What If I Pay A Deposit And They Disappear?

I want to talk about the moment nobody enjoys.

You've found a contractor. The quote looks right. Then the invoice for the deposit lands in your inbox.

And a little voice asks, "What if I pay this and never see them again?"

If you've had that thought, you're not being paranoid. You're being sensible. This is often thousands of dollars of your family's money, handed to someone you met once.

So I'd like to walk you through what actually goes wrong, what the law in Queensland says, and the simple checks that protect you.

What we keep seeing in reviews

I spent time reading public reviews of fencing companies around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The bad ones tell the same story again and again.

A homeowner pays the deposit. Sometimes they pay for materials too. Then the start date slides. Then come the excuses. A few post holes get dug and the crew vanishes. Phone calls go unanswered.

Some of these families waited months. Some never got their money back.

That's not a fencing problem. It's a trust problem. And it's the reason so many good people feel nervous before they even pick up the phone.

What Queensland law says about deposits

Here's something many homeowners don't know. In Queensland, the law caps how much a licensed contractor can ask for before regulated domestic building work starts.

• Contracts under $20,000: maximum deposit 10%
• Contracts of $20,000 or more: maximum deposit 5%
• Where more than half the work is custom made or fabricated off site: up to 20%

For any job over $3,300, you should also get a written contract before you pay anything.

If a contractor asks for more than these limits, question it. You don't have to agree. (QBCC: Deposits and progress payments)

Five checks before you pay a cent

These take ten minutes. They could save you thousands.

1. Look up the QBCC licence. Search it on the QBCC website and make sure it's registered to the same company you're dealing with.
2. Call the company yourself. Find their number independently, not just from an email, and confirm the quote is really theirs.
3. Confirm bank details by phone. Scammers sometimes pose as real companies and send fake invoices. A quick call before you transfer stops that.
4. Get it in writing. A written contract with the price, the scope and a start date.
5. Check the deposit amount. Compare it with the limits above. If it's higher, ask why.

How we handle your deposit

At Synergy Fencing, we're QBCC licensed (licence 15416911). You can look us up before you ever speak to us.

We never ask for more than the law allows. You'll get a written quote and contract that spells out exactly what you're paying for.

Once your deposit is in, you won't be left wondering. We'll confirm your start date, and if anything changes, like weather, we'll call you. You won't have to chase us.

And you're always welcome to ring our office on the number listed on our website to double check anything, including our bank details.

The bottom line

A good contractor will never be offended when you check them out. In fact, we'd rather you did.

If you're weighing up a quote, ours or anyone else's, and something doesn't feel right, give us a call. We're happy to talk it through, no strings attached.

Your fence should protect what matters most. So should the way you pay for it.

Got a quote in front of you and want a second opinion? Call us on 07 2141 7748 or request a free quote.

This article is general information only and is not legal or financial advice. Deposit limits are set by Queensland law and can change, so always confirm the current position with the QBCC before you rely on it.