Architect is no longer responding, partial invoice already paid

  • Erstellt am 2016-07-03 15:27:32

Bauherrin_999

2016-07-03 15:27:32
  • #1
Hello everyone,

since my nerves are already on edge before the construction even begins, I wanted to ask you for advice. At the beginning of 2015, I wanted to start renovating the attic of my parents' house. The renovation was then put on hold in May / June 2015 for personal reasons. The architect then sent an invoice in September 2015. Up to that point, I only had a sketch in hand but without any measurements. He then said that the price still included a sketch with measurements and a PDF document of the plan, which he would send me, and moreover, we would have a credit if we continued and he would be happy about further cooperation.

At the beginning of 2016, I contacted him and said he should please get in touch, as we wanted to continue. From that point on, he did not respond to my email at all, and on the phone you could only leave him a message and no one ever answered the phone at his architect's office. Well, at first I didn’t think much of it, since he always has large projects in Frankfurt and is there during the week. But this game went on for about two weeks until he finally got back to me. We then made an appointment and he brought along the 3D model again - but I did not receive the sketch with measurements. We then discussed what still needed to be changed and that he would come back to us in a week. Well, the week passed, he again did not answer phone calls and no appointment took place. Eventually, he got back to me and came to the appointment. Not much had changed on the sketch and I said we had to push ahead now, otherwise we would not meet the date for submission to the municipality. April was then planned for submission. I told him that I finally wanted a sketch with measurements, as I wanted to measure the attic myself, etc., to get a feeling for the room sizes, etc. We were moving forward so slowly, it was unbelievable. Then on April 9th he was here for the last time - he had an open wound on his foot and therefore could not get in touch... When he gave me the sketch with measurements on that day, I asked if I could finally get offers with that sketch. "No, no, you can’t use that yet. Some small things still need to be changed."... Great. But in two weeks he’d have it done easily and we’d make the submission to the municipality. Well, since that day we just got one appointment cancellation on his answering machine and a short call saying he would get in touch in a week - which was almost five weeks ago now.

He does not answer his cell phone, ignores all our messages on the mailbox – first friendly, then more insistent. No one answers his business phone either. We then sent him a registered letter with termination of cooperation and demand for repayment of the amount already paid, and asked him to immediately return the plans of my parents’ house, which we had given him for planning purposes. The registered letter sat at the post office for a week, he did not collect it, and now it has been returned to me. Now he has received the same letter as a registered mail with delivery confirmation both at his private and his business address. Again no reaction. Another deadline was set. I also sent him an SMS and an email about this – no reaction. No one answers his private phone number at home. I have already contacted the Bavarian Chamber of Architects and asked what I should do. They said the letter was okay and if he does not get back to me again, I should call them again. I think it is outrageous that he is not handing over the plans of my parents’ house. Without these, I can’t go on and he is stealing valuable time from my life that I will never get back. I think that’s the limit!

If it already starts like this before construction even begins, great. Does anyone have any ideas or know what else can be done and do I have a chance to get some of the money back, or is it just gone? Unfortunately, there is no written contract...

Thanks in advance and best regards,
Tina
 

Legurit

2016-07-03 16:11:59
  • #2
Turn on RA; the transfer of the installment payment and his invoice should be there. It is still popular to go to the [Architektenkammer]. What amount did you pay?
 

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