contractor won't return our deposit

[masuki]

we paid a deposit on some work we were going to have done on the property, we have now decided to delay the work til leter this year.

several requests by phone for the money to be returned have not worked out 'yes, i already sent you the cheque' 'ok i will send another cheque' etc etc etc

i am FURIOUS!!!! what should i do now?

I suppose it depends what the deposit was for. If you were putting down the money as part of a contract to make sure that the builders started work on a particular day then it may not be refundable.

Presumably you are having the same contractors do the work later on so they may not want to return the deposit in order to keep your place in their order of work secure? If you are having someone else do the work, check any documentation you received in case the deposit turns out to be non-refundable.

Am I understanding this - they have agreed to return your deposit but the Royal Mail keep letting them down?

Tell them you'll pick the chq up directly from them - stay nice, embarrass them with nice - it's very uncomfortable and unnerving to have someone continue to be nice when you are trying to shaft them.