You have ordered the suite. They cancel. The merchant will not take the toilet back. That is a deposit you never asked for, sitting in your hallway.
When to ask
| Situation | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Special-order kit, paint matched, boiler | Yes — cover the order |
| Week blocked in a busy month | Yes — booking fee / first slice |
| Half-day local labour, stock in the van | Often a minimum, not 50% |
| Customer-supplied materials, your labour only | Smaller, or none |
Do not ask for the whole job before you have started. You need enough to cover the order and the diary, not their life savings. Twenty to fifty percent is common. Materials-only deposits can be the merchant ticket plus a little handling.
What to send
To book the week of 12 May and order the suite, a deposit of £1,200 (30%) is due when you accept. Bank transfer to [name], ref QUOTE-142. Work starts when it clears. The rest is due on completion.
Same words on the PDF. If they haggle the deposit to zero and the kit is special-order, you do not order. That is not rude. That is the job.
Distance and off-premises consumer jobs can carry cancellation rights. Do not take a deposit you are not willing to handle if they cancel in that window. This is general information, not legal advice.
What people miss
Asking in the hallway. They have already said yes to a number with no deposit. You look awkward. The paper should have done the work.
Cash in the van with no receipt. You will forget. They will remember a different figure. Transfer, ref, done.
100% before a tool comes out. Looks like a runner. Cover materials and a slice of labour, then invoice the rest.
Starting while it is “on the way”. It is not paid until it is in the account. Order after it is.
Related guides
FAQ
- What if they refuse any deposit?
- Do not order special kit. A labour-only half day with stock in the van can still go ahead. Write that materials wait until payment.
- Is 50% too much?
- Not if half the job is goods you must buy. It is high for a day’s labour with nothing to order.
- Should I take a card in person?
- If you already do. The point is a record against the quote, not the brand of plastic.
- What do I do if they cancel after paying?
- If kit is ordered and cannot go back, that part of the deposit is spent. Say that on the quote before they pay.
