This is a follow-up regarding the installation of my bathroom.
After facing some issues with the installation—partly due to the fitters and partly due to the quality of the bathroom furniture—I finally began to relax and enjoy my new shower, convincing myself that the £8,000 spent was worth it for the small space. And yes, for a compact room, it did feel like money well spent!
However, minor issues continue to crop up.
For example, their electrician installed the light switch above the door, causing the pull cord to get trapped when the door closed. Over time, the cord frayed to just two threads, leaving me wondering whether it would break when the light was on or off. To work around this, we had to redirect the cord, but this caused it to chafe inside the plastic casing. Trying to contact their recommended electrician was no easy task!
Another issue came to light weeks later: the chrome plate on the shower wall was installed upside down. I noticed the hidden writing, which was obscured by the handle. This was an immediate red flag that the pipework behind the expensive wall panels was routed incorrectly.
I contacted Wickes and explained the problems. The planner, Paul, initially sprang into action, sending emails to various teams to address the issues. Unfortunately, that’s where the progress ended. Even escalating the matter to higher management yielded no results. To keep the issues from being ignored, I found myself constantly having to follow up, either in person or through emails.
My earlier review was acknowledged by Wickes, and their response here suggested they would look into the matter. However, no real action followed—just empty assurances to maintain the appearance of resolving isolated cases and to give readers false confidence in their service.
Here’s my advice:
Consider Zero Finance: Request a zero-finance option for your project. Wickes won’t mention this unless you specifically ask, but it provides leverage if issues arise.
Thorough Inspections: Take your time—about a week or so—to ensure everything is done to your satisfaction before making final payment. Don’t let pushy administrators rush you.
Hold Fitters Accountable: Fitters often move on to the next job and won’t return to fix issues. Make sure they complete their work properly before they leave.
Minimize Distractions: Ensure the fitters are focused on the job and free from personal distractions, such as external issues that might affect their performance.
Lastly, if Wickes doesn’t assist you, finance providers can step in to resolve the matter. That will be my next move. Good luck to anyone considering similar work!
I am not happy with Wickes
