ComplaintsforLicensed Structural Engineers

• Initial Complaint

  03/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In February of 2020 I contracted with Licensed Structural Engineers (LSE) to create plans and get a permit for a small addition to my house. The project is very small, 150 square foot dining room extension. Typically this should take 3-4 months to get a permit. I have been waiting two years now. According to the city planning department, LSE will submit the plans, the city will give them a list of things to fix and LSE will wait a few months and resubmit without attempting to fix all of the issues. Simple things like marking the driveway on the plot plan. I have complained frequently over the past 18 months. LSE rarely returns my emails with no explanation as to why this is taking so long. They are difficult to reach by phone. Originally, I paid them $5000. They require full payment before they will work on the project. After a year they had me pay $1800 more so they could comply with new ********** requirements that they apparently didn't know about. I am beyond frustrated and want to get a lawyer, but what I really want is them to do their job. A competent engineer could take care of all of the issues in a day if they actually wanted to. I believe that my project is so small they have put it on the back burner. The city building department is now going to charge an hourly rate to check any new submission for my project since it has been resubmitted so many times. I've submitted the original invoice for $5000 from February of 2022 to help you identify the project to the company. Please help!

  

  Business response

  04/05/2024

  Dear *****,

  We apologize for any frustration or inconvenience you have experienced throughout the process of obtaining permits for your dining room extension project. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

  
  We understand the importance of timely completion and effective communication, and we regret any lapses in these areas. Please know that we take your feedback seriously and are committed to resolving this matter promptly.
  We want to assure you that we have recently submitted the stamped plans to the permitting department in accordance with the comments provided by the city. This step was completed two days ago, and you were promptly informed of this development. Additionally, we want to reassure you that our team is actively working on addressing any outstanding issues related to your project.

  
  We apologize for any delays or difficulties you have encountered while attempting to reach us. Our team is committed to improving our communication channels to ensure that you are kept informed of the progress of your project.
  We understand your frustration and want to assure you that we are dedicated to completing your project to your satisfaction. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We are here to assist you and ensure the successful completion of your project.
  

  Thank you for your understanding and patience.

   

  Sincerely,

  ***********************- *** Team

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I entered into a contract on April 4, 2022 with Licensed Structural Engineer to perform inspections, produce architectural and structural plans and submit plans to City and attain permits from the plans. LSE has submitted four plans to the City and it's almost 2 years later and the plans are still deemed incomplete. I am demanding a refund since they cannot complete the service under contract. I am very appalled and disappointed by the service I received. I am surprised this company is still in business. I just received the 3rd status letter from the city and it was labeled incomplete AGAIN. The staff at the city are even surprised of the plans and looked up their company. They said there shouldn't be a 3rd letter of incompletion with this many comments. Even my contractor reviewed the plans and said there's no detail and will not get approved. I lost too much money and wasted my time. We are going on 2 years with incomplete plans. This project started April 2022 and it's 2024. Based on the Citys experience, this is unheard of. I could list out all the issues I've encountered with dates and emails. I am demanding a refund so I can find another company to finish my project. I gave the company too many chances. Other clients would have left a long time ago when I first had issues back in August 2022 when my application was voided by the city for weeks for incomplete plans submitted by LSE and no one from the company followed up or even bothered to fix it. I had to check for myself and take initiative. I should have found another company a long time ago. I contacted the owner directly to solve this issue amongst ourselves and received no response. I would really like to get this settled amongst ourselves and not get the court involved but they leave me no choice.

  

  Business response

  05/23/2024

  Dear ********,
  

  Thank you for reaching out to us regarding your concerns. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we address this matter.

  After reviewing your project history, we confirm that the necessary inspections were conducted, architectural and structural plans were produced, and submissions were made to the City for permits, as agreed upon in our contract from April 4, 2022.
  We understand the frustration caused by the extended timeline and the multiple rounds of revisions from the City. It's not unusual for such projects to encounter unforeseen delays during the permitting process.
  In regards to the finalization of your project, we did reach out to you on November 27, 2023, requesting the final payment to deliver the completed plans. However, we understand that there *** have been some miscommunication, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused.
  

  As a reminder, it is standard practice for us to address all comments and revisions from the City during the permit review process. We strive to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and meet your project's specifications to the best of our abilities.
  

  We remain committed to resolving this matter in a timely and satisfactory manner. We kindly urge you to remit the final payment so we can provide you with the completed plans and address any outstanding concerns you *** have.
  Should you have any further questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please feel free to reach out to us directly at *************.

  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
  

  Sincerely,

  **************************** Executive Asst.

  Licensed Structural Engineers, Inc.

  Customer response

  05/23/2024

  Yes plans were submitted but were incorrect every time and not even close to what the city is asking for. Did you review the plans and responses? They never seen a company submit this many incomplete plans with no knowledge and they deal with many different companies submitting plans. I told them I am not paying the remainder until it was completed and approved because of all the revisions so they tried to submit again and it failed again. So after over 2 years later, I now realize your company will never get it approved because lack of knowledge and care. So I am done with your company and I would be dumb to spend anymore money on this. I paid for a service that your employees cannot complete therefore I should be reimbursed for services.  I gave your company too many chances. There has to be a fine line where if your employees cannot complete the project, the client should be reimbursed so I can hire someone else to do it. I lost so much money from this project because of the time it's taking to complete it. This is ridiculous. I was giving your company a chance to make it right before I sued the company. We are now going on 3 years and I just want to move on. This is prime example of lack of communication. I contacted you through the BBB in February and 3 months later I get a response. I don't know why I keep giving this company a chance to do the right thing. 

  

  Business response

  07/01/2024

  Dear ********,
  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We understand the frustration and inconvenience you've experienced and apologize for any shortcomings in our service.
  
  Our records show that the final set of plans was completed, and we reached out to you on November 27, 2023, to inform you that these plans are ready for delivery. We have been waiting for the final payment to proceed with the delivery.
  
  Additionally, the plan reviewer requested a civil design, which was not included in our original scope of work. We have attempted to contact you multiple times to discuss this additional requirement but have been unable to reach you and have left voicemails.
  
  Please understand that it is standard practice for city reviews to come back with comments, which we address as promptly as possible. Project timelines and delivery dates depend on various factors, including the complexity of the project, client responsiveness, and external factors such as weather conditions and public health emergencies.
  
  We value your feedback and would like to resolve this matter amicably. We are committed to delivering the completed plans upon receipt of the final payment and addressing any further concerns you might have.
  
  Thank you for your patience and understanding.
  
  Best regards,
  
  ***********************
  Sr. Executive Assistant
  Licensed Structural Engineers

  Customer response

  07/02/2024

  I understand this is a process and there are revisions but I have been patient and I gave your company a chance for 2 years and your company couldn't even come close to the requirements of approval. I waited a long time for that 2nd revision, the city said LSE didn't even make the changes they requested so I had to wait for months again for that 3rd revision and there was still a lot of information missing. It would be different if we were close and it was minor revisions but it wasn't. I would be dumb to pay your company another cent for services. I lost so much time and money. I had a loan with a low percentage and since so much time has past I lost out of that deal. Yes it was enough time to complete. I hate liars so please be honest you did not try to contact me multiple times and leave mutilple messages. ******** from LSE called once on 6/19 and left a message and I called an hour later and no one answered and I left a message. No one returned my call. I just want to be done with this and get my money back for services that wasn't completed. So please stop asking me to continue working with your company because it is a NO. It is not worth the money, time, stress I've been through.

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  SCAM!! We paid these guys $800 to give me a report on the roof. After they "completed" the inspection we never received the report. The inspector never answer any of our phone calls and once I got in touch with the customer representative at the company they told me they issued the refund but I never received anything and it has been weeks. We paid money for a service we didn't receive.

  

  Business response

  05/23/2024

  Dear *****,

  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you've experienced with our services. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

  Upon investigating your case, we discovered a miscommunication between our inspector and our team, which unfortunately resulted in a delay in completing your project. We understand the urgency of obtaining the roof inspection report, especially for the sale of your home, and we deeply regret any inconvenience this delay may have caused.

  In response to your concerns, we promptly issued a refund to the card on file for the full amount of $800. However, it appears that there may have been a delay in processing the refund, for which we apologize. Rest assured, we have taken steps to ensure that such delays do not occur in the future.

  We understand the importance of delivering our services in a timely and professional manner, and we are committed to improving our processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.

  Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at *************.

  Thank you for your understanding and patience.

  
  Sincerely,

  **************************** Executive Asst.

  Licensed Structural Engineers, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  11/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On May 12, 2022 we entrusted Licensed Structural Engineers, also known as Architectural Gig aka **************************** to provide us with a blueprint with an engineering stamp for a residential property. We paid half of the project up front with the agreement that the second half will be paid on delivery of plans. At every stage of communication, there have been issues. Theyve scheduled multiple meetings and then neglected to attend them. They promise revisions in a few days, and weeks go by, without communicating a reason for the delay. Initially they estimated the plans would be delivered May 26, 2023 and include a permit application process. It has now been 1 year and 5 months. Ive called numerous times to find out the status of the project only to be left on hold for an extended time. If and when they do answer, the engineer is either in a meeting or out to lunch. We have been patient up to this point but cannot continue like this indefinitely. The plans were at a near completed stage June 5, 2023 and we requested 3 changes. There has been no communication from the engineer despite my many emails and phone calls asking for an update. It is now November 6, 2023. If there is no communication and timely resolution to receiving our plans, we must insist on a refund.

  

  Business response

  12/18/2023

  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We acknowledge the ongoing nature of your project and have noted your recent communications with *****, your dedicated project manager. Our records indicate the most recent correspondence occurred on December 12, and we appreciate the open dialogue.
  Given that the project remains in progress and our team is actively working to meet your expectations, issuing a partial refund at this time is not within our current policy. However, we understand the importance of addressing your concerns.
  Should you still wish to pursue a refund or if there are specific issues you'd like to discuss further, we encourage you to reach out to our dedicated support team at ****************** Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to finding a resolution that aligns with your expectations.
  If, however, you prefer to place the project on hold, please inform us of your decision, and we will accommodate accordingly. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we remain dedicated to ensuring your experience with ****** is positive and meets your expectations.
  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

  Customer response

  12/21/2023

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved. I await more communication about the next steps. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Licensed Structural Engineers, **** was contracted to provide structural engineering services for a building construction project. We were told the wait would be about two weeks. 5 weeks later and numerous phone calls and e-mails, licensed structural engineers e-mailed a structural design for a beam which indicates the structural engineers did not understand the requirements which were clearly depicted on the plans. In addition, Licensed Structural Engineers sent a company representative to the job site at which time the job requirements were discussed. Licensed Structural Engineers was paid by check on Aug 2, 2023, $1,435.50 at the beginning of the contract. An additional $1,174.50 was paid by credit card on Sept 4, 2023. The $1,174.50 has been disputed with the credit card company. My business, ************************* *** has received nothing of value from Licensed Structural Engineers, *** The $1,435.50 must be returned to ************************* the credit card charge must also be returned. A failure to return the funds demonstrate a complete lack of engineering ethics and business ethics exhibited by Licensed Structural Engineers. I also spoke with the (Licensed Structural Engineers) Engineer working on the project. The engineer told me he didnt think he could engineer the project (design problem). Licensed Structural Engineers has therefor provided nothing and has made no effort to return the funds.

  

  Business response

  12/18/2023

  Good afternoon,

  Following the execution of the contract with LSE for our services, our engineer conducted the project inspection on Tuesday, August 1, and the initial payment was made via check. Upon the collection of project details, your dedicated project manager commenced work on your project. In response to your request for an expedited timeline, we successfully delivered your blueprints by September 3.
  Subsequently, rather than collaborating with our team to address any concerns or modifications, you expressed a desire for a refund. In an effort to facilitate communication and assistance with necessary changes, we reached out via email, proposing a call to discuss and implement revisionsa critical step in the refinement process.
  Despite our proactive approach to resolve any potential issues, you insisted on a refund after project delivery. In response, we did highlight that proceeding with the refund request would prompt involvement from our collections team. It's important to note that, although you received a refund to your bank account, our team dedicated over 30 days to this project. The partial refund provided already deviates from the terms outlined in the contract you signed. We remain committed to addressing any remaining concerns and fostering a constructive resolution.

   

• Initial Complaint

  03/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I wanted a structural inspection done on a house I was trying to purchase and I was directed to a web page to fill out the application. In the application you had to give your credit card info and they charge you $800. After 2 days of not hearing from them and I call a couple times, secretary said the inspector had not contacted them back, 3 times I called same answer. So I canceled the service. The secretary told me it would take 12 business days to get my money back. That was on the 3rd of March 2023. Today, March 22,2023, I called again explaining I still haven't received my money and she said there were no cancelation on my order. She sent me a text with my order #***** and an email ***************** to speak with a manager. No response still. I just want my money back for work that was never done.

• Initial Complaint

  01/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Signed the proposal on December 21, 2022, and paid the same day for a structural engineer's report to be sent to me within five to seven business days of my appointment/inspection. The appointment/inspection was on December 27, 2022. It is January 17, 2023 (three weeks later), and I have still not received the report. Every time I call this company (which has different phone numbers online....) I am told the report is still under review. This stage of "under review" has been going on for weeks. This report is holding up closing on my new home. I wanted a refund.

  

  Business response

  08/07/2023

  ******,

  
  

  This client's report was sent on January 19, 2023. Our structural inspection report review process contains three stages of review with different team members with the final stage being review and signature by the PE.

  Sometimes, depending on the scope, the engineer reports take longer to compile due to the nature of the project and we do our best to communicate the timeline with our clients.

  The customer disputed the payment on January 20, 2023 after the report was sent.  We won this dispute with the customer's financial institution.

  
  

  Thanks,

  
  

  ***********************
  

  Sr. Executive Asst.

  O: *************

  D: *************

  www.LicensedStructuralEngineers.com

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩