Can I ask for a deposit back?
Discussion
Back in 2008 I placed a deposit of nearly £1000 with a manufacturer of sectional garages. I obtained planning permission from the council and set about producing the garage base.
Beaause the garage is a double, the floor area dictated that it was subject to building regs.
The foundations were excavated, the concrete was poured and I had some hardcore delivered for the base.
This took a couple of years to reach the stage of the base being not too far off complete.
It was complicated by the fact that I could not have a soak away, and so the drains had to go into the existing house ones. Permission was obtained for this also.
In 2011 I was made redundantant and was out of work for 6 months, and did agency work for another few months, before finding permanentt work again March 2012, but at a fiar lower rate than I was on before.
All of the money Ihad set aside for the garage I ended up living on in the end, and have gone from reasonably comfortable to struggling a bit.
Long and short of all of this is that I was wondering if I can reasonably ask for the deposit back that I paid several years ago as £1000 would be really quite useful at the moment.
Beaause the garage is a double, the floor area dictated that it was subject to building regs.
The foundations were excavated, the concrete was poured and I had some hardcore delivered for the base.
This took a couple of years to reach the stage of the base being not too far off complete.
It was complicated by the fact that I could not have a soak away, and so the drains had to go into the existing house ones. Permission was obtained for this also.
In 2011 I was made redundantant and was out of work for 6 months, and did agency work for another few months, before finding permanentt work again March 2012, but at a fiar lower rate than I was on before.
All of the money Ihad set aside for the garage I ended up living on in the end, and have gone from reasonably comfortable to struggling a bit.
Long and short of all of this is that I was wondering if I can reasonably ask for the deposit back that I paid several years ago as £1000 would be really quite useful at the moment.
That is why I was asking.
I haven't asked for it back previously as I was clinging on to the hope that I might be able to go ahead with the purchase, but at the moment that seems unrealistic.
Flip side is then, could I continue with the purchase in a couple of years and see if they are amiable to the fact that they already have some money from me?
I haven't asked for it back previously as I was clinging on to the hope that I might be able to go ahead with the purchase, but at the moment that seems unrealistic.
Flip side is then, could I continue with the purchase in a couple of years and see if they are amiable to the fact that they already have some money from me?
Why don't people realise that paying a deposit is a show of faith, a form of promise, a form of guarantee to the seller that you are serious and will be going ahead with the purchase of the product you've ordered.
Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Edited by Squiggs on Thursday 3rd April 19:29
Rich1973 said:
Flip side is then, could I continue with the purchase in a couple of years and see if they are amiable to the fact that they already have some money from me?
I would imagine after all this time your order is already null and void and as far as the company is concerned your loss of deposit was their gain and probably paid for the company christmas p1$$-up a few years back.Worth asking them but I suspect their answer will be 'Sorry your order was cancelled years ago and you lost your deposit - if you want to re-order we will require another deposit.'
Thanks for the replies.
I was keen to get my double garage as it had been on my 'to do' list for some years. I had not anticipated the extra grief (and expense) that buiding regs imparted, hence the base took more time and money than first though.
It was only 3 years though from deposit to redundancy, so not that long in the scheme of things.
I could establish the exact date of payment from my bank statements.
I am only asking a question - I have not approached the company yet, but will be entirely reasonable if I do and pragmatic if they cannot help me. I did pay the deposit in good faith but hey life happens sometimes!
I was keen to get my double garage as it had been on my 'to do' list for some years. I had not anticipated the extra grief (and expense) that buiding regs imparted, hence the base took more time and money than first though.
It was only 3 years though from deposit to redundancy, so not that long in the scheme of things.
I could establish the exact date of payment from my bank statements.
I am only asking a question - I have not approached the company yet, but will be entirely reasonable if I do and pragmatic if they cannot help me. I did pay the deposit in good faith but hey life happens sometimes!
k right off" will you?Squiggs said:
Why don't people realise that paying a deposit is a show of faith, a form of promise, a form of guarantee to the seller that you are serious and will be going ahead with the purchase of the product you've ordered.
Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Nice in theory. Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Edited by Squiggs on Thursday 3rd April 19:29
I assume you are not a lawyer.
IANAL but a few years ago I read up a bit on deposits after paying one and (in general terms) I got the impression that:
1. There's not much chance of getting a deposit back if you change your mind (for whatever reason)
2. Deposits are normally around 10%......any more and it should be justified.
BUT, as I said earlier, IANAL and this was quite a while ago.
You've got nothing to lose by asking, but I'd be prepared for a negative response.
1. There's not much chance of getting a deposit back if you change your mind (for whatever reason)
2. Deposits are normally around 10%......any more and it should be justified.
BUT, as I said earlier, IANAL and this was quite a while ago.
You've got nothing to lose by asking, but I'd be prepared for a negative response.
Rich1973 said:
Thanks for the replies.
It was only 3 years though from deposit to redundancy, so not that long in the scheme of things.
Just to give you an idea of how long 3 years is try holding your breath, let us know how you get on.It was only 3 years though from deposit to redundancy, so not that long in the scheme of things.
Or to put it into perspective
The built the empire state building in about 14 months http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/empirefac...
The Eiffel tower also took about 14 months to build
And Titanic about 3 years
Even the Hoover dam was finished quicker than you didn't build a garage
johnfm said:
Squiggs said:
Why don't people realise that paying a deposit is a show of faith, a form of promise, a form of guarantee to the seller that you are serious and will be going ahead with the purchase of the product you've ordered.
Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Nice in theory. Is it the sellers fault you can no longer go ahead with the purchase?
Changing your mind (even if personal circumstances are to blame) and no longer wanting/being able to go ahead with the purchase doesn't give you any entitlement to get your deposit back - especially years later!
Sorry to sound harsh - but really!
(PS Don't ever spit on yer hand and shake on a deal with a traveller - you could well lose more than money for welching on the deal!)
Edited by Squiggs on Thursday 3rd April 19:29
I assume you are not a lawyer.
The only deposits I know that you get back are refundable deposits - usually paid when hiring or renting something - and if you return that something without having damaged it then you get the deposit back.
Putting a deposit down on an order for carpet, some furniture or a prefab garage is going to be classed as a non-refundable deposit.
So change your mind, cancel the order (sometime later) and then expect your deposit back just won't work.
But I'm willing to learn so I'm all ears.
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