UNFAIR TREATMENT BY CONTRACTOR

During March 2021, I contacted a mr Sandmann from The Handy Boys Maintenance in Cape Town, for a quotation for bathroom renovations. The arrangement between us was that I will pay a deposito upfront and then I will accept and sign his quote and forward it to him. Then he will start working at my place. I did pay the deposito, but then I read through his online reviews and they were very bad. I realised that I cannot risk making use of his services. I therefore did not accept or sign his quotation and I notified him within 3 business days, that I will not use his services and that he must please pay back my deposito. However he refused to pay back my deposito, which means that I have lost that money and I feel that that is not fair., as he never started working by me.