Tradesperson deposits
Tradesperson took a deposit in Ireland
How to organise evidence and write a clear complaint if a tradesperson took a deposit and has not started or completed the agreed work.
- start with what was agreed
- quote
- legal name and address matter
- identity
- small-claims limit for qualifying disputes
- EUR2,000
Check your dispute first
Answer a few questions to see your options before writing your complaint.
Check your optionsPaying a deposit to a tradesperson is normal. The stressful part is when the work never starts, the start date keeps moving, messages go unanswered, or the only details you have are a first name, a mobile number, and a payment-app record.
Forum posts show the same friction points again and again: no written quote, no address, cash or app payments, unclear business name, and uncertainty about whether small claims is worth it.
TBD helps before court by organising evidence and drafting a complaint under your own name. It does not provide legal advice, draft court forms, file claims, act for you, or tell you litigation strategy.
What to do next
- 1Identify who you paid: limited company, registered business name, sole trader, or unclear individual.
- 2Write down what was agreed, what was paid, what happened, and what remedy you want.
- 3If the trader is identifiable, Ireland-based, and the amount/category fit, small claims may be a later route you use yourself through Courts.ie.
Documents and details to keep
Useful evidence includes the quote, estimate, invoice, screenshots of advertised services, messages agreeing price and dates, proof of payment, photos of the site, and any refund request.
If the trader says materials were bought, ask for basic evidence such as receipts or delivery details. If some work was done, list what was done and what was not.
Complaint-letter angle
The strongest letter is firm, factual, and easy to verify. State the agreement, deposit amount, missed start dates, unanswered messages, and remedy requested.
Ask for a practical outcome: refund of the deposit, proof of materials, a clear revised date, or a partial refund where some work or materials were genuinely supplied.
Route-away warnings
Pause if the amount is over EUR2,000, the address is missing, the trader is outside Ireland, the dispute involves injury or major structural issues, or the facts look more like fraud than an ordinary consumer complaint.
Before you write
- Quote, estimate, invoice, or advert
- Proof of payment
- Messages agreeing work, price, date, and deposit
- Photos of site or unfinished work
- Trader legal name, trading name, phone, email, and address
- Refund request and any response
Questions people ask
Can I use small claims if I paid by Revolut or bank transfer?
Payment method does not decide the route by itself. You still need the trader identity, amount, location, category, and evidence to fit.
What if I only have a first name and phone number?
That is a practical problem. Try to identify the legal name and address from quotes, messages, payment records, websites, social profiles, van branding, or CRO records before escalating.