Deposit evidence
Deposit evidence checklist in Ireland
A practical evidence checklist for deposit disputes involving accommodation, tradespeople, bookings, goods, or services.
Check your dispute first
Answer a few questions to see your options before writing your complaint.
Check your optionsDeposit disputes look similar on the surface, but the route can be completely different. A tenancy deposit may point to the RTB, a tradesperson deposit may be a services complaint, and a booking deposit may involve platform, card, or cross-border routes.
The common task is evidence. Before choosing a route, gather proof of payment, the agreement, cancellation or completion terms, messages, dates, and the reason the deposit is being kept.
What to do next
- 1Identify what the deposit was for: accommodation, tradesperson, goods, service, booking, vehicle, or another category.
- 2Collect payment proof, agreement terms, messages, photos, cancellation or completion evidence, and the disputed amount.
- 3Check RTB, retailer/trader complaint, chargeback, ECC, or small-claims fit depending on the deposit type.
Core deposit evidence
Keep the amount, date paid, payment method, recipient, written agreement, messages, receipt, terms, and any statement about when the deposit would be returned or kept.
Route warnings
Do not push every deposit dispute into small claims. Residential tenancy deposits often need RTB checks. Finance, insurance, hire purchase, or card disputes may need a different route.
Before you write
- Payment proof
- Agreement or terms
- Messages
- Return request
- Reason given for deduction or refusal
Questions people ask
Is every deposit dispute a small claim?
No. The route depends on what the deposit was for and whether a specialist route such as RTB, chargeback, ECC, or FSPO applies.
What amount should I write down?
Write the deposit paid, any amount returned, and the disputed balance. Keep the calculation narrow and evidence-led.