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.

pulliptears

If it doesnt actually state "architect" on his papers he can still advertise as such under "architechtural services" if that makes sense.

You dont have to be a registered architect to draft plans for planning applications etc, its not a legal requirement.

OH does a lot of these drawings for family extensions etc, he isnt a fully fledged architect but an architectural technician. Same thing but without the degree

As for not getting planning on the first set of drawings, some architects will offer a "no win no fee" type thing before submition, although others will make no guarantees. It really depends what you agreed to at the start of the application.
HTH
Jane
x

vivatifosi

Bit of a long shot, but I would also try contacting the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Can't believe they wouldn't have been asked about similar issues in the past or how to handle them. Website:

https://www.riba.org