Barker and Associates Party Wall Surveys Limited Reviews 64

Barker & Associates produced an award within 10 days for myself and both neighbours, couldn’t be happier. Would recommend.

They are a despicable company and simply scaremongering neighbours when they scour local council planning applications.
Disgraceful behaviour and upset my elderly neighbour when he received a letter from them offering their services.

No problem using this company for our neighbours work, would recommend.

As per most of the other reviews here, avoid this company like the plague! They misrepresented themselves to my neighbour as working with me and asked if my neighbour would like them to carry out party wall surveying work on their behalf. We found this out after receiving a letter about our planned works, stating that we were carrying out work impacting our neighbours party wall and that we needed to give them 2 months notice, plus send them all paperwork with regards to our plans - potentially putting our work in jeopardy.

Luckily we spoke to our neighbours who were apologetic and understood that they were being conned into signing on with Barkers.

Shouldn't be allowed. Disgusting company, unprofessional and parading as a legitimate business.

Update: The company's usual response, sounds like Donald Trump: "no connection with you" and "done no work for them", "fake review". That should tell you everything you need to know. Not even trying to address the points I made. Of course you have no connection with me, I would never use a cowboy outfit like yours. You tried to get my neighbours to sign up with you by telling them you were already working with me! Then sent me a letter stating you were working on their behalf and that I was in breach of the Party Wall Act.

There needs to be a zero rating or maybe call it a Barkers rating as you will definitely lead the way on that. Conmen, cowboys, call it whatever you like but avoid like the plague. If you see any correspondence from this outfit, place it in the bin. You've been warned!

BEWARE of any letters received from this company. I nearly fell for their scare mongering letter sent to me, which would likely have caused a problem with my neighbour. I know their response will be similar to the ones received by previous reviewers, but have sought advice, and all we can do is leave reviews to try and protect others.
Update, this is not a fake review, as it reviews the dubious manner of contact from the company, as clearly stated above.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR THEM

This bunch of "Ambulance Chasers" clearly are out to con people rather than help them. When the letter was addressed to "Homeowner" it set alarm bells off and they clearly have no idea what the work next door is as it's nowhere near my property.

No doubt they will respond with their usual reply, so I'll pre-empt it by saying this comment isn't baseless there's no way I'd do business with a bunch that are are sad as the PPI crowd.

A nasty business using deceptive practices to make a quick buck from the unwary.

Received a letter from this lot posing as a service I could use and charge my neighbours for the benefit.

Utterly revolting behaviour, clearly not a business to trust nor support with any work.

**Update. With reference to their reply below, my posting is clearly not "baseless" (see that word "Verified" above, next to my rating) and they clearly do have a connection with me because they sent me the letter I described above.

The one thing they do get right is that no, I would absolutely not have this bunch work for me given their appalling business practices, and I warmly recommend that everyone do the same.

The review is to thank Neil for all the support and help he provided for my family during my building work. RM17 Grays. Even that he was not working on my behalf, my neighbour hired him.
But because of how my neighbour was behaving he went against his client to make things right for me.
He knows the story so there is no need to say more.
I would definitely hire this company especially if Neil is still working there. He is honest and straight forward. What else do we want in this world? My building work has shown and taught me that a decent person is very hard to find.
Sorry for the time it took me to review this company that’s another story.
Thank you, Neil,
Greg & Rayann

As per many other reviews I have not instructed this company, but felt so strongly about their business practices that I should write one.

To be transparent I am having a loft extension and this company wrote to both of my adjacent properties once they saw our planning application on public records. Their letter caused a lot of alarm to both neighbours due to the general wording. Not only do I need to allay their fears I also need to convince one of my neighbours that they are legally unaffected by the works as we do not share a party wall. Top tip for Barker and Associates - you could do much more targeted marketing by simply looking on Google maps and seeing which neighbour or neighbours actually have a party wall before blindly sending them your letters and causing completely unnecessary distress.

We have’t instructed a surveyor yet but we can confidently strike this company off the list… they are unprofessional at best.

Also amazing that this company has not received a 3 or 4 star review to date… :D

Update: The reply to this review tells you everything you need to know!

I received a letter from these ambulance chasers today about the Party Wall act and how I might take action against an extension in my neighbourhood - typical scaremongering and semi-legalese to incite me into a defensive action. They scrape info off public records and cause a stir between neighbours, feeding on the ensuing gore.
They are immoral, unethical, and uninformed (because it is indeed I who is seeking planning for an extension.)
Ignore them, don't respond, bin the letter

No problem using this company whatsoever, very pleased with the service.

Quality service fast and efficient. No problem with the Awards would recommend this company.

Received a letter and originally thought they had been instructed by our neighbour but then reading reviews they clearly scour the planning permission websites in the hope they are instructed by someone unaware of what they're doing. Seems like an unscrupulous way to do business.

Do not use this company, they have been totally incompetent, they were supposed to act on my behalf with some building works that neighbours were doing. However the calls and photos that were sent showing damage to my property were ignored. stay well away from this company, you all have been warned

Have used Barker & Associates twice now and not had an issue. Would recommend.

We used Barker & Associates as we were building a rear extension. The survey at our neighbours property was carried out promptly and the party wall award issued with no problem at all. Would recommend.

They scour the planning sites looking for adjacent properties. They send unsolicited letters to neighboring properties. Their web page does not mention The Party Wall Faculty, The Pyramus and Thisbe Club, or RICS. Leading one to question why none of these groups are felt relevant Insideconveyancing.co.uk did a good piece on this /solicitors-news-avoiding-the-cowboy-party-wall-surveyor/

To add to the above get a response, saying they have no connection with me, clearly as they are not RICS so why would I gamble. The discounts talked of maybe good marketing but as their costs are passed over to those doing the development hardly seems relevant.

Fast service, would recommend.

This company engages in a marketing practice which while legal, is on the margins of deceptive. They write to people adjacent to sites where planning permission has been obtained, using wording which could very easily mislead you into signing up this form as though they had some status in the project. They are speculatively mass marketing and this practice is frankly unsavoury.

Recipients of this letter may also wish to note that this firm is not regulated by RICS; other, regulated, firms with less potentially misleading marketing practices are available.

—-

PS Potential customers may also note a certain lack of humility which seems consistent across the company’s very defensive responses to comments like mine. While I understand they don’t think our comments are valid if we have not engaged them, they should still consider what people think of a marketing practice where they send an authorised-looking form to a neighbour specifically to catch those who are not reading carefully. Not surprising they are not regulated by RICS.