By Megan Harrison
When Marty and Kathy Faulkner rang up Mount Maunganui's Thermotek Kitchens in February this year, they were impressed with what they heard.
The company would be able to provide their new kitchen within budget and it would all be ready in a little over a month.
Today Mr and Mrs Faulkner stand in the middle of their gutted kitchen and wonder what went wrong.
The couple aren't getting the kitchen they ordered because less than two weeks ago Thermotek Kitchens went into receivership - and took the Faulkners' $3600 deposit with it.
"We couldn't believe it," said Mr Faulkner, the shock still evident in his face. "They told us it would be ready on March 22 and installed on the 26th. I went and gutted the kitchen, then found out from our plumber that the company had gone into receivership.
"What really gets me is that they didn't even call us and tell us," said Mr Faulkner. "We had to hear it from the plumber. All we've got from Thermotek is the bill."
The Faulkners have been without a kitchen since March 17. They make all their meals on the barbecue and have been washing dishes in the bathtub. Their fridge, stove, washer and dryer are now fixtures in the lounge and their master bedroom is cluttered with boxes of dishes, cutlery, pots and pans.
The water to the front of the house also had to be cut off in preparation for the installation, so the couple have had to do their laundry at Mrs Faulkner's mother's house.
The couple were surprised to then receive a letter over the weekend from Ferrier Hodgson, the accounting firm handling the receivership for Thermotek Kitchens.
It stated that the Faulkners had a debt owing of $3946.85 and that the balance was expected to be paid in the next seven days.
"I told them to get stuffed," said Mrs Faulkner. "Give me my kitchen and I'll give you your money. If anything they owe us our deposit back."
Brendon Gibson, joint receiver for Ferrier Hodgson told the Bay of Plenty Times the letter was just a formality based on the records they received from Thermotek.
"If these people haven't been given their kitchen, then they won't be expected to pay the outstanding balance," said Mr Gibson. "But unfortunately I don't believe there will be any compensation for the money already paid."
Mr Gibson said he did not know how many other Thermotek customers might be affected.
Mr and Mrs Faulkner have since been in touch with another kitchen company, which upon hearing their story, has agreed to put all other projects on hold and get the couple a kitchen by the end of the week.
Faulkners fight loss of kitchen and deposit
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