• Paying a deposit entails committing to a legally binding contract to purchase the goods or services ordered.
• Unless there is a specific clause in the contract of sale that states otherwise, consumers who do not honour their part of the contract may lose the deposit paid.
• Consumers should negotiate the amount of deposit to be paid and ideally pay the least possible sum.
• Before paying a deposit, consumers should know who they are dealing with. This is especially so when the purchase is done through a distance means of communication.