Householders are being warned to avoid paying large deposits for goods or services.

Trading standards officers say there is no need to hand over anything more than a small amount to seal a legally binding contract.

The warning comes after single parent Claire Dixon spotted an offer for half-price conservatories.

She replied to an advertisement by a company and was told she would receive a 50 per cent reduction on the price if she then allowed the firm to use it in further promotions.

Mrs Dixon, 26, said: "I wanted an extra roomand I thought this would be cheaper than having an extension built on the house, which is a listed building."

She was visited by the company boss on November 16 last year and paid £1,200 deposit for a £9,800 lean-to conservatory at her Wibsey home.

"They said it would cost me £4,800 and I would only have to have up to six couples look at it and if they bought a conservatory I would get a £250 cheque," said Mrs Dixon.

"They cashed my cheque three days later. Since then I have just been getting letters giving excuses about why the work hasn't started.

"I received one dated January 12 saying the conservatory installation date of January 17 would be delayed because of circumstances beyond their control. Then I received another letter dated January 27 saying the start date would be March 27.

"They wrote to me on February 25 saying the original planning application had been misplaced and another planning and listed buildings consent application would be submitted 'as soon as possible'.

"They said there was also a problem in obtaining an ordnance survey map of the site."

"On one occasion I was told plans had been submitted twice to Bradford Council but the Council says it has received nothing.

"I am just disgusted. I'm a single parent and I have paid £1,200 for a job I thought would get done but hasn't.

"Either my mum or I has rung them every day since February 25 on the three numbers I have got and I have left countless messages."

Mrs Dixon said the company boss finally phoned her on Tuesday this week saying he was returning my call.

"I told him I want my money back and I will be putting it in writing to him."

A spokesman for Bradford Council's planning department said there was no record of any applications being received for planning permission or listed building consent for Mrs Dixon's home.

Rights & Wrongs found the firm's trading address was an accommodation address.

The firm appears to be run by another company, which Companies House lists as being incorporated in March last year with the same address.

Rights and Wrongs made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to contact the firm's boss at his home on his mobile phone number, through the accommodation address and on a customer line.

A West Yorkshire Trading Standards spokesman said: "This case highlights the dangers of paying big deposits.

"The purpose of a deposit is to make a contract and any amount of money is sufficient - it doesn't have to be a large amount.

"People are well advised to pay as small an amount as possible so that, if things do go wrong, the consequences may not be so great."

He said householders should also shop around before accepting reduced prices for "show" houses or rooms.

"Get other quotes because you might find the price you have been offered is no cheaper than anyone else."

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