[mikester]

The contract was for 6 weeks total.

They used 1 week and a few days. Now they want the deposit back. My friend is prepared to work the remaining time they paid for but not really prepared to return the deposit.

Again, these jobs take quite a bit of investment to get and if the client backs out at the last minute my buddy is screwed. The non refundable deposit is designed to prevent this sort of crap.