered and designed our kitchen from Phil Carr at the Cramlington branch. All looked good but then the materials that were sent were such poor quality that the fitter had to take them back and get them replaced. We have had 3 fitters onsite while the build has taken place and what was designed and paid for was not possible to actually do so we are left with a lay out that we did not want and is totally impractical. Tried for 3 days to speak to the manager from the Cramlington branch but keep getting told he is in a meeting and will ring me back but never has. I finally got to speak to Phil today that did the design and he couldnt careless. Parents also have a large order in with a different branch of Howdens but after seeing what we have been through this will be getting cancelled on Monday, I would advise anyone looking for a kitchen to look elsewhere.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Appauling service, ordered and designed our kitchen from Phil Carr at the Cramlington branch. All looked good but then the materials that were sent were such poor quality that the fitter had to take them back and get them replaced. We have had 3 fitters onsite while the build has taken place and what was designed and paid for was not possible to actually do so we are left with a lay out that we did not want and is totally impractical. Tried for 3 days to speak to the manager from the Cramlington branch but keep getting told he is in a meeting and will ring me back but never has. I finally got to speak to Phil today that did the design and he couldnt careless. Parents also have a large order in with a different branch of Howdens but after seeing what we have been through this will be getting cancelled on Monday, I would advise anyone looking for a kitchen to look elsewhere.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Zero customer service, dreadful poor quality, kitchen looked shabby almost immediately, tap leaked, Belfast sink collapsed into its unit, "goodwill gesture" (actually a swap for wrongly supplied units) was damaged when it arrived and sent back (they then refused to replace) and hostile response made when complaint made. Guarantee worthless. Bad mistake made in choosing this company. Six months of misery and now living with my nightmare mistake.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“I bought several kitchen units from Howdens. In the past 4 years I have purchased approximately 9 kitchens from Howdens. On average each kitchen costing £5000. Their service use to be very good. Over the past few years it very poor. A kitchen I bought over a year ago with a sink unit. Now the tap plastic spout bit is broken. They will not provide a spare part free of charge. They want me to pay £30 as it's out of warranty of 12 months. There white goods and sinks are made of poor quality. Shop around. Very poor service.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Brought a kitchen in 2018 from Howdens The sink strainer in the small sink has rusted. The one in the large one is fine. Both cleaned exactly the same. Went into Howdens Tamworth to ask for a replacement only to be told to purchase some chrome cleaner as this happens. The whole kitchen is only six months old. And they are expecting me to buy a cleaner to remove rust from something that is only SIX months old. They reluctantly offered to replace it. But then trying to tell me because of the way the chrome is brushed on?? This can happen. What planet are these people on.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Hard to get in touch in case of the problem. Claiming to supply to trade where really they supply to anyone willing to buy their merchandise.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“I’ve had several kitchens off of Howdens Thetford. I used to use a designer called Luca Spencer who is good. Now I’ve been using a new designer Paul Collings who is absolutely amazing. He goes out of his way to get the job done. He is the reason I only use Howdens. And sometimes if the warehouse staff have missed an item he will run it over in his own time just to help you out. I’m so impressed with him that I even tell all my house builder mates. Great job 👍👍”

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Posted 5 years ago

“Poor kitchen . Bognor Regis branch. Rude staff . Unhelpful. And damaged goods. Would not refund me a tap that was unusable. Never use them again. Kind regards mr Churchill.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“Not a good experience with Howdens Erith. When order was delivered to the house it was only half there with no forewarning or explanation at the time as to where the other parts were. It has then taken 2 weeks to get the remaining parts even though we were promised them a couple of days later. Even when we collected the remaining pieces there was still a draw front missing so couldn't finish the kitchen. Again no warning or notice from Howdens. So, lots of mucking about and still have not finished with no hint of any kind of compensation. Very disappointing and incredibly frustrating. Howdens feedback or compensation welcome.”

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Posted 5 years ago

“I have just purchased my kitchen from the Longbridge branch and I absolutely love it. The service from the staff was excellent, Rachel came out to my house, measured up and designed it for me, the standard of the design was excellent and my kitchen looks exactly how the design did. Rachel also helped me deciding on the best colours and products to use which was so helpful as there is a lot to think about. My kitchen was delivered to my house on time and the quality of the kitchen is excellent. If you are looking for a new kitchen then I would highly recommend Howdens”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“"One Star is too good" - update Ordered 2 doors on Tuesday 23rd April 2019. Sent courier to collect them from Milton Keynes depot Friday 26th. Courier told they had no knowledge of the order and could not help. Courier gave up and returned (I have been billed) which I deduct from their invoice if I ever get the right doors. Monday 29th Informed that the order paperwork had been lost. Doors would now be available to collect from Leighton Buzzard first thing Tuesday morning. Checked with Leighton Buzzard office at 4 pm on 29th to confirm and they informed me they knew all about it and would release doors to courier company Tuesday morning. Told them the name of the courier company. Courier company phoned at 10 am to say no-one at Leighton Buzzard knew anything about the order. Had to contact Howdens again to explain and they said they could see courier outside their office and would release doors to them. Doors arrived at 10:40 am Tuesday 30th April. GUESS WHAT!!! One was the wrong size!! Howdens you are a joke company, incapable of organising a simple order for 2 doors. Needless to say the invoice will not be paid until all is rectified (which I doubt) Good luck to anyone who use them.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“One star is too good for this company, they couldn't organise a you know what in a brewery!! How hard is it to deliver two doors? Obviously it's way beyond their capabilities.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Overall experience was good when purchasing my kitchen however, once purchased, i found that their aftercare was very poor. I had issues with the worktop i purchased, shortly after it had been installed, i found scratches dents and chippings, i complained about the quality of their product but it was to no avail.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Disgraceful service at Orpington branch. Howdens designed our kitchen, which was fitted by my builder summer 2018. We decided to return an unopened bespoke corner larder unit costing ~£900, in exchange for two cheaper standard tall tower units cast/frames only; as we had kept back the 4x unit doors and had spare hinges etc. to fit the doors on the replacement units. However, Orpington branch have since invoiced me for an outstanding balance on the account; which they are unable to explain what this charge is relating to. I have called the kitchen designer on multiple occasions to go through the kitchen build and the bespoke corner unit that was returned; only to hear time and time again that he is unable to explain what has happened and to leave it with him; for him never to call me back with an explanation as to the precise charges still outstanding. I have visited their branch to return unused hinges and flooring etc. which reduced the initial balance invoice from £770 to the £500 remaining balance. I have written multiple emails detailing my investigation and raising questions; only to have them completely ignored and receive yet another demand for the balance. I have meet with, called and emailed the Orpington branch manager; who’s customer service manner is aggressive, she fails to listen to her customer and pursues her own agender; ignoring all valid questions raised and threatens legal action for non-payment. I do not know if they have double charged me for those 4x standard kitchen doors and I cannot see how 4x standard kitchen doors from the original bespoke corner larder unit would cost £450. I also hope that Orpington branch has not charged me for extra deliveries for damaged or replacement missing kitchen items; which would be grossly unfair. This has now been ongoing for 5 months and I have not received a satisfactory answer, explanation or balance settlement cancellation notification. We have returned every unused, unopened item but still Howdens at Orpington can not explain their additional invoice charge; if anything the 2x tall tower cast/frames would have been considerably cheaper and so I should have received a refund but even this costing for the replacement, Howdens are unable to provide an answer to. I feel I have no choice but to highlight Orpington’s branch appalling customer service and my treatment on this matter. I also emailed Harriet at Howdens social media email address about this matter and have received no call or email in response to this disgraceful matter. They have not only lost our trust but ours and our builders future custom.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Courier, Own Driver
Average Delivery Time	Over 7 Days
On-time Delivery	Greater than 40%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	Greater than 41%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Over A Week
Customer Service	1.5 out of 5

Howdens Reviews