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Driveways & Paving

Price agreed for garden paving but should a deposit be paid

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.51 PM

I negotiated and agreed on a price for my patio to be paved and work has started and the foundation ground work has been done using some of my old garden slabs and a few chalk chippings from my borders and the paver used 2 truck loads of sand and cement material before compacting the area and say its now ready for paving and is asking for a deposit for materials. None of this about paying a deposit upfront was ever discussed before the job started and I've asked repeatedly for an invoice or some sort of contract before work started and he has not provided me with anything. I'm not sure if paying a deposit is legal although he hasn't said how much it will be yet. The price of the job is £4,400 . I expected to pay for the job the amount quoted when the job is completed fully to my satisfaction and will tell him this. Is it normal for him to ask for a deposit before a job is done Advice needed please.

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6 Answers

D & R Property and Plumbing Maintenance

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

New Romney

this should have been worked out upfront and agreed , i always get a deposit for materials upfront ,but it is a matter of trust, he has started the job and he wants money for materials, you want him to trust you to pay him, but it appears you do not trust him, as he has already done some of the work it is not money upfront,trades men should not be treated as if they are a bank, we all need money to finance the jobs we do ,you cant go to tesco get your food and pay them when you are satisfied with the taste of the food.

Answered13 July 2023

Anonymous user

I would only ask for the materials money and wait for the job to be finished

Answered13 July 2023

Mpjlandscaping

Rating: 5 out of 5

Stourbridge

If the quotation doesn't state anything about a deposit or stage payments you don't have to pay it ,everything has to be in writing

Answered13 July 2023

DT Landscapes

Rating: 1 out of 5

Pontypool

I always ask for a deposit for the material and then when the customer if fully satisfied with the work carried out then they pay rest but it’s all about trust we trust you and you trust us

Answered13 July 2023

Nick griffin

Rating: 5 out of 5

Rickmansworth

Firstly that sounds very cheap so I'm assuming this is a sole trader, very small company. As already said communication should have been better, perhaps he's just starting out and will get better at communicating payments with customers. Paying out thousands (basically giving a customer credit) as a small company isn't easy. You could always offer to pay the supplier direct if you have concerns. Personally I always ask for 20% deposit then if the material cost is high stage payments to follow. It doesn't cover the whole material cost but does show commitment on the customers side.

Answered18 July 2023

Anonymous user

Should have been worked out and sorted before hand on large jobs we do take a 20% deposit for material ext

Answered19 July 2023