What colour is this worktop

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Am I ott in thinking this white laminate isn’t really white but more a cream ?

I’m now having a lovely back and forth argument whereby they are saying because I said straight edge it’s my fault when it is never specified or mentioned anywhere that the colour differs. I’ve informed them that this is a communication/ description error of theirs that will be rectified and I’m not paying. Waiting to hear back from a manager
I wonder if my credit card could do a charge back and it’s not as sold- but it‘a part of a larger payment

So glad you know how the problem has arisen and now have grounds to get it rectified. Under those circumstances I would be absolutely fuming. If it makes you feel better, 2 years ago I put in a huge complaint to a different kitchen company and got a large part back in compensation.

Dinosauraddict did you get a refund from the head office or did you need to go to a third party ombudsman?

Handsoffisback exactly my point, you would never think to query it. They say the straight edge means the mirrror chips have to be put in differently and if affects the colour...of course I should know that right?!

Oh that's bad, it's quite a difference.

From what I know, Howdens is a franchise business (which contributes to their opaque pricing). You might get further going to head office

Well I’ve told them to let me know whether they will replace it for free or whether I should action a charge back, I’ll give them until COB tomorrow.

Handsoffisback couldn’t fill mine with some could you

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I got it from head office and didn't have to go to any other third party/ombudsman!

Thanks Dinosauraddict

Update is after my threatening email yesterday today they have agreed as “a gesture of goodwill” to change the work top. I need to get the quote from the builder to fit the new one and I will let them know they are liable for that too.

Well done op. I hesitated to say I thought it looked eggy custards cream but it really did to my eye. Good for you.
I so hate it when they say ‘as a gesture of goodwill’ - no it’s because ‘we were either in breach of contract or made a material misrepresentation and we are so sorry’.

Great news @OnlyFoolsnMothers - I'm so glad they're giving you a new worktop to rectify it!

And so they should! a pain for you though because the tiling has already been done.

I know- such a pain and delay, I’ve tossed up whether to leave it but ultimately I’ve waited 7yrs since moving in to do the kitchen, doubt I’ll ever do it again in this house I would like it how I wanted it.

I hear you, OP! We fitted a kitchen this year, and our worktops were held up by lockdown so we waited another month. It had already been almost 3 months without a kitchen at all, 6 months without a dishwasher, and the hot water system in this house produced a mere dribble of water hotter than the sun. I spent 4 months cooking on a single hot plate, plus a slow cooker, and washing up in an 80s cloakroom sink. I was so annoyed. But in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really matter if it means the kitchen is how you want it at the end

Oh wow that sounds hellish, I’m definitely trying to keep that mentality “in the grand scheme of things”. I have to have ours finished soon though, baby number 2 comes early November and I need some calm ideally before that. I do love how on homes under the hammer they renovate entire houses in a week for a fiver- in my next life I’m marrying a tradesman!

It was hellish but it could have been so much worse. If lockdown had happened earlier in the project we would have been stuck without plaster etc still ‘cooking’ in the hallway. It will be ok

I had those exact counters in my last house a few years ago and they were much whiter that yours appear in that photo. Have they def fitted the right ones??

Sorry, just read the thread I full and see that Howdens recently changed them since I bought mine.

Very well done OP. It would have annoyed me too but I doubt I'd have had the gumption to do anything about it. Proud of you for sticking to your guns!

Well the battle isn’t over- Howdens don’t want to pay the refitting costs, which I was anticipating. Anyway have informed them I will be sending them a LBA (letter before action) and without payment will proceed with a small claims application.
Honestly why is life such a battle!!!

Well done again op. Consequential damages. Flowing directly from their original breach. They didn’t supply what you ordered. You just need to stay firm that you couldn’t have realised before they had fitted it. Given you were told on site that it was correct I don’t see this could be a problem. Terrible negative publicity fgs.