Arbtech Reviews

Name: Arbtech
Address: 3 Well House Barns, Chester Road, Bretton, Chester
Rating: 4.79

4.8 Rating 569 Reviews

95 %

of reviewers recommend Arbtech

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About Arbtech:

Arbtech is the leading ecological consultancy for planning and development clients and professionals throughout the UK. https://arbtech.co.uk

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Phone:

01244 661170

Location:

3 Well House Barns, Chester Road, Bretton
Chester
CH4 0DH

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Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“I work in the building design sector so often deal with consultants. This companies fees are off the charts. Found an alternative for my Bat survey and licence work that was almost a a tenth of that quoted by Arbtech. They may be good but not worth 10 times the cost. I asked for breakdown of how the costs were calculated but this is something they do not do. They do claim to competitive which I would disagree with. Extortionate would be more accurate.”

Helpful Report

Posted 10 months ago

“Unfortunately, I had a very bad experience with Arbtech and regret appointing them for my planning permission requirements. Initially, they seemed competent, and I was naïve. However, things started to unravel with numerous mistakes and an excessive focus on extreme caution to drive up both surveys and costs. They included neighbouring trees (up to 10m outside my demise) in my BNG calculation and wanted to install badger cameras on neighbouring land (300 meters away) on Network Rail land. The Badger Trust confirmed that this was unnecessary, as the setts were not on our development land. Scary tactics. There were several other issues, and I am still waiting for one report, with no refunds being offered. They never admit fault, never seem to genuinely help, and appear solely focused on extracting as much money as possible from clients. Be warned: Ecology is the wild west. Use only ecologists registered with CIEEM! This is not just my advice; this is the advice from the BADGER TRUST – IDEALLY USE AN ECOLOIST THAT IS CIEEM REGISTERED!!! Most of the Arbtech ecologists are not registered, and those that are have registered complaints against them. see further below. I have no doubt Arbtech will dispute my points as they are never wrong. There is a reason the badger trust advise developers to use CIEEM registered ecologists. Arbtech don’t seem to like the CIEEM and even penned an open letter... Ask yourself why - do they catch them cheating? All the subsequent ecologists I have spoken to have often been appointed after Arbtech have tried it on with clients. “another Arbtech clean up job”. Once you do find a decent ecologists everything will be a lot easier, practical, amicable, logical and enjoyable with a good result for your project and the environment. Upon even more digging, like a badger... it would seem that CIEEM have to deal with a lot of complaints about Arbtech. see https://cieem.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/InPractice87_March2015.pdf So there we go - another 5 star review.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Poor poor service, report withheld for two months when claim contested. In summary our brief documented on an email was a bat assessment for house and building area and the outbuilding wasn’t surveyed. When asking for a reduction on the bill for the part that wasn’t surveyed this was refused. It took two months.. The explanation was that they took house and building to mean house and gardens. (If we had meant gardens we would have written gardens not building.) After several civil correspondences this was the reply. “This has been thoroughly investigated, and we have nothing further to add. We surveyed what we were told to survey. We will not be commenting further.” The cost of the assessment was a £1000 and I just think this treatment is wrong, to be cut dead. When escalated to the chief exec whose profile says that his specialist area is “exemplary customer service” this got passed to the Office manager at a second prompt. On the day of talking to the office manager we received a final demand for the invoice "before being sent to a debt collectors" . Apparently this was a mix up but intimidating nonetheless. Again the CEO subsequently refused to offer a discount. They did offer to come and survey the outbuilding FOC. but after 2 months , no report , umpteen calls, 20 plus emails and texts I’m done. All I wanted was money off for the area that wasn’t surveyed. I think that is fair, you can decide for yourself . Seeing that the last official correspondence are threatening to go to debt collection if I do not pay then I have no option but to pay, as I can not afford the legal fees to contest it. And of course they don’t issue the report unless you pay up. It reminds me of parking tickets, the price of contesting it is just too high and therefore you ultimately back down. You can make your own mind up as to whether you would use them or not, this was so easy to avoid. All I wanted was money back for the area that wasn’t surveyed. Not unreasonable? This is an expensive assessment of £1000 for an initial assessment and for the sake of £100 or so , this is what they consider to be "exemplary service" . Ps Clare. Was the last person we spoke to and was very polite but was unable to change the CEO’s mind who said that was his final offer.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

I'm sorry that you were unhappy with our service Chris. This all stems from the fact that the buildings you claim were missed in our survey were not on the plans you showed us. We surveyed what was on the plan and quoted according to that plan. When you raised your concern, we offered to come back and add the other buildings but you did not accept this, hence why your report was not released. Reports are not sent on accounts with outstanding invoices.

Posted 1 year ago

“I had a disappointing experience with Arbtech. Despite initially booking a Pat survey through their website, I encountered several issues throughout the process. The service was subpar, with the surveyor lacking professionalism. Additionally, I was shocked to discover hidden costs, as I was pressured into purchasing unnecessary additional surveys at exorbitant prices. It's worth noting that Arbtech wanted me to do two extra surveys, whereas I found another reputable company that completed the job for less and without requesting additional surveys. When I attempted to address my concerns with the company, I was met with dismissiveness and threats of legal action. Overall, I cannot recommend Arbtech due to their poor communication, unprofessionalism, and unethical business practices.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

We appreciate that you're disappointed with needing extra surveys. Nobody likes extra costs, but accusing us of a subpar service, being unprofessional and being unethical simply because you don't want to pay your invoice is unfair. Our surveys were carried out to our usual high standards with our surveyor correctly identifying many potential bat roost sites. Her findings were confirmed by one of our senior consultants and we went to great lengths to explain all of this to you. There is no pressure applied from us - we simply give you what you paid us for - our professional opinion of the surveys you need to get done in order for your planning to get consent.

Posted 1 year ago

“This is the worst company we have dealt with. They charged us a Rapid Report fee and when the survey was booked and paid for, they told us Rapid fee only covers quick survey. After more than 3 weeks, we still have not received the report. What a crooked practice that is- Dave”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Planning orientated and not very practical when it comes to dealing with fast-moving refurbishment projects. The preliminary Roost assessment didn't tell us anything we didn't already know and costs were misleading. All we wanted was a clear answer on whether a bat roost was present. The project was delayed by a month when there were no bats present. A more practical surveyor was able to conduct very quick emergence surveys to give us an almost instant answer allowing our project to proceed!”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

Hi Angus. The surveys we provided were done in accordance with best practice guidelines. They must be done this way to be accepted by your planning authority. We provided a report showing our recommendations - additional surveys were needed. The initial survey would have been needed no matter which surveyor you chose or what type of project you were working on.

Posted 2 years ago

“We were very poorly advised from the outset. if we had been given the proper advice we would have gone straight for the full survey rather than having a preliminary survey which added £700 to the total cost.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

Hi Jennifer. You were advised correctly. In accordance with professional survey guidelines (Collins, 2016) a Preliminary Roost Assessment is the first stage in the bat survey process. You need a Preliminary Roost Assessment to identify roost features that bats might use as well as evidence of roosting bats. This is used to assess the roost value of the building for bats which, in turn, dictates the number of additional surveys that are necessary (if any) to establish roost presence/absence and to characterise any roosts present as well as the number of surveyors required to provide full coverage of the building. As part of the planning process, the LPA will expect to see a Preliminary Roost Assessment alongside any further bat surveys that may be required to determine a planning application, and it is a necessary first step to conserve bats and their roosts which are protected by law.

Posted 2 years ago

“Dreadful service. Very expensive, slow, extremely unclear and misleading T&Cs. Do not choose the so-called "Rapid" service - your report could take 3 weeks (or more) to be received. Will never use again, and make sure no one I know does either.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

“We cancelled our survey due to Planning issues but were never informed of the cancellation fees at the time of booking or at the time of cancellation and have now been struck with a £350 fee to pay. Ludacris!”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

Our version of events is very different to yours as we had no record of any cancellation being made, either in writing or over the phone. As such, we attended the survey as agreed with our consultant. We could have rearranged the survey with no issues if we had received instructions to cancel.

Posted 2 years ago

“The company is misleading you as much as possible. I ordered a bat survey PRA (£ 649)assuming that I get an answer to my question. However the answer was - We can't tell and you need more bat surveys (£3500). Pointing out that had ordered a professional y/n opinion I was told, no, because there is small print on the oder form referring to a 'key fact doc' which is not the document attached to the order form and was not sent to me. However in there it stats that a possible outcome is 'We can't tell'. This is a license to print money and they are using it. Stay away is my recommendation. There is a reason why this is all hidden in a not submitted document.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

“Having dealt with Arbtech for more than 4 years in an attempt to obtain a bat mitigation licence, despite them applying more than two years ago for this licence, it has still not been received. All necessary surveys were carried, at great cost, and I was not even told when the consultant dealing with this application left the company. I am totally dissatisfied with the service, or lack of it, that I have received, and hope that after todays telephone conversation the matter will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion without further cost to myself. It is also hoped that this review is put on your website to prove that it is not only positive feedback that is made public.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

“Worse experience ever. £500 for 10 minute bat survey. Recommended 1 survey when I started to question the evidence it suddenly changed to 2 surveys . They even had the audacity to accuss me of swearring to there staff which is now with my soilictor .”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

As you well know, you were provided with a bat survey, a 26 page report and numerous lengthy emails helping you to understand the bat survey requirements after you were unhappy with the results. At Arbtech, we do not tolerate anyone being rude or abusive to our staff. We’ve already informed you that we won’t be working with you again and you will need to find another consultancy who will make the same recommendations.

Posted 2 years ago

“Got a booking form with different fees for a survey in a few weeks, one on next available day and one for next day service. Completed forms asked for next day service and didn’t hear back for 2 days. I called to ask why and was told they can’t do the survey for another 3 weeks !!!! If I hadn’t called myself they would not even have informed me they don’t actually have a next day service .”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

Hi Sukhbir. We do offer a next working day service but they can become unavailable due to high volumes of instructions. If that happens we will do everything we can to accommodate you as quickly as possible and charge a reduced fee which we did for you and you agreed to.

Posted 3 years ago

“This company has sufficient professional expertise to do bat surveys but grossly exaggerated the problem and hence the consequential fees for remedying it. Arbtech charged a larger than usual survey fee and £4500 for subsequent surveys. We were able to get adequate surveys done for less than £500. To be avoided”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 years ago

“So far so rubbish. Not clear on timeline. Not correct person named on report. Not receiving report via email unless phoning company to directly request it. £500 + initial consult with awful follow-up service. Company booked on first survey and then due to slack follow up as described above said they were unable to accommodate the subsequent surveys except within a whole year timeline. Not acceptable.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Dear Julia, We would like you to remove or withdraw your completely false review. It is simply unethical to leave negative reviews in the public domain simply because events outside of your (and our) control are not wholly and completely in your favour. You/your agent (whom you authorised to appoint us in writing) were advised in writing on the 13th of July that you required further surveys and then you/your agent took almost a month to respond, by which point the season has almost finished. It should therefore come as no surprise that we could not accomodate you because other, more organised clients have appointed us to capacity in the meantime. The £500+ you quote a); is our price including VAT, and b); is not an "initial consult" at all. It was a full PRA bat survey, quoted for in writing, in some considerable detail, on which you appointed us. It was a fixed-fee and included our expenses, travelling time, site survey, mileage and your report. Finally, your report was (and is) entirely correct and accurate. Any delays for you to complete your further surveys are entirely because you/your agent took almost a month to respond to us, at a highly critical time in the year. I will be contacting you by phone and in writing to discuss this further. Sincerely, Robert Oates Managing Director

Posted 4 years ago

“I was told I needed part 1 which would comply with most council's tree survey request. Council not happy with it now Arbtech want me to pay another 500 for part 2 .Ridiculously expensive .Extremely dissatisfied customer”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

“We had a PRA survey and were completely underwhelmed by what appeared to be a licence to print money. Absolutely no evidence of bats found but the Arbtech surveyor says further surveys are required! The surveyor was not equipped for the job; limitations in scope were not explained in advance; factual inaccuracies were present in the report; and the actual work did not reflect the scope of work requested.”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

Arbtech is rated 4.8 based on 569 reviews