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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is extortionate

207 replies

Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 17:25

I've lost my house keys, I've searched high and low. I've been looking for at least 2 hours. Even in the wheelie bins. Realistically there is nowhere else for me to look now. I called the council and apparently it is £94 for a locksmith. Aibu in thinking that is ridiculous? How do they justify that. I simply can't afford that amount. I know I should have had a spare (I did silly me gave it to my nephew when he stayed here and he never gave it back, now doesn't know where it is.)

OP posts:
Foodissuesnoneed · 05/06/2018 18:49

@keyboardkate I agree!
Say a prayer out loud ‘St Anthony, St Anthony, return what does not belong to thee’

Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 18:51

No partner. I'm a single parent. Just waiting for my dad to call back he is going to look to see if he has a spare of mine (though I really don't think he has) been searching again and still nothing! Have a garden but no access to outside from the garden.

OP posts:
ExecutiveDiamondBossBabeHun · 05/06/2018 18:52

You can change a lock simply. You Tube is your friend. We broke the key in our lock a month or so ago and managed to change it ourselves quite simply. You can order locks from Amazon or get them from most diy stores.

ExecutiveDiamondBossBabeHun · 05/06/2018 18:53

Haha hobbit mum crossed posted

Madupfam · 05/06/2018 18:53

I lost mine the council wanted to charge £170 , with the help of a how to video I fitted a new lock for £20. And it car with four spare keys.

SaucyJack · 05/06/2018 18:57

You'll never find something while you're actually looking for it.

Just try and forget about it for an hour or so, then have another quick look round once you've calmed down and they'll be somewhere really obvious like under the pram or on the back of the toilet.

No need to pay out for a locksmith if the keys are in the house.

HerRoyalNotness · 05/06/2018 19:02

Is the box by the door on a table? Might they have slid down the side and be underneath? Or posted down a radiator

keyboardkate · 05/06/2018 19:07

I remember years ago having some cash stashed away in what I thought was the safest place on the planet.

Went to get it one day, and nothing. Searched high and low and figured that I must have spent it at some time (it was 500 pounds yikes!) But I knew I hadn't.

Was kicking myself, where was it, did I spend it, feck sake!

Anyway after a week of searching gave up.

Then one day I was taking the washing out of the "bin" in the bedroom. It is wicker, with a cloth insert if you can understand what I am saying. I decided the cloth insert could do with a wash.

Yep, lo and behold, there was the envelope with the money in underneath the cloth layer. Have no idea how it got there. But I did Mum's trick of saying a prayer to Saint Anthony. I know it wasn't that, maybe it was, but it worked anyway!

Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 19:18

Like I said the kids have school tomorrow so need to find it before then unfortunately :( I'm betting it's in the wheelie bins! I've checked them but having a feeling maybe I didn't look good enough but it's full of flys an ants

OP posts:
Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 19:24

I've given up!

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 05/06/2018 19:24

Is it actually logical that they would be in the wheelie bin?

When did you last have them? Have you been to the bin since?

wowfudge · 05/06/2018 19:27

You haven't said anything to the kids about not going to school tomorrow if you can't find the keys have you? Might be why they aren't owning up.

My niece put my sister's keys in a cupboard once - go through again systematically when your dad's there.

Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 19:27

Not sure how easy this would be to replace?

To think this is extortionate
OP posts:
Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 19:28

I just can't see where else they could be. I mean it when I say I've searched everywhere.

OP posts:
Curious2468 · 05/06/2018 19:38

Have you checked in your letter box? We’ve had kids post them in the gap between before.

Hope you find them soon

LakieLady · 05/06/2018 19:49

I have some hooks by the front door that we put our keys on when we come in. That generally works, but I still lose them sometimes.

A few weeks ago, I couldn't find them anywhere. I sat and thought hard about what I did when I came in before, and remembered that I was dying for a wee when I came in and ran straight upstairs to the lav.

They were in a wicker basket on the bathroom window sill, that's full of hairbrushes, lipsticks etc.

I bet any money that you stopped to do something, and put your keys and phone down somewhere very unusual, and only picked up the phone.

EeeSheWasThin · 05/06/2018 19:52

No help but found mine in a welly as I’d carried them in with my car keys in my hand. Have you looked in all your shoes?

Lifebeginner · 05/06/2018 20:11

Locksmiths are expensive OP, sorry to hear you've lost the keys. DH and I were stuck outside a few months ago and had to pay £80 to get in, we felt pretty darn stupid. It's just one of those things. Don't beat yourself up about it, fingers crossed it turns up.

Euphemism · 05/06/2018 20:18

Is there a screw or two on the inside of that door? Its really not hard at all to replace if you are inside and the door is unlocked. I've done it with the help of a YouTube and it took £20 and about 10 min.

Euphemism · 05/06/2018 20:20
IlikemyTeahot · 05/06/2018 20:20

buggy hood, toilet, in the door, in a schoolbag, nappybag, in your coat lining (if you had a hole in your pocket)
These are my typical hotspots when I lose my keys!
Did you get ready to go out and have to go back for anything? If so what was it and whereabouts in the house?
Most likely they are somewhere really obvious.
And maybe have another word with the youngest kiddies.

Having a sit down and really thinking about the time when you last used them rather than where you would usually put them might have some results r.e location

Euphemism · 05/06/2018 20:20

I didn't bother to measure, I took the cylinder with me to the shop!

Original poster
Butterflykissess · 05/06/2018 20:24

I tried looking on YouTube but honestly I'm the worst at diy even watching the videos confused me. Looks like I'm going to have to pay it just Gonna hit me hard.

OP posts:
glueandstick · 05/06/2018 20:25

Screw fix and £10 later you’ll be done. It’s either that and the satisfaction of doing it or paying £100. It isn’t hard at all and usually screwfix/toolstation have very handy people who’ll talk you through it. Then YouTube.

louharrisismyhero · 05/06/2018 20:25

I'm confused about why you'd call the Council about lost keys - wouldn't you just call a locksmith after looking around online for local companies or have I missed something obvious? (do you rent? maybe they have a spare set?)

I don't think that's an extortionate amount, anyway - it sounds about right when you factor in normal business running costs for a small one or two-man outfit (i'm assuming travel, VAT, labour costs are included in that quotation, but not the replacement part even if you described what kind of lock it is as part of the call out, i'd expect that to be extra).

so, about right i'd say, although that depends heavily on where you are in the country, of course (i'm assuming Not London).