Thanks Bev and Matou - Matou, your information about 'non-specialists' is very useful indeed.

Here's the scenario - My wife and I started to analyse our options for central heating this place - 450m2, so not a small project.

We have had several studies for various technologies made at our home, which all produced quotes in teh region of €25-31K. With every single firm, they were told it was a project for 2010, maybe 2011, maybe not at all.

One firm insisted on our signature on a Bon de Commande before proceeding with the EDF study of the electrical system; their rep and the EDF rep sat in our lounge and agreed that the signature was ONLY to enable the etude, and that there was no commitment, that they understood that it was very much a 'project', not a definite plan, etc. We had already established that the company rep understood english fairly well, and we pressed him on teh point of commitment. He assured us that even though it was on a Bon de Commande, it was just for a shopping list, and there was no commitment. Indeed, they said that they could not proceed to give us a price unless the study was made - which is reasonable I guess.

Well, you can see what's coming, can't you? The rep has phoned me again, for another EDF appointment, and when I told him we were not proceeding with it, he used the magic word 'obligation', and said he would send me a letter outlining the situation.

Well, to me, the situation is fairly clear - in front of a witness, he 'mis-sold' the purpose of teh Bon de Commande; he has ignored our repeated statements about the timescale and the very confirmation of the project itself.

However, there's no getting round the fact that I signed a BdC, which they now regard as a Devis. In resolving this matter, Im quite happy if their firm take refuge in teh fact that they were dealing with a 'furriner' who did not understand 'their' rules, but I rather think that they knew quite clearly what they were doing.

My next stop will be to brief a solicitor, but my intention in flying this here is to get background on where we stand.