Window install, paying 50% upfront?

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Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
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19,111
Location
London
How normal is this? The house we're buying had all the first floor windows replaced with pvc sash ones a few years ago, but not downstairs. So we want to do the downstairs bay window the same. None of our local companies filled us with confidence, and the ones who fitted upstairs for the previous owners were very expensive. So we found a company via the manufacturer's website (official installer), and got a good quote after giving them rough measurements and pictures.

My girlfriend just phoned them to arrange a visit for once we've completed and got the keys, but they want a 50% deposit first. Apparently the quote shouldn't change, unless they need to replace the old box frame too which will be another £300. (I think they would need to do this)

Is this usual practice for window installers? We assumed they would at least come out, measure and quote first? :confused: They are well rated etc.
 
Yes. We are replacing windows at the moment and the payment terms with our install are:

25% deposit
25% on commencement of manufacture
25% on spraying (they are wooden sash)
25% on completion of work

They are of course bespoke products manufactured to your own specification.
 
I imagine they are getting a lot of dreamers at the moment. I had to pay a deposit to go a test drive back in December... for example. Is it refundable if the quote changes? Can you pay on Credit Card?

Paying a deposit to just get a quote seems odd, unless its properly refundable/ irrefutable if you decide not to go ahead. But then that defeats the point of a deposit. Although back to my test drive example, presumably eliminates a lot of dreamers.
 
Paid a 25% deposit at the beginning of the year for 2 windows and new door. Fairly reasonable I thought for made to measure order. Rest was paid upon completion and my sign off.

As above if its just to get a quote confirmed that's a bit odd.
 
We're getting all our windows replaced and we've been asked to pay 25% deposit but they came round, measured up and gave us a quote first.
 
We had our windows replaced at the start of the year. Only had to pay 10% up-front and rest after it was done.
 
We had our windows done last year, no deposit just payment within 30 days of work completed.

Had a new roof a month ago same thing no deposit, payment when we were happy.
 
IMO if someone is asking for 50+% or 100% up front they either have cash flow problems and/or either don't care about or have confidence in the quality of their work.
 
SoliD said:
As above if its just to get a quote confirmed that's a bit odd.
Click to expand...
Not on my phone now so can type properly.. We've been given a quote from our own measurements and pictures. It's a fixed price, with a fixed £300 extra to replace the old box frame thing if necessary. Apparently by paying the deposit we're confirming we accept that quote and it won't change, and then they will come round and measure up properly. She said there's unlikely to be much price deviation in our measurements versus theirs (and they will stomach the difference anyway). If there is any structural issues or something out of scope that they find then I believe we can choose not to go ahead (and get deposit back).

Now that I've written that it sounds worse, this is secondhand information from my girlfriends chat with her on the phone. We found them as an official supplier on the window manufacturer's site, they are all FENSA ceritificated or whatever it is that you should be.

FWIW the company that fitted the upstairs windows wants a 20% deposit. That's written on their formal quote. Hmn!
 
Had 24 windows and doors done this year, they left leaving me to think they had forgot about the payment :p how wrong was I when the bill was posted with 30 day terms. Personally I wouldn't pay a penny to tradesman up front. Keeps them on their toes through the job.
 
Yeah. Shame as they're fairly well reviewed and much cheaper. We are going back to the company who fitted the upstairs windows to see if they'll come down anymore. They were £850 more but already gave a formal quote which stated a 20% deposit. Maybe they'll throw in the transfer of warranty on the ones they already did, that'd be nice.
 
Just got 6 done, although im obviously not in the UK, and haven't parted with a penny (ore) yet..... Not entirely satisfied with the work quality though..... But that's another story.
 
many of these threads recently, last 3 months we have decorating, carpets, soffits and fascias, fireplace, cctv done

new kitchen and bathroom now ordered

not one of them has asked for a penny before the jobs were competed and I wouldn't expect to pay anything
 
So we have ditched the aforementioned company and out of 4 quotes we got, going with the second cheapest who fitted the upstairs windows for previous owners. Still a good £800 more than the aforementioned company. Total £3700 inc vat for 3 PVC sash windows to fit our bay. Including taking it back to the brickwork etc. Seems steep, but what can you do? Other quotes were well over £4000, madness :confused:
 
50% is not the norm for installations. Perhaps a 20-25% can be expected, particularly if the company is very budy and deals with a lot of trye kickers, or if their initial outlay on product is particularly high, but 50% would be a bit of a warning sign for me.
 
We had 11 windows fitted on march 3rd no deposit required and still not made full payment as there is a dispute over damage to a kitchen worktop. Nearly £4k for total install not paid a penny yet!
 
I paid 50% deposit both times I've had new windows, once 6 years ago for a £15k+ new install for our barn conversion, then last year for a £7k job for an extension. All good, nothing dodgy going on, but both were biggish companies so no alarm bells were set off.
 
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