Paying upfront for work

[JeelyPiece]

We got a quote for having a ventilation system fitted in our house. It'll be a one-day job putting in a unit manufactured as standard by the same people who are fitting it, i.e. they are not ordering expensive parts.

They want 50% upfront and 50% on completion, is this normal? On principle I don't want to pay them anything till the job's done but won't make a song and dance about it if all firms do this.

It's a nationwide company with local franchises and the work will cost around £2k. Any advice would be appreciated.

Sounds fairly normal to me - but don't pay over a penny of the outstanding 50% until you are 100% happy with the work they have done.

I think this sounds normal. After all, they need some protection too, in case you turn out to be the type of customer who refuses to pay once the job is done (of course I'm sure you're not, but they don't know that!)

can you pay it via credit card so you have protection in case it all goes wrong.

OK so I guess I'm not necessarily being had! Will pay it by credit card if possible. Thanks for responses.

Hmm, I'm less sure - yes they need confirmation that you will actually start the work but have you signed an order along those lines?
We had this situation with a builder and I refused to pay upfront - it said something to me about his financial situation if he couldn't fund a few days or labour (very limited materials). More established builders didn't ask for money upfront and we had agreed a payment schedule after the first week.
In another case we had a fireplace man ask for money up front - he was a one man band. We agreed to pay for the materials (the stove) as had we decided not to go ahead he would have been left with a item he couldn't sell on.
I would certainly pay by CC, see if you can reduce the 50% to materials cost only (most deals are negotiable) and if concerned check out their financial status via companies house..how long they have been going, if they are limited etc