Cancel a driveway

Michael74

I have paid a deposit to have my front garden dug out and a tarmac driveway provided.

Before the deposit was paid, the firm gave me an initial start date of end of March. Over a week later despite 3 text messages saying they will get back to me with a start date, I have not been given an indication of a start date.

Am I within my rights to have my deposit refunded and walk away? I think I am under The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and I have 14 days as I was in my home when I text them to say they I have chosen them to do the work and paid them the deposit.

Angus_Og

And which trusted local or public company quoted you for the work and took the deposit?

If as I suspect it was neither of the above then good luck, you will need it.

Michael74

It is a well established local firm and the deposit was paid electronically via my bank, not cash to a group of chaps with some spare tarmac on the back of a tipper, if that is what you mean. But thanks for your input.

waamo

Michael74 wrote: »

It is a well established local firm and the deposit was paid electronically via my bank, not cash to a group of chaps with some spare tarmac on the back of a tipper, if that is what you mean. But thanks for your input.

Paying by bank transfer is pretty much the same as handing cash over. Have you tried telling them you want to cancel and seeing what they say?

Michael74

I have not spoken to them yet as I am just exploring all avenues. I don't think for a second they are doing a midnight flit with my cash, I am just loosing confidence in them to provide a service within a time-frame that I find acceptable.

waamo

Try asking and see what happens. I see no point in "getting legal" on them until they give a response. If they are a decent company you might be pleasantly surprised.

If they can't do it and know they can't do it they might be only to happy to cancel it.

Aylesbury_Duck

I think you're getting jittery a little early, at least I hope that's the case. It's only been a week, give them a chance.

What does the contract with them say about cancellation?

DaftyDuck

Sounds to me like they possibly gave an approximate date of "end of March", and now mean a precise starting date ... "24th March"... Why the change of heart? End of March is a while away, and they probably have several variable-length jobs in between.

LadyDee

If you've sent 3 messages within a week, they might be wondering what sort of demanding customer you are going to be. They might be quite pleased to pay back your deposit if you ask them.

Michael74

I am a born pessimist and even getting the initial quote off them was hard work, they were always saying
,will get it to you but taking twice as long as promised. I do tend to get jittery when I am shelling out over £3 grand lol.

Michael74

LadyDee wrote: »

If you've sent 3 messages within a week, they might be wondering what sort of demanding customer you are going to be. They might be quite pleased to pay back your deposit if you ask them.

Clearly in context of a forum post you have no knowledge of the nature of text messages between myself and the company, suffice to say I was not nor am I demanding. but I don't actually have to justly myself or my actions to you.