HELP!!! Im being ripped off by an "architect"

Cameron1983

This post may not be in the right place, but any help would be really appreciated...

My mum wanted to change a spiral metal staircase in her flat to a wooden normal one. She looked up "architects" in the yellow pages, and found a guy in it. In his proposals, his company header says "architecture, design, construction" and his company name. Nowhere in his letters does he say he's an architect, however he said he was when he met us (even the city council planning officer didnt question him as he was so convincing when she met him).

Now, 3 months down the line having paid for his initial drawings (which were rejected by the council), he is wanting additional additional cheques for work before its been accepted by the council (it's a B-listed building), without sending invoices, and things have been "getting lost in the post". He also only provides a phone number (and rarely returns calls) and a PO Box address. Obviously, at this stage alarm bells started ringing and we got a couple of builders in who said instantyl that the drawings were not those of an architect and were essentially rubbish, and that we shouldnt pay anything else to this guy. I couldnt find him registered on the Architects Registration Board website. We already wrote him a letter (before meeting the builders) telling him to either correct the original drawings or refund us the money.

Essentially, now Im pretty sure that everything hes done is to defraud us, and I know about going to the CAB, and getting initial free 30min advice from solicitors. But we need help! Can he legally advertise in the yellow pages under "architects" if he isn't one (I suspect legally he probably can), and does the fact that he's written "architecture" on his company header not necessarily mean he's an architect (again I think so). He said he was an architect, and I was there to witness it. What do people think we should do first - I plan to phone the ARB tomorrow, and obviously theres the city council trading standards, company house, consumer direct, police(?), but if anyone can give me some advice/opirnions as a heads up itd be great!!

Cheers guys, Cameron
ps. post duplicated in another forum as not sure where this should go (sorry!)

jonesMUFCforever

What does the Architects Registration Board website say?

I think anyone can call himself an Architect if they want to as long as they do not claim to be members of any trade association when not true or pretend to use a qualification they do not hold.

Cameron1983

http://www.arb.org.uk/about/act/act6.shtml#20

ps. thanks for your (incredibly) fast reply!

LittleVoice

Only qualified architects (with RIBA in the UK) can call themselves architects. (Any one can call themselves an accountant, but architect is definitely a protected title.)

You can get a geographical address from Royal Mail if you tell them the PO Box number.

olly300

Looks like OP you are going to have to:
1. Go to companies house website and see if he is in partnership with a registered architect. You should also get the business address.

2. Go to local trading standards - http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/consumers/consumers.cfm
And inform them that he is impersonating an architect.

3. Report him to the tax man for fraud. He should be giving you invoices for the work with VAT on them and a VAT number.
0800 595 000 24 hours a day you don't need to give your details but you need his name, address etc.

4. Not pay him anymore money. ( Just turn around and say you have had a change of heart and stick firmly to it until he leaves you alone.)

5. Consider the money your mum already spent lost. In theory you could chase him through the courts but if he has set up a limited company there is no point as he will hide behind limited liability.