How do I make sure that there is recourse should I fail to get  what I bid for after paying

"Due diligence".

Suggest you do proper research on the company you intend to deal with. Try and get

some input from people here who may have dealt with them before.

There is no such thing as a "done deal" if that's what you're after - however, you can do

what must be done in order to minimize your risks.