Do you take a deposit?

[Dougs Third Go]

never take a deposit, if I can help my customer out on tile costs I tell them that they can order and pay for them through my account, this is an agreement with my supplier. Say I get 40% discount the customer will save 20% and the other 20% is a "credit" on my account. I don't take a deposit on the labour till jobs complete.

 

[Stef]

I never take a deposit but after what has happened this week maybe I should.
Moved jobs around to squeeze in a favour for someone & it's backfired on me as they have cancelled & I can't get other jobs shifted around.
On the upside though the kids are off school till Thursday & I get to spend some quality time with them as I hardly saw them over the Xmas hols as I was busy..

 

[Andy Allen]

if the customer cancels, do you have to give the deposit back..? ......has anyone had this happen to them..? be interested if anyone knows the law on this..

 

[charlie1]

if the customer cancels, do you have to give the deposit back..? ......has anyone had this happen to them..? be interested if anyone knows the law on this..

Im not 100% on this but I think you need to give it back or some of it back depending on 2 factors, 1, what the deposit was for? Labour or goods and 2, the time when she canceled (did you have reasonable time to book in more work)

 

[Qwerty]

I have cancellations covered in my T&C's which a solicitor & trading standards have approved. It reads-

You may cancel your order with no charge by informing us within 14 days of the order being placed. We “Plan Tec Tiling & Wet Room Solutions” reserve the right to retain any deposits made if the cancellation terms are breached.

Never had one cancel mind, but at least I'm covered.

 

[thompsonbrown]

Most of my work is Labour only. I take 50 % at start of job, 50% on completion. I also supply Pipe, valves, board, electrics, lights, etc.. I always supply these materials at cost and give the receipts to the customer. For this I usally take around £500 as a float till it runs out or I finish. You could make a bit on materials but to be honest my labour price isnt cheap and I dont find my self cutting corners to save a bit of cash. Also somthing goes wrong with a light, extractor ufh controller ect.. customer can chase it up with supplier as I was only paid to install.
This seems to work for me.