Invoiced for service not requested

[symbiosis]

Hi all

 

I approached some architects for quotations on drawing up plans and obtaining planning permission for a loft conversion on my house. I received a quote back from one company that had two distinct parts 1)  drawing up plans and obtaining planning permission 2) To produce full plans and apply for full building regulations approval (this was not something I had requested)

 

I wrote to the company stating that I wished to proceed with the first option of drawing up plans and obtaining planning permission. They carried out the work and I duly paid them. 

 

They then recommended some structural engineers to carry out a structural survey - we chose one and they billed us directly as a totally separate customer and contract.

 

I thought I had better make myself clear that I did NOT want to proceed with the second part of their quote (as having spoken to contractors they told me that full plans were not required) so I emailed the architects telling them to hang fire on that part of the service and not to proceed.

 

They emailed me about a week later with the full plans and the application for building regulations! I waited a few days to see what would happen next and sure enough I have just received an invoice for this....

 

Where do I stand with this? I have only ever given the go ahead for part 1 of their quotation, and in fact specifically asked them to hang fire on the second part? Don't really feel that I should be paying for something that I didn't want and didn't give permission for them to carry out on my behalf - thoughts please

Edited April 2, 2019 by symbiosis
edit

[ericsbrother]

you have the latter in writing so they cat say they werent told. Now a lot of this depends on exactly what the original instructionwas but as you have a paper trail it does look good for your side of the story being provable.

So tell them that you didnt instruct them to do this and that you wont be paying them any more than you already have. It would be foolish of them to continue to argue the toss if the written instruction was clear but your chopice of words here- hand fire could indicate a delay rather than a firm NO

[symbiosis]

Thanks ericsbrother

I've just found my email to them and actually I said "We have decided to halt with the production of full plans and the building control application for the immediate future" surely that is fairly cut and dry?