What is the legal position if I paid for a service that was never delivered?

This is essentially a straightforward breach of contract — the provider took payment on the promise of delivering a service and failed to do so, entitling you to seek a refund of the amount paid, and depending on the circumstances, additional compensation for any further loss this failure caused you.

Start with a formal legal notice demanding a refund within a specified time, which sometimes prompts a response even from a provider who has been ignoring informal messages, since it signals you're serious about pursuing the matter formally.

If that doesn't work, you can pursue a consumer complaint (since services are covered under consumer protection law), or a civil recovery suit for the amount paid, depending on the value involved and which route makes more practical sense — for smaller service payments, the consumer forum route is often more accessible and less costly. Keep your payment proof and all communication attempts with the provider well organised to support your claim.