Bring asked to pay £20k more

eve1104

We recently had a salesman round to quote us for a very nice conservatory, at our request. We went through the proposal and decided on a final design and agreed a price. We paid a deposit and were told that the surveyor would be along on a few days. Surveyor came, spent a few hours, measuring, looking at the drainage etc etc. A week later I got a phone call from the MD no less explaining that the price would now be £20k more than what we were quoted and signed for.
I'm now asking for my deposit back in full but in having a hard time getting him to agree that I will get it. He's now trying to fob us off with a completely different dresign and building material to what we agreed on and even this is £10k more.
What are my rights? Should I pay the company any expense for the survey? I'm becoming very stressed at the thought of not getting back my hefty deposit paid to what I thought was a reputable company. 
Thank you for any help. 

Manxman_in_exile

What does your contract say about them amending the price, cancellation and your deposit?

When did you sign the contract?

HillStreetBlues

How much was the price agreed?

Grumpy_chap

eve1104 said:

We recently had a salesman round to quote us for a very nice conservatory, at our request. We went through the proposal and decided on a final design and agreed a price. We paid a deposit and were told that the surveyor would be along on a few days. Surveyor came, spent a few hours, measuring, looking at the drainage etc etc. A week later I got a phone call from the MD no less explaining that the price would now be £20k more than what we were quoted and signed for.
I'm now asking for my deposit back in full but in having a hard time getting him to agree that I will get it. He's now trying to fob us off with a completely different dresign and building material to what we agreed on and even this is £10k more.
What are my rights? Should I pay the company any expense for the survey? I'm becoming very stressed at the thought of not getting back my hefty deposit paid to what I thought was a reputable company. 
Thank you for any help. 

How much is the £20k as a proportion of the original price?
Are there actually material factors that the Surveyor has identified that would not have been obviously to the Sales Person?

eve1104

The original price was £38k

Wonka_2

eve1104 said:

The original price was £38k

And that was a detailed quote - or an estimate subject to survey ?

What does the contract you signed say re deposit/refund ?

eve1104

We signed the contract on Sunday 5th February 2023
The contract says that following surveyors visit, any additional works asked for by the customer  would be calculated and either proceed with additional works or go with original

tightauldgit

And what additional works were requested following the surveyors visit? 

Have they given you the option of proceeding with the original plan at the original price? 

HillStreetBlues

eve1104 said:

The original price was £38k

Then you should get a full refund of your deposit.
Even if a contract stated there could be a price rise,  a rise of over 50% would be unfair  so invalid.

They should bear the cost of the surveyor as it is their error with the pricing, if correct price was stated I doubt you would have  agreed in enter into contract  and surveyor  wouldn't have been needed.

eve1104

I've just read that we have a right to cancel within 14 days of signing. We signed on the 5th, so we are within our rights to cancel. Phew.
Can I assume that therefore we are not liable to any costs incurred?
I have already sent him 2 emails telling him we wish to cancel the project. It says on the contract that cancellation can be done by email. 

HillStreetBlues

eve1104 said:

I've just read that we have a right to cancel within 14 days of signing. We signed on the 5th, so we are within our rights to cancel. Phew.
Can I assume that therefore we are not liable to any costs incurred?
I have already sent him 2 emails telling him we wish to cancel the project. It says on the contract that cancellation can be done by email. 

Be careful cancelling that way,  as you might still be  libel for any costs incurred in that 14 days (eg surveyor)

It is the builder who is cancelling  as they won't do the work for the agreed price.