architect ripping me off?

[Christina1968]

i'm using an architect, which when we first met it all was great we discussed what we wanted, we agreed that a deposit would be paid and the rest in instalments. then the plans came back, entirely different to what we had requested, so we ended up giving the architect plans that we had drawn up a few years earlier. the plans that came back pretty much resembled what we had given him.

There was a problem with planning and the architect had to slighty revise the plans, a simple set back on the extension, everything got passed, but now he says he wants another £275 for the revised plans, or he won't release the structural calculations. I really feel that he didn't do much apart from the slight change on the plans we supplied to him. also the agreement of all the other charges to be paid in instalments went out the window, before he would submit the plans to planning he demanded the balance in full. he will never answer my calls only email and txt messages. can he just add this extra charge after everything was previously agreed.

If you ‘didn’t think he did much’ then why didn’t you do the drawings yourself? Architects have to train for years to do their job so they rightly charge high fees.

What does your contract with him say?

i paid the amount that we agreed Which came to £3,500, which included planning, building regs, which was fine. we agreed this, now he want's more than agreed, not at any time was this extra mentioned, until now i need the calculations. he has me over a barrel.

there is no contract, only a quote for his fee's which i paid, he wants more than we agreed. I'm not disagreeing with what it takes to become an architect, i just want to know if he can now this late in the proceedings ask for extra money. after he sent a receipt saying balance received and paid in full?

It probably says in the quote you received how many times you can make amendments and the hourly fee if you go over that (which presumably you have).
Your ‘slight revision’ may have meant a significant amount of amendments to the drawings.

He had to make amendments due to planning, so he did more work than originally anticipated. Another £275 sounds reasonable.

Did he advise you of additional costs in advance? Did he specify how any additional cost would be calculated? Yes he is a professional but he's also providing a service and it is reasonable to let people know when you are going outside of your quote.

Pay him. Next time do the work yourself.

It’s cheap and it’s a variation.

Perhaps ask for a break down of the costs .
But yeah architects charge a fortune but it's skilled work so probably not a lot you can do .