Deposit for kitchen refurb

[TilesAndPoop]

I need some advice please.

Following from my thread about price of kichen refurb here..
My previous thread

I was quoted 12k for kitchen refurb and then got another quote for nearly £7k which seemed ok BUT.

Company wants 50% deposit before they even start. There will be no contract. Quite a new company but with good reviews on checkatrade albeit for various handyman jibs and only a handful from kitchen refurb.

AIBU to think this is unreasonable, they can take £3.5k and not even show up and i will be up the shit creek without a paddle?

or this is acceptable?

I'd go soth the more expensive quote and get a better product hopefully. I really recently paid a 20% deposit for a kitchen to be ordered and fitted and paid the balance when I was happy with the job.

I’d expect to pay a deposit for the kitchen furniture, I wouldn’t expect to pay a deposit for the kitchen. I’d be happy to pay in stages through the build, if laid out in writing what would be due and when. A decent builder or contractor will have accounts with trade places on 30 day payment terms, so supply of materials should not be an issue.

we got our kitchen from DIY Kitchens and had to pay in full at order time as we were paying cash and not getting it on finance that was just for the kitchen we sorted everything else fitter, plasterer and electrician and paid them when they had finished each job

I’d expect to pay a substantial deposit but damn right I’d want a contract/ receipt to say that I’d paid it. And a guarantee that if I’d get it back, if anything went wrong.

There's no way I'd pay anything to anyone without a contract.

Thing is, i already have units, plans and appliances so this company would be removing old kitchen, doing some
plastering, tiling etc. They won’t ne buying a kitchen for me, i have it already. I see no reason why i should pay 3.5k just to secure they rock up to do the jobs as they say they will. What if there is a hefty delay? What of they become uncontactable? No contract means how would i even get that money back in that case.

If you already have the kitchen and appliances then I wouldn't give them money up front.

I did this about 12 years ago, or rather my husband at the time agree to it despite my reservations and it was a nightmare. They were 2 weeks late starting, they said the job would take 2 weeks but it took 5. The fitters weren't turning up everyday because the owner of the company wasn't paying them. Never again.

I'd agree to pay in stages after work had started but not before and whatever you do get a contract.

I didn’t think people on checkatrade were any good, and based on what they are doing, I’d be very careful

@FOJN your experience is exactly what im wary off. Money paid, no contract and i will be at their mercy hoping for the best.
Back to the drawing board for me then. Sigh.