Deposits (2024)

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  • What is a deposit?
  • Terms and conditions
  • What to check before paying
  • Can I get my deposit back?
  • If the seller goes out of business
  • If the seller refuses to return your deposit
  • More information

What is a deposit?

A deposit is a sum of money that you pay upfront as an intention to buy something.

You may be asked to pay a deposit for products and services, for example, when ordering something from a shop, getting home improvements or hiring equipment.

When you pay a deposit, you pay the balance of money owed on delivery of the item or completion of the service.

You and the seller agree the amount of the deposit and other terms – see below.

Terms and conditions

When you pay a deposit, you enter into a contract with the seller or supplier. The contract can be verbal or written. Both you and the seller are bound by the terms and conditions of the contract.

The terms and conditions must be clear and fair. Terms that can be unfair include:

  • That deposits are non-refundable in all situations
  • That if you cancel, you must pay all the seller’s expenses. The seller can only keep an amount that covers the actual losses from your cancellation. This could include costs already paid or loss of profit (for example, where you cancel at short notice)
  • That the seller is allowed to keep the deposit if you cancel but you are not compensated if the seller cancels

What to check before paying

Before you pay a deposit, check:

  • The deposit amount
  • When you have to pay the balance
  • If you pay in instalments, how much each instalment will be
  • Details of the exact product or service you are buying
  • Date the product will be delivered or the service will be completed
  • Whether the deposit will be refunded in any situation (either fully or partially)
  • Any non-refundable amount or cancellation charge, if you decide to cancel

Get confirmation of this information in writing or by email. Always get a receipt for the deposit you paid.

Can I get my deposit back?

You have the right to get your deposit back if the seller:

  • Does not provide what was agreed
  • Cannot supply the product or deliver the service you ordered
  • Does not deliver the product or service on the agreed date and you cannot agree a new delivery date
  • Does not deliver the product or service on the new delivery date

I changed my mind

If you decide to cancel something you paid a deposit for, the seller is usually not required to give your money back.

In some cases, the seller might allow cancellations if you change your mind, depending on the terms and conditions (see above).

If the seller goes out of business

If you pay a deposit and the seller goes out of business before your goods or service is delivered, it may be difficult for you to get your money back or to get the item or service.

Usually, the seller will owe money to several people so your claim is just one of many. There are rules for the priority to be given to debts when a business goes into liquidation or receivership. Generally, you will be low in the order of priority.

If you paid the deposit using a credit card or debit card, you can contact your bank or credit card provider to request a chargeback.

If the seller refuses to return your deposit

You have rights if the seller does not meet their obligations to you. If the seller breaches the terms of the contract and is refusing to refund your deposit agreed, you can:

More information

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has a consumer helpline and website that gives consumers information on their rights.

Find out more about consumer protection organisations.

The CCPC has more information about deposits. You can also find out more about your consumer rights in Ireland.

Use out-of-court procedures such as the European Consumer Centre (ECC) Ireland (for cross-border disputes only) and Online Dispute Resolution (for national and cross-border online disputes).

Page edited: 24 April 2024

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Contact Us

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre.

Deposits (2024)

FAQs

What happens if someone deposits money in my account by mistake? ›

You cannot keep money that was mistakenly deposited into your account; it must be returned. Failing to report and return the money could result in legal consequences, such as criminal charges. Contact your bank immediately when you notice the error and keep records of your interactions.

What is the meaning of deposit account? ›

Deposit accounts are standard bank accounts that allow you to deposit money and withdraw funds. They can be used for everyday transactions, as well as short- and long-term saving. Some deposit accounts earn interest, which can help your money grow.

Why is only a fraction of deposits kept as cash reserves? ›

The other reason why banks keep only a fraction of deposits as a Cash Reserve is because an experienced banker knows two things: All the depositors do not approach the banks for withdrawal of money at the same time and all the depositors do not withdraw the entire amount in one go.

What is the difference between deposit and submit? ›

You deposit money at a bank; you submit a payment by sending it. So if you are standing there at the bank, "submit" sounds odd. You could submit funds by mail for deposit; but if you sent them, you might as well say that you sent them for deposit.

What happens if you accidentally deposit money into the wrong account? ›

What if I transfer money to the wrong account? If you have made a mistaken internet payment, you need to contact your bank or credit union immediately. Your bank or credit union will then contact the unintended recipient's bank to try and get the money back.

What happens if money goes into your account by mistake? ›

Legally, if a sum of money is accidentally paid into your bank or savings account and you know that it doesn't belong to you, you must pay it back.

Can banks lend out more than their deposits? ›

Key Takeaways. Banks are thought of as financial intermediaries that connect savers and borrowers. However, banks actually rely on a fractional reserve banking system whereby banks can lend more than the number of actual deposits on hand. This leads to a money multiplier effect.

How much money do banks have to keep on hand? ›

While it enters the bank as one amount, it soon gets broken up. A small amount is set aside as cash reserves, either in the bank's vaults, at other banks or at the Federal Reserve. Banks have historically been required to keep a small stash of cash, typically between 3 and 10 percent of their deposits, on hand.

When banks hold only a fraction of deposits? ›

Fractional reserve banking is a system in which only a fraction of bank deposits are required to be available for withdrawal. Banks only need to keep a specific amount of cash on hand and can create loans from the money you deposit.

Is deposit negative or positive? ›

A deposit is represented by a positive number, meaning an addition to your balance.

What is the money deposited in a bank called? ›

The correct option is B Savings. Banks allow people to deposit their money as savings. These savings earn them a small interest when withdrawn. The deposits made can be withdrawn at any time. This is called demand deposit.

Does deposit mean pay? ›

An optional part of the sales process, a deposit is a specified amount of money (usually a percentage of the total amount) that is paid upfront in order to ensure that the sale will go through and that the products/service will be provided. A deposit is paid by the buyer to the seller before a sale is completed.

What to do if someone transfers money to my account by mistake? ›

For safety, We can also report to the police station to record in another way as well. At least there is evidence that comes to our innocence. In summary, this matter is prudent. Money is not ours when someone wrongly transferred Must find a correct management method so that it will not be in trouble later.

Are you legally obligated to return money paid in error? ›

It's important to know what your obligations are when you pay another party because in some situations you may be out the money. While the general rule is that you can get back money mistakenly paid to someone, this rule does not apply if the overpayment falls under the “voluntary payment doctrine.”

What to do if unknown money is deposited in my account? ›

Report any suspicious or unauthorised activity, including unknown incoming funds, to your bank immediately. They can provide guidance and take necessary actions to protect your account.

How do I get my money back from wrongly deposited? ›

  1. You must immediately contact your bank's customer service if the details seem incorrect.
  2. Your bank can help by providing the contact details of the unintended beneficiary.
  3. Follow up by requesting a transaction reversal and asking the unintended recipient to return the funds to you.
Dec 22, 2023

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