New windows: pay everything up front? Surely not! Post Reply

[confusedofbattersea]

Hi, we are having Ayrton windows fitted and paid the 50% deposit three months go and have been waitng For an i stallation date.
We've just had an email to say that we now need to pay the balance (£thousands) BEFORE they will begin fitting the windows. Is this normal? I always thought one paid the deposit and then paid the balance on completion of a job. It lives us with no comeback if we are not happy with the work otherwise. Or are we out of touch?

[FoxgloveLady]

50% up front does seem worrying at the very least.

We've often paid tradespeople in stages for jobs, not paying the full figure until the job is done. I don't think it's always a bad sign if people ask for something up front - they have got materials to consider - but it seems like not much is happening for you yet you've already shelled out large sums.

I hope at the very least that you've got proper receipts for the funds transferred and that you didn't just pay cash with no paperwork. Most of all, I hope this works/has worked out for you.

[confusedofbattersea]

Thanks for the feedback. I can understand the 50% deposit, what surprised me was the 100% balance payment demand BEFORE the installation of the windows (due to start next week).
As Ayrton Windows are a regular advertiser on here, I wondered if anyone else had used them and had this experience? It makes me really uncomfortable, even with receipts, which I have.
I'd welcome any feedback as I need to resolve this before Monday if possible.
Thanks!

[confusedofbattersea]

Just to follow up on this story for anyone considering window companies... We negotiated a payment plan with Ayrton, and their team duly arrived to fit the windows and did a great job. The fitters were polite, fast and professional and the windows look fab.
A happy ending!

[London living]

That's really reassuring to hear, I can't seem to get a fitting date from them but hopefully all will turn out well.

[jenniferlou]

I could have written this myself. We used Ayrton in the summer to replace our windows and like yourself, paid 50% deposit and received 'the email' to pay the balance pre-installation. Like yourself i was reluctant to pay the full amount without even seeing a window and i was under the impression the balance was due 'on installation' i.e. after the job had been completed. I queried this with them as i checked the terms and conditions and there was no reference to this, however they fw'd a copy of my initial quote which had in small type that payment was due before fitting. At the very least they had been mis-leading but i reluctantly paid the balance.

To be perfectly honest i really didn't like dealing with Ayrton. Their windows are nice (you get what you pay for) but their customer service is lacking. Certainly their Sales team are efficient and polite but once they'd received our deposit, i was left to do all the chasing to confirm fitting date etc and once i'd paid the balance up-front i didn't hear another peep from them.