So have we been ripped off by our architect???

[northender]

The answer is yes I'm sure .
We were planning an extension and appointed an architect to draw up some plans (small single storey extension no planning required). First he came back with a mad, bizarre plan nothing much like what we'd asked for (dh and I thought we'd been quite clear what we wanted).
dh then drew what we wanted sent him away with it and he came back with what we had wanted in the first place.

So that is the work he has done for us, just preliminary drawings, not the more detailed stuff we would need to apply for building regs. Then we got a bill for £1200. We disputed that as the first scheme he came up with (and charged 6 hours for) was not at all what we had asked for. Finally we paid just over £1000 as I just wasn't up for a fight about it.

We are now starting afresh with a different layout for other reasons but have decided to go with a different architect as his charges seem extortionate.

Can we do anything now or is it too late?

His invoice mentions arbitration through his professional body, not sure if that will apply as we did pay the bill.

OK I had a similar situation

briefed architect and he quoted £1,200 (I think or around there)

he drew up plans that were sublime but so far out of our budget that they were just ridiculous (budget was fixed which we talked about pre-briefing)

then he drew up plans that were so pathetic they were ridiculous (in another sense)

then he drew up something else that just wouldn't work if you thought about it

so I wrote him an email and explained how let down and disappointed we'd been by the process particularly in light with the initial discussions re budget and the 12 page written brief

he asked how much we thought his work was worth

we paid him £200

end of subject

oh I see you paid

bugger

dunno

Thanks twig

Completely regret not doing exactly what you did. Was totally when we got the bill. Probably didn't feel up for the fight at the time partly because we felt so stupid to have got to that stage, we rushed into it as we were so excited about the idea of the extension. Fingers well and truly burned, we're researching everything thoroughly now.
You've made me feel better though to know that it's not just us! (Just us who are stupid enough to pay)