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CB Home Decor and Furnishing Review of Kitchen Italia Ltd, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Kitchen Italia Ltd, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Kitchen Italia Ltd, St Albans, Hertfordshire review: Scam artists / Crooks 27

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Author of the review
11:54 am EST
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I just read a complaint on here and a response from a "Director" of the company saying all complaints were old and malicious ...

My partner ordered a Kitchen in 2011 and paid the deposit. After a protracted process which included long silences and periods on inactivity (several months) on Kitchen Italia's side, we decided to cancel the Kitchen. They were abusive, told us we owed them for the whole kitchen and that it was in stock (something they had not mentioned up until the point we cancelled) . This was May last year. We have never seen the deposit back from this company but after seeing all the negative reviews (all perfectly genuine I am sure ... which is more than can be said for the blatantly fake positive reviews) we decided that it was better to lose £500 than to potentially lose a lot more by actually buying a kitchen and relying on them any further. Its worth noting from the reviews that the "estimates" for fitting the kitchens given at the time of purchase were meaningless because the fitters were entirely independent and under no obligation to accept those prices. They are a totally dodgy outfit who clearly get trade from paying for stalls at Kitchen / Home trade fairs. ... Why would anyone write reviews like this in 2013 if they were a reliable business who could be trusted ? !

27 comments
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Unhappy Tim
Watford, GB
Feb 20, 2016 4:05 am EST
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Told you guys they'd go bust

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Unhappy Tim
Watford, GB
Feb 20, 2016 4:02 am EST
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HAHA they went bust like I said they would. I laugh but I never did get my kitchen completely sorted.

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Fattypuss
, GB
Dec 15, 2015 11:06 pm EST
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Novo Cucine
Novo Contacts & Informations
Posted: 2015-11-26 by unhappy Customer5000
Disgusting behavior
Complaint Rating: 100 % with 1 votes
Contact information:
Unit 4, Spring Valley Business Centre
St Albans, United Kingdom
novocucine.co.uk
Novo Cucine have just gone into LIQUIDATION! (Nov 2015) PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! THEY ARE A BUNCH OF CROOKS! I feel so sorry for all those people who have JUST handed over their hard earned money and are now left without a kitchen esp before Xmas! disgusting behavior!... We at least have just over half ours fitted and can probably just get the rest done using our "hand man builder" I'm quite sure Novo (formally Kitchens Italia) will rise once again under a different name! .. if this is the case... beware, watch out for the manager Don also Matt, Pat and Eric!.. cowboys! do you research before you even consider parting with your money with these guys under a different company name! This is an honest customers reviews and not an ex-employees review!
Complaint comments Comments (0) Complaint country United Kingdom Complaint category Utility Services
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More Novo Cucine Complaints & Reviews
Novo Cucine / Kitchen Italia - Liars, rude, poor workmanship, poor materials

Do not use this company, , , , !, , , ,
My friend has been waiting since April 2015, they make promises, hes in such a state & living with boxes & unfinished kitchen.
Wont return his calls & taken the £6.00 cash he paid.

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MaxBarbieri
, GB
Nov 26, 2015 7:08 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

They have not finished the job; Eric, Don did not put right and they lie to me for two months. Now it appears there are new owners, I will probably need to travel there to get my spares. VERY NEGATIVE

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Qualcast
Camberley, GB
May 01, 2015 2:55 pm EDT

We are in the process of taking them to court, if they are such a wonderful company then all tgese complains would be delt with.
Avoid this company like the plague.

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Paris496
London, GB
May 01, 2015 7:32 am EDT

DO NOT EVER USE THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A COMPANY!

I am in utter hell and have been for months. I was bullied into handing over my money (full amount) in November 2014, it is now May 2015 and I still do not have a full kitchen.

They got our plans wrong 3 times, you can NEVER get hold of anybody, Eric is the most useless man and orders the wrong doors numerous times, leaves you on hold for 10/15 minutes and the goes to lunch or goes home without picking up the call. Don is the main problem as he is the manager & has zero skills it would seem. What a joke of a company. I'm appalled at their customer service and lack of communication. I repeat; never use them. Trust me, it is not worth it.

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tony antoniou
London, GB
Apr 10, 2015 5:51 am EDT

I find it amazing that everyone is so sure all the negative reviews are genuine, yet all the positive ones are fake!
I am in sales myself and I can assure you the quality of the kitchen, the fitters and the whole company was excellent. My post is completely genuine and if this website worked properly an image would have been uploaded too.
I suggest if you're looking for a kitchen, go to Novo Cucine and then decide for yourself whether they are good or not. Take on board any negative comments but do not make a judgement based solely on those comments because people are always keen to get onto websites to complain yet never so eager to praise and I know they have lots of very happy customers - I'm one of them

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pleaselisten
Radlett, GB
Mar 28, 2015 8:44 am EDT
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IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXACT COPY OF MY KITCHEN.
Just wait until the cheap kitchen starts falling apart and then write another review!
Nova use the same cupboards as IKEA and other budget DIY stores yet they charge thousands of pounds more.

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tony antoniou
London, GB
Mar 28, 2015 7:22 am EDT

THIS COMPANY ARE BRILLIANT.

I cannot believe how many bad reports are on this site for Novo Cucini.

I saved up for 8 years to build a big kitchen extension and wanted the best kitchen I could get for my money. I looked at lots of companies and asked a couple for ideas. The suggestions which came back were nice but nothing special. My wife pestered me to go to see Novo Cucine because she was impressed with them at the Ideal Home Exhibition. I grudgingly went along on a Sunday and it was the best decision I made.
We me Don Burdon who was brilliant. He clearly knows his stuff and whilst the kitchen units he helped us pick were excellent, it was the way he designed the whole kitchen space that impressed me. He looked at the project as a whole and designed in features to hide the bulkhead by creating a drop down ceiling feature to house the ceiling fan and complement the large island. He created a built in effect for the tall wall units so that there is no space above them, making the kitchen contemporary and so much smarter than any of the other kitchen companies could. His attention to detail was superb and I have to say that the fitters too were top class.
I work in the commercial interiors market and deal with fitters all day long but Novo Cucine's fitters were top class and they created the ceiling design feature and the built in effect and the whole kitchen from start to finish was professionally designed and installed.
There was admittedly an error on the glass splash back but this was the glass companies fault and Novo Cucine got the whole thing rectified promptly and without any fuss at all
It is a real shame that a few people have had some problems with this company because I found they went out of their way to help us and to rectify anything small that did go wrong.
I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Novo Cucine and I am so pleased that my wife talked me into visiting them that Sunday.
I have an unbelievable kitchen thanks to Don and his Team

GREAT JOB!

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JonBarnett
St Albans, GB
Feb 04, 2015 6:44 am EST

[B][U]DO NOT..I REPEAT...DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY[/U][/B]

I am writing this currently spitting feathers so i apologise in advance for grammar, spelling and punctuation.

This company is the saddest and incompetent excuse for a corporate entity i have ever come across in my 10 years of construction and property development.

Still waiting for 8 weeks for a few little bits of kitchen to finish it off.

Wrong doors were ordered in the wrong colour.

The installations guy, Eric, doesn't seem to have the foggiest idea about what he is doing and find.

This company, which they will probably close down and re-open under another name, doesn't care about you, your kitchen all the care is about the money and blame everyone else for their crap business ethics and processes.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!

How they can still be allowed to trade after all this reviews is beyond me!

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SAU
, GB
Oct 29, 2014 4:08 am EDT

All I can say is do not buy a kitchen from this company - I wish I hadn't! They just take your money. The installation has taken weeks, my kitchen isn't finished, I'm missing parts, I've had to project manage it myself and the final product is of poor quality. There is no customer service or project management. Don't buy a kitchen from them go elsewhere to a reputable kitchen company.

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pleaselisten
Radlett, GB
Sep 01, 2014 12:59 pm EDT
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Please, please, please listen to the complaints from other posters. They are all a bunch of crooks. All they do is lie, lie, lie !
You will get better quality kitchens at IKEA. DO NOT USE NOVA CUCINE or KITCHENS ITALIA !

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A Speechless Customer
London, GB
Aug 22, 2014 10:00 am EDT

I so wish I have read the comments before letting their salesman into my house. My experience with Novo Cucine is absolutely horrify. Now I am trying to find legal help. The salesman stayed in my house for six hours to design the kitchen and did the hard sale, I felt sorry (silly me) for him and signed the contracts (yes three contracts, one for kitchen units, one for fitting, one for stone worktop) that's where all the nightmare began. The are abusive, rude, lie to me all the time on the phone over a period of six months. Apparently the these contracts are with three different companies and they do not cover each other. They asked me to clear the kitchen contract before kitchen delivery, to pay for the fitter before he started work. We had issue with delivery of the kitchen, fitter did not fit kitchen correctly. Worktop people did not turn up. I had to explain to them on the phone every time and all the people who is in charge or can make decision are always `out on client sits`. Basically I am left with three piece of paper and a unfinished kitchen. They always told me that they will call me back and someone would come to fix the issues but I have never been called back or anyone ever come to my house to finish the kitchen. I seriously do not believe how a company can run like this. I just keep seeing this company at Ideal Home, Grand Design exhibitions every time. I would really appreciate any legal advice or what I can do. Otherwise at least I want to people to know what kind of company Novo Cucine is and make informed decisions.

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Kingsaver
london, GB
Jul 25, 2014 6:28 am EDT

We fell for the hard sell from Novo Cucine - well the guy sat in our kitchen for about 4 hours so I think we felt sorry for him! We even fed him! Then the pressure started to build. Anyway no matter - we signed a contract, but then immediately exercised our contractual right of termination and asked for our £2500 deposit back. Then the fun began. Excuse after excuse - promise after promise. Eventually after months we realised they had no intention of paying us so we sued them. Even then they tried to get us to get our bank to contact their payment service as they were having "a few problems". Anyway they have admitted the claim so we have entered judgment against them, and the cheque has finally arrived (and cleared!). I would rather eat my own foot than use this lot again. I am in touch with Trading Standards, as they haven't heard the last of this. People need to be protected from this sort of thing.

By the way it is very easy to sue online - just google the government's MCOL system It will take you a few minutes and you don't need any legal experience.

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Unhappy Tim
Watford, GB
Jul 08, 2014 6:46 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Room101 =NOVO CUCINE I totally agree with you these people are scammers. I just had the rudest polish guy I have ever met tell me my kitchen is falling apart after 1 year due to abuse. "The sawn raw wood edges touching the tiled floor are nothing to do with the veneer peeling off then? ! !" Give me a break! This guy was booked into to fix already delivered replacement parts today. (don't let that fool you I had to work very hard to even get those replaced and they only agreed to half my door imperfections and not any of the £2500 black granite worktop blotches. Clearly class B granite sold as class A )
He told me he's not fixing it today as "I will do the same as MARK GOGFREY! (Who is the fitter who fitted my kitchen- £2500 fitters fee worth) "HE is one of our best fitters!" HAHAA! That says it all. I have paid in total £11000 to this excuse for company. I will go into more detail when I get a chance to write up my entire experience in full. I have recordings of after sales manager Erik telling me packs of lies. They will be on youtube with the full video of all the blunders together with video of the all errors and bad fitting! I'm doing it on imovie now. I have also had a director around basically calling a disgruntled previous customer a liar. Well, who do I believe now then? >>>Photos, Videos and Secret recordings to come.

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Room101 =NOVO CUCINE
, GB
Jun 26, 2014 1:22 pm EDT

CURRENT PROBLEM
Novo Cucine is SCAM and its sales people are ###. They lie and lie and try to fleece you. BE CAREFUL about putting a deposit down. Your prices ARE NOT LOCKED IN. Having 'fixed a price' 4 months ago, my plans had to be adjusted to accommodate the new layout. Now needing less units, we asked for price adjustments they HIKED UP the price by another £2000. The will not budge from this and my finish deadline is looming so I am going elsewhere. Now they don't want to return my deposit but I intend to take legal action if they don't (even if it costs me all of my deposit). We need these people off the market!
PLEASE PLEASE take heed of this notice and be careful

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kate crossley
london, GB
Feb 25, 2010 12:12 am EST

I was really surprised to see some negative comments about Kitchen Italia. They completely transformed our ktchen over a year ago. It looks wonderful, works really well and they and their fitters were a pleasure to deal with

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johnbing221
Hertfordshire, GB
Jun 08, 2013 1:37 pm EDT

Really don't understand any complains that i've been reading. Several members of friends and family have had Kitchens supplied and fitted by Kitchen italia over the past few years. We've all been absolutely delighted with every part of the service from start to finish.
We've also now had our bedroom fitted by Kitchen italia and we are over the moon with it.

I'd like to thank all involved especially Phil for understanding our every need, and i will continue to recommend them to everyone i know.

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unhappy customer 123
Stratford-upon-Avon, GB
Apr 29, 2014 4:41 pm EDT
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I only wish I found these reviews earlier. I have also ordered kitchen from Novo Cucine back in October 2013 (after seeing them at Grand Design Show at NEC) and it's still not finished (April 2014). They mistreated us throghout the whole process and still waiting for parts so the kitchen cabinet doors can be fitted. Absolutely terrible company to deal with. Avoid at all costs.

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Unhappy Tim
Watford, GB
Mar 21, 2014 6:43 pm EDT
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I'm still awaiting them to finish my kitchen and fix a worktop from last summer they have since changed their name. We have started court proceedings and will let you know the outcome. Absolute waste of time ringing them. Anyone in the area who want to see the kitchen we have had fitted as proof is welcome.

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D.Burden
St. Albans, GB
Mar 20, 2014 2:29 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Post : Dominiki Chatzoppoulou. 108, Riverside mansion Milk Yard E1w 3TB
This review is not from Dominiki but on her behalf by her boyfriend that was not involved with any of the buying process. The kitchen was sold on 25th may 2011. Value £2000.The contract was signed for 8 cabinets and laminate work tops. Fitting was £1350.
We surveyed the kitchen shortly afterwards, this was all signed and agree on 01.06 2011 and had been authorized by the client to go into manufacture.
The client requested a price for us to supply granite work surfaces. The delivery was not confirmed as the client wanted to think about our granite quotation, this we agreed too.
Weeks later the client contacted our office to cancel the kitchen totally. It was explained that the customer was month outside the agreed and understood cancellation period. This is clearly stated on all of our paperwork, signed for by the client.
The company wanted to fulfil the contract at all the contracted prices. We have followed our terms and condition and have done absolutely nothing wrong. Being called scam artists and crooks is damaging and libelous and just so unfair. The client was offered their deposit back with our cost taken out.
All we have tried to do is supply a kitchen that the client ordered.
POST : Mac68 Peter MaCaskill 68 Station Rd Harpenden.
History : Bought a kitchen from kitchen Italia where all contracts were read and agreed by the client. On technical survey, it was found that the Designer had made a serious mistake on the costing of the kitchen as he had costed the wrong range. This should have been £1000's more than was agreed
We contacted the client and explained with our apologies that we could not physically do the kitchen at this agreed price.. However we would supply the furniture and therefore the whole kitchen at cost price. After two further meeting where it was shown where the mistakes had been made Mrs Mccaskill politely refused our offer. We apologies at all times and refunded her deposits immediately.
We did part on good terms. Obviously Mr McCaskill did not think so. We again feel this is unfair and libelous. We do not use dodgy contacts or have appaulling service. We parted on good terms with Mrs McCaskill who totally understood our position.
Mr Mccaskill works in law himself, I am sure did read his contract which have all been approved by trading standards.

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angrybob888
Berkhamsted, GB
Jan 28, 2014 3:25 am EST

yes I have had the same problems. 100% agree I just wish I had read the reviews before buying. They are a typical dodge pot outfit who lie and have also assumed a different name! Novo Cucine I think is right.

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macbeth4321
Harrow, GB
Dec 05, 2013 2:15 pm EST

Also just wanted to say I have never written a review about a company before, but i am completely appalled by what i experienced, and after reading so many similar stories about this company i felt the need to share my experience. I wonder if there is a way to report this company to the authorities. They now operate under a new name... Novo Cucine to avoid being recognised i assume.

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macbeth4321
Harrow, GB
Dec 05, 2013 2:08 pm EST

I had a very similar experience with Kitchen Italia very recently. After meeting them at the Ideal Home Exhibition, my widowed mother called them for a quote and they sales rep talked her into paying a £100 deposit for a kitchen plan drawn up and assured her that there will be no obligation to purchase anything, but gave a potential estimate of £10, 000 for the kitchen units. He was very pushy and told her to sign some paperwork- Not even one week after the initial meeting she was called by KI demanding the full deposit of £3, 000 regardless if she wanted to proceed with them or not. This was a TOTAL shock as she had not committed to anything, but "apparently" the units had been ordered and she was liable for the funds as she was tricked into signing a contract. The Sales manager was very patronising and threatened legal action if she could not pay the balance immediately- he actually resorted my mother to tears. Luckily I was there to support her and we have solicitors in the family who have advised us, otherwise they would have been able to take advantage of a person in a vulnerable position and bully her out of hard earned money. THEY ARE DISGRACEFUL and I would advise anyone against even contacting them. CROOKS!

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Mac68
C, GB
Jun 09, 2013 7:07 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

There is no reason other than having a shocking experience to post negative comments, thus ensuring future customers make an educated choice about this company. We had a utterly appalling experience and want to ensure people know this might be their experience too. Check these guys out very carefully!

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Mac68
C, GB
Feb 05, 2013 3:40 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We had similar issues, charming sakes people, dodgy contracts and appalling customer service. We got our deposit back but were left with a week to find another kitchen to allow us to move back home on time and with a newborn we were not taking any risks trusting them.

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notahappybunni
, GB
Feb 05, 2013 11:58 am EST

Disgraceful! They sound like a nightmare.

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