Hammonds Furniture review: awful company 36

I would suggest contacting Debbie, Richard Hammonds secretary, you may have some joy there, good luck.
www.acbedrooms.co.uk

I bought two Hammond's bedrooms in 2004. I realise that they are now out of the guarantee period, but one does not expect the backing of the mirror doors to fail after such a short period. My experience, product inferior quality and grossly over priced. My recommendation would be buy cheaper and change more often. Very disappointed with Hammond's of Hinckley.

I am very disappointed with the service and the quality of wardrobes we have just had fitted to two bedrooms. I will post the pictures to show these are just a few of 30 photos, but when the quality control manager came out he just basically looked round the rooms, did say that some of it was unacceptable, but he never took a proper look at the wardrobes that they supposedly call quality. They are fixing one of the bedrooms which is all aligned incorrectly with dints in the door etc. The second bedroom has gloss doors on what is meant to be a sleek white frame as described in the brochure, this is more like and old melamine wardrobe which looks cream - very strange combination should never sell it and say it will look fine! I could go on. I have been told today that the french polisher will do all the joins which are horrendous in both rooms and also will be able to colour match the main bedroom so that the end panels of the wardrobes will match the doors, I do not know how the french polisher must be a miracle worker to do this. I will post to advise what is happening after they have been. Basically the main bedroom needs ripping out.

I m so disappointed with service and quality too! Customer service is just shocking! I never ever came a cross with company who doesn't care about customer at all! When finally wardrobe installation was completed I thought Thanks God we don't have to contact them again, because our order was delayed for a long long time! But yesterday mirror door just fell ON ME! Can you imagine, after 3 month installation mirror door just fell down from frame! I tried to catch and protect myself I twisted my shoulder. If door would be open by child I don't even want to imagine. The doors are very heavy! I was so disappointed, we paid so much money! My boyfriend called to Hammond's helpdesk and they only words was - fill a form! Not even sorry for your experience, sorry to hear that or ANY sorry for disappointing you! I was shocked! So now we will have to wait at least 3-4 weeks for reply and then to organize door installation and everyone knows how flexible they are. I would never recommend Hammond's Furniture to anyone!

Hammonds cancelled my bedroom fitting on the day it should have happened because they had delivered my furniture to the wrong fitter. Our contract says the room must be cleared ready, which took me several hours, but when they cancelled I had to move all my clothes and furniture back in for a week, then clear it all out again, taking more time off work, for the re-booked fitting.
The contract also says if I had cancelled or postponed within a week of the due date I would be liable for a charge of £150, but when I tried to get this amount knocked off my bill they reluctantly offered £50 and wouldn't budge from that, That's about 2.3% of the total bill

Hammonds salesman in Camberley region, Ramsay, was very good. Unfortunately, that's the only positive I can offer about my Hammonds experience. I took a time off work for their surveyor to visit, driving 45 minutes from my workplace, only to discover when I put a call into their Customer Services at 6pm that he'd called at 2pm, instead of the agreed 4pm, and because I wasn't in, he went home. Threatening to cancel the order did get him back to our house that evening, but we shouldn't have been inconvenienced in that way. The fitter arrive on time on the day of installation - again, that's the only positive I can offer about their sub-contractor. The work was sloppy, he cut all the materials in the bedroom, resulting in enormous amounts of sawdust in the atmosphere and on the floor, which he proceeded to trample into my hall, stairs and landing carpet, because he failed to put down dust sheets. Frames are ill fitted, doors are hung to high, leaving exposed inner frames on view, every door handle is out of line - the list goes on! When I suggested to him that the doors needed to be dropped to cover the internal carcass, he said, "You see those two screws there, if your husband could release those of each of the doors, there may be enough play to drop the doors and cover up the problem". I can't write here what my husband's response to that was! Now trying to get them to come and and even look at the problems is a major issue - they seem to have very little staff and first date they can offer for an inspection, not to actually fix the problems, is 4 December! I should have trusted my instincts and cancelled as soon as the surveyor failed to turn up.

I wish I had done more research before buying from this appalling company. Post order it took over a month before we could even get an employee to visit us to measure up, then the week before he was due to turn up, they slipped it another week. When the fitter turned up, they had sent him with the incorrect material and it took him 2.5days to install a simple triple wardrobe. We were unhappy with the completed work as the fake wood grain doesn't align and looks terrible. We have written to complain three times and have received an acknowledgment. Today we received a 'notice before proceedings under the county courts act' telling us that immediate proceedings will be taken against us if we don't make the final payment. Disorganised company, terrible customer service, poor product and now threatening me with court action without even acknowledging our complaint. We've just moved house, have a young baby and struggled to afford to pay for this wardrobe - we'll be asking Hammonds to take it back, and work with a reputable company to install a new one.

Agree with other customers regarding non existent customer service. Had wardrobes fitted in April 2013 and they cancelled on the day fitter was due to come. After a lot of fuss a fitter came the next day and we were very pleased with the work. Decided to have an extra wardrobe fitted in April this year and were promised by salesman and surveyor that this time the fitter would turn up on the date arranged. Phone call at 8 am to tell us that his van had broken down and that they had no plans to re schedule our work. The so called manager at Hammonds was not able to authorise a replacement hire vehicle for the fitter although after several heated phone calls did so.By then it was too late to do the work. After we had made a great deal of fuss they agreed to send the fitter the next day. The work took him 5 hours and was carried out efficiently. Hammonds treated us as if they were doing us a favour and offered us 200 pounds compensation. It was obvious that they had no knowledge of our location and each call to them contained examples of what is best described as "post codeez"
We bought these fitted wardrobes through John Lewis and frankly expected better service from a company selling in one of their stores. They would do well to stop any association with this crap company if they care about their reputation for good customer service..

Just wondering if you have all tried the Furniture Ombudsman that Hammonds' are affiliated to?

If so what success did you have?

Sadly I agree with all of the above comments on their appalling service. We had arranged for the furniture to be fitted in November 2013. We were told it would take 3 days. The fitter was here for just under 2 (days), vanished and left some of the stuff either not done or badly done. We've since had a visit back where some of the faults were rectified; and a survey (January) to sort out what else needed to be done. Didn't hear from them even though we were promised it wouldn't take long. I resent another e-mail last week -after a few days they got back in contact on the ansaphone. They couldn't possibly rectify it in June - we're now looking at July 2014. I'm wandering on what planet it is acceptable for it to take 8 months to finish a bedroom when you pay nearly £7k for units? DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY.

Sadly very bad experience..changed design without approval and mistakes on installation. Shocking attitude from customer service..avoid.

I have had appalling service. They don't care about customers and have no pride or morals. They are trading on the good name that they had 20 years ago. DO NOT USE THEM!

We have recently had work completed by Hammonds - bedroom and study - and whilst I would agree that their admin and customer service is laughable - the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing - every person I have dealt with has been charming, the furniture is extremely well-made and the fitter worked his socks off - even coming round on a Sunday to check out something that we didn't even know needed doing.

I am sorry to be in a position to confirm many of the complaints registered here.We had a bedroom fitted in 2004 and were happy with the result.Well installed, on time and with little fuss.Then in 2010 we noticed that some of the doors and cabinet tops were delaminating.On contacting Hammonds were eventually had a visit from one of their survey team who reported back the issues which resulted in us being invited to pay £108 pounds for the services of an installations man to replace the problem components.As we were on the cusp of the end of the guarantee period we agreed to this and the job was done.Imagine our horror when in early September 2014 we discovered more of the surfaces delaminating.Since that date I have been calling Hammonds in an effort to have the problem fixed.We were visited by a member of their survey team who reported back to head office with the promise that someone would contact us in order to discuss remedies.I have telephoned and emailed the customer services section and had contact with various people some of whom could find reference to the issue on their "system" and others who could find no reference to the matter. At this time we are still attempting to get a resolution and have now been pursuing the matter since mid September.I suspect that they only respond when they tire of someone chasing them.I cannot, in all honesty, recommend anyone to place business, ie, spend hard earned monies, with Hammonds as they are producing sub-standard goods at inflated prices and are not willing to accept responsibility for sub standard performance.

We agree with these experiences. If only we had done more research. The sales woman / designer comes round and tells you 'if our bedrooms were a car then they would be the BMW or Audi of bedrooms". What a joke they are more like bedrooms from Del Boy and Rodney ! They make a big point of saying how efficient the surveyor is to the last inch. (He got it all wrong and the pieces that came didn't fit)! They also make a pound of saying everything is custom made in the factory and finished to highest standard then when the poor fitter (who was great and is self employed) phones to tell them this, in true cowboy style they say "cut it to fit". There was so much dust it made me ill . He did the best he could but had to cut everything to fit. Suddenly lovely friendly saleswoman (BMW Audi) doesn't return your calls and Hammonds customer service are not interested and just want the money.. Use IKEA. Or a local carpenter you can trust. This is a cowboy company.look elsewhere .

Well like everyone else, I wish I'd seen this website before I purchased from Hammonds. I have a nice house and thought I was using a reliable company. I was told the installation would take two days. Two men turned up on a bank holiday, one wearing a tee shirt with a picture of a donkeys bum on with a very insulting slogan... anyhow the soft close doors didnt close, nothing lined up, the rails where either put on wrong or upside down and not tightened up, they damaged my ceiling, packed the feet of the fitting unit with cardboard where there was a foot missing, one of the doors was scrapped etc etc anyway - no less that 12 visits later it seemed to be sorted until we actually wanted to use it. The sliding doors would not go back, the inside door came off the runner and most of the fittings have fallen out as they have not been fitted correctly, and apparently I have to wait 3 weeks for someone to come and have a look. The customer service is absolutely non existant, when the fitter came to make some amendments he was pulled away for a 'more important job' imagine! so not only did it take 7 months for the installation but in only a few weeks its all fallen apart.

Mum wanted a simple floor to ceiling sliding door wardrobe with one mirrored door and built-in insides. The words of the salesman, David, were "we can give you whatever you want". I wanted oak wardrobes with opening doors and built-in insides. It all seemed so easy and I paid ££978.60 deposit. That is until the Surveyor arrived! I was then told that Mum's wardrobes would not be floor to ceiling space as it would need to lose 8" at the top to provide structural support. Despite David saying the wardrobes could be built on carpet, the Surveyor advised this was not the case and we would have to ourselves arrange for a carpet fitter to remove the necessary carpet area and refit it afterwards - an added expense. David told me that I could choose my handles for my oak wardrobes when the surveyor visited. This was not true as the type of handles I wanted (normal round ones, nothing ornate) were not made by Hammonds. I was also told by the surveyor that there was a risk of the wardrobes sinking following installation which may possibly leave a gap between the top of the wardrobe and the ceiling and I needed to sign a disclaimer to protect Hammonds! It would be up to me to have the issue repaired/corrected at my own cost! Obviously not included in the 10 year guarantee. I told the surveyor that I was not proceeding and requested a return of my deposit as Hammonds could not provide me with what I wanted despite saying originally that they could (just to get the money). Debbie telephoned me asking if I would allow her to see if she could sort it out and, reluctantly, I agreed despite already having lost confidence in the company. Debbie told me that Mum's wardrobes would now be done as originally requested despite the surveyor saying that this was not possible but they could not provide me with my handles for the oak wardrobes. However, they were happy to pay for the handles if I search for them in my own time; not even an offer to source the handles themselves. I still refused and requested my deposit be returned. Debbie then offered me large discounts as well as paying for the carpet fitter but I still refused saying I had lost confidence in the company and did not trust them to provide me with what I wanted. Debbie then said that as Hammonds had made every effort to sort things out, my deposit was non-refundable! PLEASE NOTE - CONTRACT LAW STATES THAT THE CONSUMER MUST BE GIVEN 14 DAYS TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND WITHDRAW FROM ANY CONTRACT WITHOUT REASON AND ANY DEPOSITS MUST BE RETURNED. Debbie tried to tell me (who runs a building company) that this was not the case and their terms and conditions clearly stated this. Hammonds terms and conditions are quoting an out-of-date regulation which has since been updated to include the above consumer right I had to strongly threaten Hammonds with legal action and Trading Standards before Debbie agreed to reimburse the deposits. These have since been paid into my account but for anyone considering Hammonds, DON'T BOTHER! Their integrity and customer service is non-existent. All they care about is getting your money and have no consideration for the customer.

We had Hammonds furniture fitted 10 and half years ago which we thought would see us out. We had been pleased with it until a couple of years ago when the laminate started peeling off the drawers. When I phoned Hammonds to ask what to do they said there was nothing we could do. First I tried to iron it back with brown paper between but it was too tricky so then I painstakingly went round with a tube of glue. That was okish. At the end of last year our headboard felt rather odd as we leant against it - the entire laminated surface had peeled away and since then it has been like dominoes - everything is on self destruct and all surfaces are de-laminating. Having read all the above reviews there has been little point in contacting Hammonds about their appalling product (which has also discoloured badly) since we are past our guarantee period. We have had to bite the bullet and are currently getting quotes from more reputable companies. If only internet customer reviews had been available before we went to Hammonds. I notice none of these reviews appear on their website!

We also had Hammonds install fitted wardrobes in two bedrooms in 2002 and have discovered that the laminate finish has delaminated. I wonder how many other customers have the same problem and whether this is a fault with the adhesive used. Hammonds will not provide help with details of what adhesive was used. Does anyone else know?

I bought a recently built house with my husband where we paid a substantial amount, £15, 000 for all fittings and fixtures eg wardrobes, carpets, even tables and chairs and beds. Needless to say we were robbed. These included some smart looking Hammonds wardrobes and fitted drawers along one bedroom wall completely. They were less than 5 years old. I prefer real wood and can see why my instincts are right now.
The drawer fronts first began to peel off. I contacted Hammonds who said they were over 5 years old just their web site said everything was guarranteed for 10 years. They argued that mine were bought in a sale so only guarranteed for 5 years. Of course this must mean that only inferior items are in sales? They offered nothing and when I asked if they could help they said 'oh yes!' they could come at a price and re glue.
I decided never to buy from them or reccommend them which is a shame as one of their salesmen from Leeds that we met is a very nice and decent person.
Since then the whole of the wardrobe fronts has completely peeled off. They could have learned from this if they tried. I am guessing from our house history that as the builder lived in our house for a very short period to avoid tax that it was cool in all the rooms and that after we started using heating that the glue just dried up either with heat, weith age or both.
It has been suggested to me that I get a spray glue. I jusat wish I could afford to have it all ripped out and new real wood installed. It looks very 60s and I have never liked the look. I will never pay money again for this junk. The robes are too high for me to reach in properly anyway and I am not a dwarf at 5 foot 3. i tried to be pleasant and factual on the phone and they definitely were not.

My wardrobe has just been fitted and it is fine for now. However, I have been left with an unsightly pile of rubbish which is also a fire hazard as it is blocking the stairwell I share with another flat.

Hammonds uses contractor fitters who do not take the rubbish away but Hammonds fails to inform customers that rubbish is collected only on weekdays between 10 am and 1 pm.

For those who live in a flat and cannot take endless days off work, please think twice before using their services.

For the price paid, I expected a full service from Hammonds which should include rubbish collection and clearly, they have failed to deliver on this occasion.

Has anyone got a VAT registration number for Hammonds? I can't find it on any of their paperwork except for their terms and conditions where it states, " . Unless we have specifically mentioned otherwise, VAT has been included in all our fees and charges at the applicable rate." - But there is no way of knowing what percentage of VAT they have charged, and on what service or piece of furniture. I thought it was illegal to charge VAT without showing the amount charged. Can anyone help with the number? Is it on any of your final bills? I would appreciate it.

Like many of you I purchased fitted wardrobes for 2 bedrooms, and just like some of you, just after the guarantee (in fact just before) we noticed the wardrobes peeling away. First it was one and now the entire 6 doors. On some doors the laminate has warped, on others I'm having to stick down with sellotape. I also contacted Hammonds last year. They said I could purchase additional doors at a reduced price and they would send out their carpenter to fit them. I am not willing to part with another penny. I have spent enough money and these wardrobes should have lasted many years. Fortunately, it's only the one bedroom these wardrobes are faulty. I will persist, this is very unfair.

I have had the same thing happen to me. The chest of drawers is an absolute mess as they are all split. And the wardrobe veneer is peeling of, just like the photo above. They just do not want to know unless you are prepared to pay for their repairs. I was told they had used the wrong glue! Say no more. After 12 years now it is an awful mess. I just hope I do not have to sell my house. Won't be good for hammonds!

Had I read these comments earlier, I would not have spent a penny on Hammonds. Too late now. Poor quality, bad service and terrible attitude. An utterly nightmarish experience.

We take all our customers complaints very seriously, so it’s really important to us that we deal with, and respond to, each and every one of our customers, to allow us to try and put things right.

If you have an outstanding complaint or are still unhappy after an experience with us please could you email us at resolutionsteam@hammonds-uk.com

Thank you,
The Hammonds online team

To join tge list.. I just saw this page. I am a new home buyer who spend alot to buy an old house and refurbish. my friend who recommended had great experience but I didnt.. everything staryed with sweet promises.. "we will make sure that your beautiful house will add value with these great wardrobes that will look stunning and you will love it"... it started from delivery.. no weekend delivery so I had to book day off to receive them. we did 2 rooms in 2 different days. the sales man explained that we get the new technology of no handle soft close.. one press the door opens.. but thats not what we got.. we asked for a mirrior door. the mirror was stuck on the door. I had to open the door completely wide to close it. if not it wont close. when I reported this customer service "sorry thats how are design is but we dont have any technology as such"... so request a handle on the next delivery when my other room was to be done. the delivery came. now one of the bedside table has broken which looks like an returned item.. one of the drawer is wrong size and one of the handle is missing.. I called customer service again.. and was so annoyed and told them I dont need to spend this money which a carpenter would have done best. the answer was "sorry that u feel that way.. 99% of our customers are satisfied ur 1% who had problem"?
Now I am waiting for a new delivery and a new fitting date to complete. I thought they fit to measure but I found out they only have standard size and the rest are covered by board.. it looks like they stuck all with glue on the wall. my room glass door does not close properly... the rubbish was promised to be collected yesturday but not done... I am gonig to report it to ombudsmen as I have lost my salary on unpaid leave.. my husband had to take day off. I wish I had seen this page before. the fitter is nice and kind thats about it. I didnt expect this from a company like this.

I too wish I had read this page before proceeding with Hammonds. Problem started with day of original fit, fitter hurt his back so could not attend. My husband had taken time off work especially and colleague had taken day off following day to re-fit carpet.

On day of re-arranged fit I advised the fitter I would be 5 mins away if he needed anything.

When I arrived home he had already left.

I paid in good faith then started to put put clothes away in the new wardrobe and chest of drawers.

I found that the fitter had not cleaned up after himself, not even the wardrobe and drawers everywhere was covered in fine dust.

Some of the soft close doors did not close properly, the drawers did not close properly. Panels out of line etc.

We telephoned three times to be told fitter would return on a particular Friday, he failed to turn up and no call. We have contacted them twice on their complaints page. Message each time they would revert in 3 working days. No responses.

Customer service is appalling.

We bought two bedrooms of fitted bedrooms from hammonds one was ok the other was 5 sliding doors that are jammed and we can’t get the stuff inside gutted what a pile of poooo hammonds you are thieves in my eyes stuck up bunch of thieves

Merv from Bristol
Still waiting for someone to reply to our complaints, which have been ongoing for the last couple of years, online direct through their complaints procedures with photographs and direct to Hammonds sales people at Gardiner Haskins, Bristol. After sales service non existent and an embarrassment to their sales people which I complain to regularly in store.

As comment from above once you have paid your money they seem to wash their hands with you.

Hi, we purchased a property, where 2 bedrooms where fitted with Hammonds wardrobes. One of the wardrobe doors are high glass and the glossy layer is like a thick film and coming away from the door. These wardrobes are 6 years old and the previous owner has left us all the paper works. In their contract there is no clear mention whether the guarantee is transferable or not, however, I searched on line, since Hammonds are closed today and it looks as though the guarantee is NOT transferable, I don't understand, if you really believe as you so strongly stress in your catalogue about the quality of your goods, then what does it have to do with who owns the property. You guarantee
your goods for 10 years then honour it, if you really believe in your own quality. My advice to everyone is when you purchase a big ticket items
for your home make sure you purchase from suppliers where they truly believe in the quality and the workmanship of their products.
One way of knowing that is the guarantee is transferable, therefore the supplier is NOT looking and trying for ways of getting out of their responsibilities.

Fitted wardrobes in 3 bedrooms 7 years ago with 10 years warranty. Cream Slab - We recently moved into the property where the lady had paid a fortune for them and the cream was peeling off on one side, she had arranged this to be fixed through her guarantee before we moved in, over the next 12 months all the gloss has warped and is hanging off the wardrobes in 2 of the rooms - pics available - I have contact Hammonds for a repair (offered to pay) who wouldn’t come out so we went to see them in Doorway to Value and the lady in there said it was faulty and all the wardrobes did the same and they didn’t do them anymore in that style, again we contacted Hammonds asking them to repair and they refused and said they wouldn’t come look unless we want new wardrobes fitting and buying and wouldn’t touch a repair under 1500 - the service is the worst seen by a large manufacturer who see uninterested if you are not buying a new product don’t be fooled by the aftercare or guarantee - even though this product is manufacturer fault they won’t help us at all, we now have thousands of pounds of wardrobes that are fitted that we need to replace the inners also as they won’t do anything to help also all the handles keep falling off - DO NOT BUY OF THIS COMPANY - GUARANTEE AND REPAIRS ARE NON EXISTINENT ONLY BOTHERED ABOUT NEW SALES NOT EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND THEY SELL FAULTY PRODUCTS WHICH THEY WONT MAKE GOOD WHEN THEY GO WRONG