Locked a family out of their house on NYE

[Maisy313]

Fuckity fuck! BIL asked me to feed their car (after they had already left for holiday so didn't have much choice but fine!) returning today and I left the key they'd left me under a flowerpot on the kitchen table this morning. Turns out it's their only key as SIL has lost hers. Arghh feel like such an idiot, should I pay for energency lock smith? DH has gone round to try and break in!!

I watched my boss open a yale lock with a credit card. He wouldn't tell me where he had learned how to doit but he just slipped the card in and it opened the lock.

I don't think you have anything to feel bad about - they only have one key between at least two people? Who would ahve thought of that?

And poor bloody cat - was it an afterthought or did their normal cat feeder fall through?

@ TenancyTroublesAgain From the OPs first post: "I left the key they'd left me under a flowerpot on the kitchen table this morning"

Wherever the flower pot started, it was inside, on the kitchen table when they left it. That's what's relevant to the comments on insurance.

not your fault. Let them sort it

@meredintofpandiculation

You are misunderstanding the OP's post. She is saying "I left the key (that they'd left me under a flowerpot) on the kitchen table this morning". The OP got the key from under the flowerpot outside. Then left it on the kitchen table this morning. The key, not the flower pot. That is still outside I am assuming.

Purposely leaving a key outside probably would affect the insurance.

You shouldn't feel obliged to pay, you have done them a favour looking after the cat when they didn't give you any choice and it's not your fault that they didn't tell you it was the only key or that they lost the key.

I'd let them come round to your house whilst BIL waits for the lock smith though.

My DM, a law abiding lady on her 60s at the time found that her Yale lock accepted Visa. Don't think she tried Amex but it was pre YouTube so no tuition either.

Hope you get it sorted OP. I’m surprised at everybody saying they’d have left the key inside too.
I would have made sure I kept the key with me as I’m always aware that people may forget keys or have given me their only key.

Wait why didn't they leave you the backdoor key (under the outdoor flower pot...) or take that one with them just in case something happened to their only remaining front door key? Meh. They should pay for their own stupidity.

@meredintofpandiculation I see why you're confused but it's just the way it was worded. It was outside. How else did they get in? Who would leave keys under a flowerpot that was indoors.

Turns out it's their only key as SIL has lost hers.

Their screwup, their problem. Glad to hear they've regained access now. It's what I would have suggested - if you have access to the back, force entry there rather than the front. Depending on door or window design, a broken pane of glass might be easily replaceable with a board.

If they've left their keys in the back door they're just asking to be burgled.

Personally we do that, and in the front door, because if we didn't then we'd be just asking to burn to death in a fire we can't escape.

I'm amused you left it under a flower pot inside (not just on the table, or on the key hook) actually hidden under a flower pot...inside the house

Meredin and WednesdaysWench: RTFT! The OP EXPLAINS it!