Return Of Kitchen Gangster

May 4 2008 The Judge

Chancer Vance Is In Hot Water As Rock Solid Firm Rips Off My Readers

HE is the UK's most complained about independent trader and is never far from trouble.

But it seems there is no stopping Vance Miller.

Miller, 42 - dubbed the Kitchen Gangster - is the brains behind a string of home improvements firms such as Maple Industries, Kitchens and Craftsman Kitchens.

He has been charged with conspiring to defraud customers, jailed, banned from acting as a company director and undergone a dawn raid by 130 police and trading standards officers.

But still he thumbs his nose at the law...and the latest venture from his premises, Rock Solid Kitchens, is causing my readers grief.

Today I feature just three who have ordered kitchens from the firm only to get goods that are far from rock solid.

Sarah-Jane McGrane is £1150 out of pocket for her kitchen, which has bits missing and is not what she ordered.

Anne-Marie Marshall's £734 package is three doors short and does not match.

And Karen McKenzie's £950 units are the wrong size and she is short of drawers and doors.

Trading standards have received more than 2000 complaints about Lancashire-based Miller.

They are investigating Rock Solid and he faces up to two years in jail and an unlimited fine when the Office of Fair Trading take him to court on May 19.

Sarah-Jane, of Kirknewton, Midlothian, signed withRock Solid after spotting them on the internet.

She paid £1150 cash in March when the kitchen was delivered but since then she has been fighting for missing items.

She said: "It was late then bits were missing, units did not fit and I had a gas hob that was no use to me.

"I have phoned and faxed but they have made no effort to contact me."

Mum-of-two Sarah-Jane, 34, and husband Stuart, 44, had to buy replacement parts themselves.

She said: "The customer services people are unhelpful and I dread to think whatmy phone bill will be. Every time I am put on hold for half an hour.

"Rock Solid were cheap but definitely not cheerful."

Anne-Marie Marshall's £734 kitchen has been a "total nightmare" since she handed over her cash in March.

The care assistant, of Cambuslang, near Glasgow, found three doors were a different colour from the rest. Anne-Marie, 43, said: "They messedme about over delivery and they are still messing me about. They don't care.

"This has been a disaster and I can't afford to get another kitchen."

Karen McKenzie, 30, of Govan, Glasgow, had to rely on family to adapt and install her kitchen as the Rock Solid units were the wrong sizes.

She said: "I am two doors and three drawer facings short and am waiting for a cupboard and drawer housing to be replaced. When I saw Rock Solid online I thought that I was getting a bargain - some bargain."

Miller was the subject of the very first trading standards "Stop Now" order in 2002, which gave officers powers to stop rogue traders in their tracks.

But he continued to supply kitchens which were not sold as advertised and was jailed the following year.

Tony Allen, Head of Oldham Trading Standards, said: "We're in the process of delivering a prosecution against him.

"We advise consumers to be wary of traders involved in high-value transactions who haven't got a credit licence and only deal in cash."

Trading standards are investigating if there is any link between Miller and Rock Solid.

He is listed as the contact on their adverts and they trade from the same premises as his other firms.

But as he is banned from being a company director, Miller is being cagey.

When asked whether Miller would deal with complaints, Rock Solid's receptionist laughed and said: "I can't answer that question. I wouldn't like to say yes and I wouldn't like to say no."

Rock Solid have contacted all three readers and promised to resolve their problems. But I won't be happy until this kitchen nightmare is over.