Q: More than a month ago I engaged a trader to change the covers of my sofa. This work was supposed to be carried out within a week.

During this month I contacted the company several times but to date the sofa has not been returned to me.

I have already paid a €70 deposit. If the trader has not yet changed the covers, I am prepared to have the sofa back in its original state and get the job done by another company. But I want back the deposit paid. What can I do?

A: Do you have anything in writing to prove that the sofa was meant to be ready in a week? If you do not have a written agreement, you need to write to the trader and request that the new covers are fitted on the sofa within a week as originally agreed.

In the same letter, you should inform the trader that if the work is not carried out within this time frame, you intend to cancel the sales agreement and request a refund of the deposit paid.

If after sending this letter to the trader the problem remains unresolved, you may then file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs so we can try to reach an amicable understanding with the trader on your behalf.