I know this is going to sound blunt, but if you’re deposit is lost then sadly, the only person to blame is yourself. Factory Cabins and a lot of other good cabin manufacturers state that you should only purchase log cabins—timber buildings, camping pods, modular buildings, etc.—with a debit or credit card.

Television companies are looking to push this across, talking about bad dealers, unscrupulous traders, etc., but!! Sadly, this is a sensational way of getting people to watch their programme. It’s not an educational view on how not to lose your deposit, and not have heartache, how not to be stolen from, and how to pick the best company.

We have had rouge resellers before, and we stop supplying them immediately and inform the police immediately, however, in some countries, like Ireland, it is seen as a civil matter, and then the customer who lost their deposits must go through lawyers and and and, and in the end, it comes to huge bills, and very sadly, tears. But if they had paid with a credit/debit card, and you do not get what you paid for, then the bank would go after the company, and you would get your money back!

Chargeback , Visa do a chargeback, as do most card companies, and they help you resolve problems. This is very important to note.

Sadly, if you have paid with cash, or a bank transfer, unless the police can in any way prove that it was a criminal act, you have lost your money.

Then people start to scream and shout, and the TV companies come into play, which is great. However, the purpose of the TV show should be an educational one, and that is to tell the public about how to purchase. I have said this time and time and time again, and yet it falls on deaf ears.Why?? Because many resellers will offer discounts if you pay cash! It’s time to wake up. We accept orders from our resellers, and they must pay us through a credit card.

The industry has no rules, none, on how to take deposits, on how to build a cabin, on how to build a base, which is a shame, as their are companies in some countries that buy cabins from their manufacturers, and their manufacturers are just about profit, they are not told or taught, how to build a cabin, and you see them on Facebook and the like, and they are screwing the logs of the log cabin together, This is a no-no. Its actually insane, as the customer did get the cabin, it’s in his garden, looking great, but after 3 summers, it’s a mess, worthless, and dangerous. Do i have proof of this, Yes
Before COVID, there were some amazing assembly teams out there, now 80% have gone., and now, we have beginners, and they do not understand logs, or how to assemble.and have I advised people not to do this? Yes, but the assembly teams do not care, they just want to get them up quick and take the money, which is always cash!

The industry is just the wild west, and there is no comeback for the customers. Thats why picking the right company is essential.

What annoys me more than anything, is that most people are going after price, and when you see a cheap log cabin, you think wow, and they send you a bill, You pay it through a bank transfer or cash, and what you get delivered is normally subpar! Then you want to send it back, but how do you do that if you have not paid with a debit or credit card, It’s very difficult.

Unknown facts, companies that sell 100’s of cheap cabins a month have returns of somewhere between 10% and 20%, and these returns are from people who used a credit/debit card, the rest of the people who did not pay with a credit/debit card, are stuck with what they bought. However, the companies will send out missing parts or broken parts, but, you could have to wait up to 28 days, so if you have already booked a fitting team, or are doing the assembly yourself, you are left with a cabin that’s incomplete, and you have drama, I have talked about this before, but it seems that no one listens.

I have written a more detailed blog below, explaining the reasons in detail.

As a manufacturer of many different types of structures , I have seen and heard of countless cases where deposits for log cabins have been stolen by shady dealers. It is a growing problem in the industry, and it is disheartening to see hardworking individuals lose their money and dreams of owning a log cabin to dishonest individuals.

Companies like mine, which have been in the business for years and have worked hard to build a good reputation, are often called upon by TV companies to speak about this issue. It is a sad reality that in today’s world, where technology makes everything more accessible, fraud is also prevalent.

The most common factor in these cases is the payment method. Many customers choose to pay through cash or bank transfers, which is a massive mistake when it comes to large deposits. I always advise my customers to use debit or credit cards as a form of payment, especially when dealing with large sums of money.

One might wonder, Why debit or credit cards? Well, let’s start with the most obvious reason: it is a safer option. Unlike cash, where once it’s gone, it’s gone, and bank transfers, which can be easily manipulated, debit and credit card transactions can be traced. In cases of fraud, the customer can report it to the bank, and in most cases, they will be protected by the bank’s fraud protection policies.

Another advantage of using cards for payments is that the customer’s personal and financial information is more secure. With cash payments, there is no record of the transaction, making it easier for dishonest individuals to take advantage of customers. Similarly, bank transfers require sharing personal and bank details, which can also be used for fraudulent activities.

On the other hand, debit and credit card transactions are carried out through secure channels, and the customer’s information is encrypted, protecting them from any potential fraud.

However, despite these advantages, many people, especially in Ireland, still do not heed this advice and end up paying log cabin dealers through cash or bank transfers. The most common reason for this is that they believe it is the only way to get a better deal. They assume that by paying in cash, they can avoid taxes or get a discount from the dealer.

While it is true that some dealers may offer discounts for cash payments, it is not worth the risk of losing a significant amount of money. Moreover, legitimate and reputable companies will not ask for cash payments and will offer safer and more secure payment options.

Furthermore, some customers may also choose to pay through bank transfers because they think it will be faster than card payments. However, with advancements in technology, card payments are now more efficient and often faster than bank transfers.

In some cases, customers may also face resistance from the cabin dealer when asking to pay through cards. This might be because the dealer is trying to avoid taxes or is not a legitimate business. In such instances, customers should always insist on using a secure payment method and be cautious of any dealer who refuses to accept card payments.

There have been cases where, even after losing their deposit to fraudulent dealers, customers choose to pay the remaining amount through cash or bank transfers, hoping to get their cabin. This is a massive pitfall that customers should avoid. If a deposit has been stolen, it is highly unlikely that the dealer can deliver on their promise, and the customer ends up losing even more money.

So as a log cabin manufacturer , I urge all customers to always pay for their purchases, especially large deposits, through debit or credit cards. It is the most secure and safest payment method, and it offers customers protection against fraud. It is also essential to research and choose reputable and legitimate dealers to avoid falling victim to fraud. By following these simple steps, customers can protect themselves from the heartache of losing their hard-earned money to dishonest individuals. Let’s make safe and secure payments a must when it comes to purchasing log cabins.