Can my parents get back any of their deposit for a shower unit?

[beema]

HI
My parents recently put down a deposit of £3,000 on a made to measure Aqua Mobility Shower Unit. The full cost quoted was over £7,000.No tiling is needed which was a reason why they chose this. A few days before it was due to be fitted, my parents' suffered a burst pipe which caused damage to thier home.The fitting of the unit has had to be postponed. The bathroom was damaged and tiles have fallen off the wall. Home insurance will cover the re-tile. However the fallen tiles revealed a covered window that my parent's wish to restore- the unit would be fitted over this window making it not possible to restore. As the bathrooom will need re-tiling now anyway and my parents' wish to have the window ,they feel that the Aqua mobility unit no longer fits their circumstances, so do not want it. Please can anyone tell me if they may be able to claim back any of their deposit if they cancel their order. They paid by credit card.

[bednobs]

probably not - how long ago did they make the order, and how did they do it? After a visit to a showroom; after a cold call at home?

[sara3]

can't they ask for a new design for the bathroom?

[boxtops]

I don't think so - the reason for cancellation is that they changed their minds. Have a look at the small print on the order which they will have signed.

[factor-fiction]

They could ask and the company may decide to repay some of the deposit. But the company will have the right to keep the deposit and might even threaten to ask for some of the balance to be paid too if they say they have incurred costs that they can't recover- for example if they have started to make the specific unit.

[bundleone]

Why do people pay such high deposits? I have had a new bathroom costing £7.000 and an aun suite about £3.500 and did not pay until the work was finished.any work I have had done in the garden, paving, fencing ,was paid after work was finished.

[cassa333]

A lot of these high spec custom made items have high deposit ratios.

It is understanable as it isn't as if they just pop out the back and pick it off the shelf.

If the cooling off period had expires you may be scuppered.

The terms of the cancelation policy will be your best hope. You may even be asked to pay in full depending on the timeframe etc.

[beema]

Thanks everyone. I agree with the comments about the deposit being high but this is as was rightly pointed out because it was made to measure.Howver, my parents didn't look round enough because my dad didn't want the upheaval of re-tiling. They now realise that the unit was way too expensive in the first place. After reading all the helpful answers posted from you they have spoken to the firm who have been very sympathetic and are considering giving them some of the deposit back xxxx