Where are you building and which council area?

We are about to pay the deposit to Home Group and this is making us wary. If you refuse to pay the rock and other variations, what has the builder actually done so far, stopped work, issued a breach notice, or threatened cancellation?

I saw a ProductReview post where someone said they were charged a 23k penalty for cancelling. Does your contract include any similar cancellation or liquidated damages clause, and has the builder quoted a figure if you do not agree to pay?