Prove the deposit before arguing about the missing materials
Prepare reconciled deposit evidence for the administrator without assuming payment proves ownership of goods.
Corporate Recovery Partners
01 / 06
The bank transfer does not tell the whole story
Your supplier enters administration before delivering materials you paid for. Start with a clear order and payment record. The administrator needs to understand the agreement, the amount paid and what was supplied. A screenshot showing money leaving the bank is useful, but it may not identify the order or establish the legal treatment of your claim.
Imagine a bathroom contractor who paid a deposit for several batches of custom vanities. Collect the accepted quote, purchase order, deposit invoice and remittance. Check whether the supplier allocated the payment to that order or an earlier account balance. Explain any difference rather than assuming the bookkeeping description proves what the supplier received it for.
List deliveries, credits and refunds against the original order. Record the missing items clearly, including model or specification details where relevant. Keep photographs and delivery dockets. If some goods were said to be completed or set aside, preserve that message and ask your adviser about its significance. Do not assume it automatically establishes ownership or a right to collect them.
ASIC explains that creditors generally lodge debt or claim details for voting, commonly using a proof of debt form. Follow the administrator's instructions and attach supporting records. Ask what further information is needed for your particular claim. Lodging a form does not guarantee repayment or settle a separate question about ownership of materials.
If you need another supplier to keep the project moving, record that order separately from the original deposit claim. Obtain advice about any claim for additional loss rather than adding every replacement cost to the deposit figure yourself. The bathroom contractor needs both a recovery file and a delivery plan, with the amounts clearly distinguished.
Keep confirmation of submission and note any questions or meeting information received. Update the claim if verified deliveries or payments change the position. Ask for advice promptly if you believe you own goods held by the supplier; do not attempt collection without appropriate authority. A clear evidence file makes the next discussion specific and easier to assess.
