Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/28/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We were given John C***** * name as a potential architect to hire to replace a current one .
  
  We met with John at our house and told him that the meeting was strictly confidential and he agreed. Weeks later we had found out that he had made derogatory statements about our builder and sent emails to multiple individuals with a photo he had taken without our consent of our house and both my husband and I in the photo. He tried to stir up trouble behind our backs.
  
  Furthermore his emails were alarming to the builder , he made threats of the house becoming a liability and a possible lawsuit and caused mistrust and discord within our current team of professionals .

  Business Response

  Date: 01/02/2023

  In response to the complaint ID **********
  
  I was asked by the clients’ interior designer to visit this project to help navigate some difficulties they were having between the initial architect and the contractor.
  
  Regarding the statement saying “the meeting was strictly confidential and he agreed”, I never said this.  As a matter of fact, I sent an email to the husband client (see attached) telling the client “There are many issues I have concerns with that open up many liability issues for me and potential lawsuits I do not want to engage in. My strong recommendation would be to get a second opinion on the construction as it stands from an independent contractor. Maybe even also getting an independent stucco installer opinion. I am particularly concerned about the stucco and water infiltration. It appears details on the drawings were not executed as well. I just don’t know what compromises were made along the way regarding the details. I believe the architect and contractor can finish this, but an independent review by construction experts and then a meeting with all parties involved would be recommendation to getting this back on track. I wish you the best and hope this can be resolved amicably.”  Upon receipt of this email the client responded, “Thanks John. Who would you recommend for the review?”  I responded, “Let me make a few calls and get back to you.”  Clearly it would be impossible to keep this matter confidential and engage other professionals for an independent review, as the client and I discussed.
  
  Secondly, I never made a derogatory comment about the contractor.  I believe the contractor was mentioned at our only meeting, but I do not know the contractor and honestly, I have forgotten the contractor’s name.  I only raised professional concerns about aspects of the project, particularly the stucco installation, which historically in this region has issues and must be detailed with the utmost care.  I have seen water infiltration with stucco on projects I have been brought into and wanted to have an independent confirmation by a stucco professional that the details were correct as to protect the homeowners from future problems.
  
  Regarding sending pictures to multiple individuals, that is also not true.  I sent the pictures to one general contractor as I had discussed with the homeowner.  I was asking for this contractor’s expert opinion to review the construction and address any issues he could identify, once again to protect the owners’ best interest.  I subsequently discovered the general contractor had sent the pictures to his stucco contractor for his opinion.  I sent pictures to give the general contractor a sense of the project’s condition as well as the stucco details that were of concern to see if he could be of assistance.  In the course of my 28 years in business, I have taken many photographs to capture buildings.  Sometimes people are walking around as I photograph.  I had no intention of photographing people, and as you can see in the email attached, the pictures do not show the faces of the client, and their primary purpose was architectural.
  
  The only “trouble I was stirring up” was trying to protect the owners from issues that would create problems for them in the future.  I had concerns on their behalf and was seeking professional evaluation to ensure that their building was constructed in a way that would serve them for the long haul without problems.
  
  Lastly, as you can see from my email to the owner, I expressed all of my concerns to him before I contacted anyone.  The only email I sent expressing concerns was to the owner.  I did express concerns to the contractor I emailed as a professional courtesy to let him know things could end up in court.  Based on my only meeting with the client, it seemed very likely heading to some kind of legal procedure.
  
  I have had my own architectural practice for 28 years and have been licensed as a professional architect for 31 years.  As far as I am aware, I have never had a complaint regarding my work made to the BBB.  I am shocked & saddened at this complaint.  My only interest was protecting the owner & seeking the best result for the them.  I spent hours on this project and never sent a bill to the owner.  In fact, I was never hired for any part of this project. I was only trying to help.  In the end, it appears that no good deed will go unpunished.
  
  John C****** Architect