Why is 25% the safe deposit ceiling?
Twenty-five percent is the safe deposit ceiling because it covers a legitimate cabinetry order deposit to the fitter's supplier without exposing the homeowner to catastrophic loss if the fitter ceases trading before delivery.
Cabinetry manufacturers typically require 30–50% deposit from the fitter, but fitters use 30-day supplier credit terms to bridge the gap. A fitter asking for 50% or more of the total up front either lacks supplier credit — a warning sign — or is trying to use client deposits as working capital.
What triggers each staged payment release?
Each staged payment release is triggered by a physical milestone — cabinetry delivered, cabinets fitted, worktop installed, snags closed — not by a calendar date.
Milestone-triggered payments align the fitter's incentive with progress on your kitchen. Calendar-triggered payments let a fitter draw down against no progress. Insist on milestone triggers in the contract; take photos of each milestone as evidence of release.
How does Section 75 credit-card protection work?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit-card provider jointly liable with the kitchen fitter for any breach of contract on payments between £100 and £30,000, so a paid deposit is refundable by the credit-card company if the fitter fails to deliver.
Section 75 applies only to credit cards, not debit cards. Split payment methods work — pay the deposit and staged payments by credit card, and the balance by transfer. Even a single £100 credit-card payment against a £15,000 job triggers Section 75 protection on the entire contract in some interpretations, though this is worth confirming with your card issuer.
What retention is normal on Glasgow kitchen installs?
A 5% retention held for 14–28 days after the snag sign-off walk is normal on Glasgow kitchen installs and gives the homeowner leverage to ensure snags are actually closed rather than deferred.
Retention is standard in commercial construction and is entirely reasonable on a five-figure home project. Every fitter in our team accepts a 5% retention as a condition of joining our team. If a fitter refuses any retention, take that as a signal.
Standard Glasgow kitchen payment schedule
| Stage | % of total | Trigger | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit at contract | 20% | Signed quote | Credit-card Section 75 |
| Cabinetry delivery | 30% | Units received on site | Credit-card Section 75 |
| Cabinet install complete | 30% | Photos of fitted cabinets | Credit-card Section 75 |
| Worktop fit | 15% | Worktop installed and sealed | Credit-card Section 75 |
| Retention | 5% | All snags closed on sign-off walk | Held until closure |