7 On Your Side: Couple trying to update kitchen finds company is in hot water

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A couple moved to a new home and decided to update the kitchen, but they say they got burned by the remodeler.

They paid thousands in a down payment for new cabinets, but no cabinets for months and months..

That's when they reached out to 7 On Your Side for hlep.

The empty nesters got stuck in a new nest with no kitchen.

They ordered the cabinets last October from a company in business 50 years then while fighting it out for a refund, found the kitchen company was in plenty of hot water.

"It's like being slapped in the face. They took your money and you can't do anything about it," said Tarallo Kitchen and Bath customerr Bill Galvin.

Bill Galvin is talking about the kitchen remodeler that he says gutted his bank account.

"It was a nightmare," said Dorothy Galvin.

Last year the couple downsized. But their new house had an old kitchen.

So they paid Tarallo - The Kitchen Source - a $7500 dollar down payment for new cabinets, saying the company took their money but never ordered the cabinets.

Bill says he found that out after months of excuses from the Kitchen Source- blaming delays on the manufacturer, he called the manufacturer directly, and says he was told, it never got a cent of his deposit from the Tarallo's.

"They banked my money and used it," he said.

9 months later he got $2,000 back but then his refund payments abruptly stopped.

When we went to the Tarallo's to see about Bill's bill, the tax man beat us to it: a seizure by the New York State Taxation and Finance.

The kitchen business was in hot water, behind on taxes, employees were locked out and told to leave.

"I am so confused and distraught right now," said Tarallo carpenter Laurone McLendon.

The carpenter's tools were locked inside but a week and half later, after paying 10 grand toward back-taxes to the state, the Sheriff unlocked the doors and the company was on the defense.

"Most people dont come back open and i think it's pretty heroic that we are," said manager Anthony Tarallo. "It's heroic that you're open, you, me him we all have to pay our taxes," we said.

Tarallo blamed the economy and suppliers for problems but wouldn't say exactly what happened to Bill and Dorothy's deposit.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on why he paid you for cabinets and you never ordered them?," we asked. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to sit here and be made aggressive by you like this," he responded.

"I'm asking simply Anthony, what happened?," we said. "There's a lot I can't talk about," said Tarallo.

Well he did put some of his money where his mouth is. After we left they came up with another thousand toward Bill's deposit.

That check got cut Monday afternoon. The manager apologized to the Galvins, and vowed to resume making the installment payments..they still owe $4500.

The big takeway: don't put more than half down up front and make sure you get a contract with clear delivery and refund terms.