HKS Supports the Exposure of Rogue Traders

HKS SUPPORTS THE EXPOSURE OF ROGUE TRADERS

HKS welcomed the BBC’s latest Rogue Trader programme that exposed the continued failings in customer service from the kitchen industry’s most famous rogue trader Vance Miller.

The programme, which was aired on 10 February, reported that Vance Miller continued to trade under a different name, Rock Solid and that they had continued to receive many complaints from viewers about the quality of the kitchens and the service received.

“As a member of the national trade association The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialist Association (KBSA), we are well aware of Vance Miller and his kitchen companies,” said Managing Director Tim Burgess.  “Those involved in the kitchen retailing know the type of business he runs but unfortunately consumers are still buying from him and many of these have a very unsatisfactory experience.

“Consumers need to follow the principles laid out by the KBSA before investing in a new kitchen in order to ensure that they are dealing with a reputable retailer and that their money is protected in the event of something going wrong.

“As a KBSA retailer we are vetted before we are accepted for membership and our standards of workmanship are regularly monitored. Consumers should ask to see evidence of trade association membership as well as have access to some past installations and customers.

KBSA retailers also offer added protection through either a ConsumerCare Deposit Protection Scheme or a more comprehensive ConsumerCare Plus Scheme which covers the deposit, advanced payments, work-in-progress and a 6-year warranty.

“As the programme showed in several other features, it is possible for rogue traders to slip through the net of association membership or to lie about what associations they belong to. A more detailed investigation into the companies past work and their customers is always worthwhile.”

Consumers can obtain a comprehensive guide to buying a kitchen from the KBSA website, www.kbsa.org.uk