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Thank you in advance for taking time to read this post, not sure if this is the correct section to post under but looking for some advice please.
My partner and I bought a house in early December 2014 and are wanting to extend. We were recommended 2 architects , one from a family friend and the other by someone who cuts my partners hair who had done some drawings for him.
We spoke to the one recommended by the family friend first- he came to visit the property had a look around, briefly discussed what we wanted and said he would sent a quote out. He did and if we wanted to go ahead with him we had to sign a contract and send him a deposit.
Anyway a few days later (around 20th December) the other architect came out, the same conversation took place, he said he was very busy over the Christmas period until the first week in January so we should not expect the quote before then. He said he would take the measurements then and there just in case to save him a second trip if we wanted to go ahead. My partner gave him our email address as he said he would email a quote over. The only cost that was discussed is that it would be around £450 but once he looked over everything he would give an exact quote.
We weren't in any particular rush as had loads of other work to get on with so that was fine we decided to wait for the second quote.
On 4th Jan my partner received an email from the second man, not with a quote but with actual drawings he had done! We had not discussed anything specific for the internal layout as he said this would be discussed if we went ahead with him, so it was his interpretation of the layout. He sent them over very late at night so the first thing we did the next morning was to call him, we explained we did not expect drawings but a quote as agreed as we had not agreed to take any services out with him. We said we would be in touch when we had made a decision about what we wanted to do and when we had received his quote so we could make a decision.
Over the course of the next few weeks our 7 month old baby girl was taken into hospital for quite lengthy stays on two occasions. So we put everything on hold. We had one missed call from this man but had not found the time to call him back. A couple of days later we received an email with an invoice from him for £450 plus £100 for planning acceptance. We called him later that day and explained we had no agreement with him, also emailed him saying the same. This man threatened that if we did not pay within 7 days he would instruct legal proceedings. We replied via email saying we have no contract with him, we did not ask him to carry out any work- we only asked for a quote which was never received.
Today we have received a letter from a solicitor asking we make payment by 2nd March.
We had a look at the solicitor he used on their website- they are based in London and we are in the North West, their main selling point was their advertisement of cheap first letters (£1.95 plus VAT).
Does anyone have any advice of where we stand please or who to turn to for advice without it costing any/much money? Should we reply to this solicitor letter or to the man and if so what should we say?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
My partner and I bought a house in early December 2014 and are wanting to extend. We were recommended 2 architects , one from a family friend and the other by someone who cuts my partners hair who had done some drawings for him.
We spoke to the one recommended by the family friend first- he came to visit the property had a look around, briefly discussed what we wanted and said he would sent a quote out. He did and if we wanted to go ahead with him we had to sign a contract and send him a deposit.
Anyway a few days later (around 20th December) the other architect came out, the same conversation took place, he said he was very busy over the Christmas period until the first week in January so we should not expect the quote before then. He said he would take the measurements then and there just in case to save him a second trip if we wanted to go ahead. My partner gave him our email address as he said he would email a quote over. The only cost that was discussed is that it would be around £450 but once he looked over everything he would give an exact quote.
We weren't in any particular rush as had loads of other work to get on with so that was fine we decided to wait for the second quote.
On 4th Jan my partner received an email from the second man, not with a quote but with actual drawings he had done! We had not discussed anything specific for the internal layout as he said this would be discussed if we went ahead with him, so it was his interpretation of the layout. He sent them over very late at night so the first thing we did the next morning was to call him, we explained we did not expect drawings but a quote as agreed as we had not agreed to take any services out with him. We said we would be in touch when we had made a decision about what we wanted to do and when we had received his quote so we could make a decision.
Over the course of the next few weeks our 7 month old baby girl was taken into hospital for quite lengthy stays on two occasions. So we put everything on hold. We had one missed call from this man but had not found the time to call him back. A couple of days later we received an email with an invoice from him for £450 plus £100 for planning acceptance. We called him later that day and explained we had no agreement with him, also emailed him saying the same. This man threatened that if we did not pay within 7 days he would instruct legal proceedings. We replied via email saying we have no contract with him, we did not ask him to carry out any work- we only asked for a quote which was never received.
Today we have received a letter from a solicitor asking we make payment by 2nd March.
We had a look at the solicitor he used on their website- they are based in London and we are in the North West, their main selling point was their advertisement of cheap first letters (£1.95 plus VAT).
Does anyone have any advice of where we stand please or who to turn to for advice without it costing any/much money? Should we reply to this solicitor letter or to the man and if so what should we say?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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