Use this guide before you hand over a deposit for anything expensive that will be made, delivered or provided later, such as a fitted kitchen, made-to-order sofa, wedding venue or home improvement. Have the quote, the trader's full business details and your preferred payment card ready.
Step by step
Check who you are actually paying
Get the trader's full legal name, address and, if it is a limited company, its company number, then look it up on the Companies House register to see how long it has traded and whether its accounts are overdue. Search the name with words like 'complaints' or 'liquidation'. Be wary if the bank account name does not match the business you are dealing with.
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