Paul Cowley has injured himself falling over materials and has resorted to takeaways with no oven or hob to cook on
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A grandad says delays in building a kitchen that he paid £20,000 for have left him frustrated, injured and in poor health. Paul Cowley, from Mickleover, paid Wickes in May for the kitchen and claims he was told the work would be done before he moved in on June 10.
But after signing a contract he discovered that the start date for the work had been allocated as July 10 – a month after he arrived. Now, two months after that, with unexplained delays to progress and contractors allegedly only turning up once every two weeks, it still hasn't been completed.
Mr Cowley said: "You don't pay £20,000 for this. It's angered me so much. It's affected my health. My life's been rubbish. I can't even have family round. How can I with stuff lying around? I want to have my granddaughter to give my son and daughter-in-law some space. But I can't. I'm frustrated."
Mr Cowley had looked forward to moving into the house in Mickleover, which once belonged to his father, for a fresh start after family grievances. But he says his life has been put on hold with the delays to the kitchen, which he says is being "built around him".
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While Mr Cowley had no oven or hob to cook food on, he resorted to "takeaway after takeaway", he says, which has led to his blood sugar levels rising exponentially and dangerously affecting his pre-diabetes to the point where he now may be prescribed insulin.
In addition to the lack of kitchen, workmen have left various materials strewn around his property, including wooden panels left lying in his garden. Two large skip-style waste bags have been left his driveway and mean that no one can park their car there.
Underlay for the new kitchen flooring was left untrimmed and a separate contractor who was fitting Mr Cowley's doors for him had to cut it off. But that wasn't before Mr Cowley had tripped over the material and fallen, injuring his knees in the process. He contacted 111 and says he is now seeking a physiotherapy appointment.
Mr Cowley says that a friend who works as a kitchen fitter advised him that a kitchen should take around four weeks to complete. Since the work started on July 10, nine weeks have passed.
Mr Cowley claims that between the workers' last two visits, there had been a sixteen-day gap. He says he doesn't know why they are taking so long but explains that on occasion, despite visits being scheduled, they simply haven't turned up.
He said: "They won't even phone to tell me they're not coming. I'm told they're coming and they don't. I've been to Citizens Advice. It's gone that far."
A spokesperson for Wickes said: "We’re very sorry to hear of Mr Cowley’s kitchen experience as we aim to complete all our installations to a high standard. A designated member of Wickes customer relations is currently in contact with Mr Cowley to ensure the matter is fully resolved."
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