Customers of a kitchen firm have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after its showrooms all closed down without warning.
Kitchen Love, which operated across north-west England, had dozens of glowing five star reviews online from happy customers.
But it shut down last year, leaving orders unfulfilled and angry customers asking police to investigate.
Now owner Graham Griffiths - who saw a previous kitchen business liquidated in 2018 - has admitted he ‘failed’ clients.
However he denied accepting payment for products he knew he could not provide.
Among his unhappy customers are Louise and Michael Twist, who been putting money aside for years to create the kitchen of their dreams for their family home in Mawdesley, Lancashire.
They looked at several companies before choosing Kitchen Love, which had showrooms in nearby Ormskirk as well as in Cheadle Hulme and Formby.
Mr Twist, an accountant, did credit checks on the firm and didn’t find anything to arouse his suspicions.
Last April they agreed a final bill of around £30,000, with most of the money to be paid in instalments before work began.
The project involved complex structural changes to their home, with new flooring as well as a completely new kitchen suite.
Builders took out the existing kitchen and part of the house’s external wall, but the couple say there were repeated delays.
‘We knew something was wrong then,’ said Mrs Twist.
‘But they had our money, so we were basically trapped.’
The couple - who have three young daughters - struggled to prepare meals without a kitchen, resorting to using an outside barbecue or accepting help from relatives.
By the end of September, their house was finally ready for the appliances to be fitted.
But when the units were delivered, they were dismayed when Mr Griffiths arrived with what they claim were ex-display appliances.
‘They weren’t boxed, and we refused point blank to take them,’ Mrs Twist said.
They say Kitchen Love refused their request for a refund, so they ended up claiming the money back via their credit card issuer and paying a different firm to fit the kitchen.
However other customers have lost thousands, among them Wendy and Gary Charlton, from Aughton, Lancashire, who paid £16,000 upfront after a recommendation from friends.
Their old kitchen was removed last September but faced ‘excuses’ as they waited for the new one to be installed.
‘Before long, we realised the company had cash flow issues and couldn’t supply us,’ said Mrs Charlton.
‘We had to pay another company to fit it. We paid for the whole thing twice.
‘We had no means of claiming back because it was done by bank transfer.
‘It’s a life lesson, I suppose. I’m still learning at 60.’
Colin and Liz Halliday from Skelmersdale transferred more than £6,000 to the company last October before changing their minds.
However despite trying cancel the contract during the 14-day cooling off period they say their requests for a refund were stonewalled.
‘It’s left me frightened of dealing with anyone else,’ said Mr Halliday, 68.
‘My wife is devastated by it - she’s desperate for a new kitchen. We’re of pension age and we can’t afford to lose £6,000.’
They are all part of a WhatsApp group whose members claim to have been short-changed by Kitchen Love, which has now ceased operations with its showrooms shut.
In response, Mr Griffiths put the failure of the company down to a combination of ‘personnel problems’ and ‘landlords moving the goalposts’, saying he has lost almost £500,000 himself.
But he admitted: ‘I ran the company - and I ran it wrong.’
He strongly denies that he sold products and services to customers that he knew he wouldn’t be able to provide but says he won’t return to the kitchen trade, saying: ‘I failed big time.’
Customers say police told them the firm’s failure was a civil matter.
One couple are starting court proceedings against Kitchen Love, while others have complained to Lancashire Trading Standards.
It in turn has advised anyone left out of pocket to seek a refund via their bank or contact Citizens Advice.
