Company refusing credit card payments - would this put you off making a purchase for £2000+?

[00982ruser]

I have had a quote from a company for some work in my home, which I was planning to accept. The quote is for £2000+, and the company has asked for a 50% deposit to be paid by bank transfer.

Just wondering how other mumsnetters would feel about this? I usually make big purchases on my credit card because of the consumer protection you get with card payments, however the company does not accept credit cards. I feel a bit reluctant to transfer this money as I have not dealt with this company before (they were recommended to me by another business, so not a personal recommendation as such).

Am I being over cautious, or should I go back to the drawing board and start looking for another contractor?

The company doesnt’t accept CC’s - that’s the problem, not how much they’ll take on a cc.

Everybody please, read the thread before commenting.

After been burned before I would NOT send the money over via bank transfer.

I've had 2 bad experiences. One where I bank transferred over an initial deposit for materials and the guy never did the work. Another was actually a for a new front door... I only paid a £50 holding deposit. They had all the instructions etc..., but on the day they came to fit the door I was busy working in the office upstairs so I wasn't available to supervise. They only fitted the wrong door! They fitted a door they had originally tried to sell me but I specifically requested a major design change which they took ages looking into before telling me they could do it. Then they still fitted the wrong door months later.

The issue was, the fitter was subcontracted and didn't work for them. He finished and asked me to sign off the door. I refused and they still tried to chase me years later. I've always maintained that they either give me my old door back, fitted, or supply me with the door I ordered and I will pay.

One final thing I would advise if you are still in two minds, is whether you can verify the person and company. My first issue where the guy did a runner with my materials deposit, was someone I found on Facebook. I didn't check to see if he had premises, website, an address etc... he just talked the talk and seemed to know what he was doing. If they are a bonafide business with offices, perhaps VAT registered etc... I may consider it if I also had seen some genuine reviews. Although, if they had all those things, I would expect them to take credit cards. If you are dubious, I would select a company that you know will take a credit card payment.

Unless you use PayPal credit, then you have full section 75 protection.

Unless it's a PayPal credit card