Delaying deposit repayment

[petergdublin]

I booked a childcare place with Giraffe childcare on December 17 paying 998 euro by credit card.
I phoned them 4 weeks ago to cancel the place and get repayment of my deposit.
(Well in advance of the May cancellation deadline)
The employee I spoke to said I would receive a cheque and that "this normally takes quite some time."
Surely it takes 5 minutes to write a cheque and pop it in the post.
I note they debited my credit card as soon as physically possible.

I have repeatedly tried to reach their customer service line via phone to no avail.

I am wondering if this is their company policy ?
How long can a company legally hang on to a deposit having rendered no goods or service ?

 

[MOB]

Write to them. Give 7 days to refund your money. Tell them that if you do not get the money, you will go to small claims court. Your letter should set out all the facts (date of payment, date of cancellation, the terms and conditions given to you for cancellation). You can then attach a copy of your letter to the small claims form.

Don't waste time with phone calls to them.