Architects invoice - Amount okay?

We also agreed by email, as we had no other choice

Please explain, that's nonsense...

Get advice from a lawyer for construction and/or contract law. Legal expenses insured? If necessary, it will cost a hundred.

You have a sense of humor. You should probably know that for an initial consultation, the maximum allowed fee, namely 250€ net, is usually charged. Therefore, not cheaper than the oh-so-expensive architect either. : pay up. Learning fee.

I would sit down with the architect again and clarify the matter (objectively). I cannot imagine that the architect is eager to cause trouble here. There are always solutions. In my opinion, lawsuits would be completely disproportionate with these amounts and would not get anyone any further. If necessary, you can also contact the Architektenkammer and request mediation (Mediator). Best regards

So if you go to an architect who already charges for the initial consultation and generally also charges according to [HOAI], you only have yourself to blame if money is taken from your pocket. I went to 5 architects and didn't have to pay anything to any of them. In the end, I paid a flat rate of 2800€ net all-inclusive for the building application.

Good for you, bad for 4 architects, if they spent many hours besides the consultation.

Oh, and if you get quotes from the shell builder, do you pay for that too? He has just as much effort... What nonsense