Signs of a quote to walk away from

The discount expires today

The most reliable signal there is. A price that is valid only while the salesperson is in your living room is a closing technique, not a commercial reality. It appears most in stairlifts, hearing aids, and home improvements — categories often bought under pressure by people who did not plan to buy that week.

Let it expire. It will be available again.

They will not put it in writing

Anything material that exists only as a verbal assurance does not exist. If a supplier is happy to say something but not to write it down, they already know it will not survive contact with their own terms.

The certification does not check out

MCS for solar, NSI or SSAIB for security systems, HCPC registration for audiologists, Environment Agency registration for waste carriers, SRA for solicitors. All of these are free to verify on a public register, and a surprising number of quotes come from firms displaying a logo they are not entitled to.

In waste, this one is not just about quality: using an unregistered carrier leaves the legal liability with you.

A large deposit up front

Some deposit is normal, particularly where equipment is made to order. A demand for most of the money before any work happens is not. Where possible, pay a deposit over £100 by credit card, which brings Section 75 protection on purchases up to £30,000 and is the single cheapest insurance available on a big purchase.

The quote does not itemise

A single total with no breakdown cannot be compared with anything, and that is often the point. Ask for the components — hardware, labour, scaffolding, monitoring, warranty — and the reluctance or willingness to provide them is informative on its own.

The specification quietly shrank

The cheapest quote is sometimes cheapest because it is not for what you asked. Fewer panels. A smaller bin. Behind-the-ear instead of in-canal. A template instead of a custom design. Always check the specification before the price, because otherwise you will pick a discount you were never offered.

Pressure about your circumstances

In wills and estate planning particularly, be cautious about anyone who arrives with a trust product and an argument about care fees. Trusts have legitimate uses, and they are also the most mis-sold product in that market. Ask what specific problem it solves for you, and get a second opinion from a regulated solicitor before committing several thousand pounds.