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Original poster

Locksmith quoted £50 and charged £351.60

293 replies

Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:06

I got locked out of my new flat today. My autistic son opened the door and made a run for it, I ran out after him and the door shut behind me.

My landlady couldn't find her copy of the key (she has dozens of keys due to her actual job - but she has some pretty serious health problems, so I felt terrible bothering her with it in the first place)

I looked online and found a locksmith company that will come and pick the lock and let you in for £50. Happy days. No pressure on my landlady. She was happy for me to proceed and said ofc the £50 would come off my rent.

Locksmith came and had a 2 second fiddle with the lock and said he couldn't pick that type of lock (standard yale) so he'd have to drill through and replace the lock otherwise I wasn't getting in the flat. I had my 3 kids with me.

He wanted payment there and then and said I'd have to recoup the £ from my Landlady. I asked for the total £351.60

I had no choice but to pay it.

I feel a bit conned. Is this the norm? To advertise a service at a reasonable price and then turn up and quadruple it?

My bank account is pretty much empty now and whilst I'm sure my Landlady will get the money to me somehow, she has said as much and she's a really nice person so wouldn't not help me, it all feels pretty shit.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Sissynova · 02/05/2023 18:08

You haven’t read the website properly. It most likely was £50 for the call out or the labour to replace the lock, then there’s the cost of the new lock, the drilling etc.
Theres no way you’re getting an emergency call out and locks changed for £50.

Reallyareyousure · 02/05/2023 18:08

Why would your landlady pay for it? It's absolutely nothing to do with her. You can't even ask her.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:08

To clear up any confusion as I've just read the post back.

I was home alone with just DS, my other two were at their dads. DS ran out, I went after him and got locked out, XP brought the other two home as arranged to find us locked out.

OP posts:
sashagabadon · 02/05/2023 18:09

Make some copies of your new keys and give to a couple of trusted friends, neighbours, relatives. So you have more people to call if this happens again. Can you claim on any household insurance?

WakeMeUpInspring · 02/05/2023 18:09

Why is your landlady paying?

Stratusinium · 02/05/2023 18:10

Reallyareyousure · 02/05/2023 18:08

Why would your landlady pay for it? It's absolutely nothing to do with her. You can't even ask her.

Well it is a bit - the usual thing is for landlord/lady or agency to have spare keys to cover exactly this sort of eventuality. Then you just pay them to get new key cut.

User17865 · 02/05/2023 18:11

WakeMeUpInspring · 02/05/2023 18:09

Why is your landlady paying?

She obviously felt she should’ve had a spare key and was kind enough to say she’d take the hit for being unorganised, which was very kind of her.

Heroicallyfound · 02/05/2023 18:11

Annoying, but I don’t understand why you had no choice but to pay it? It’s inconvenient being locked out with kids but you could take them to the park while you call round for another locksmith?

Have you managed to get a lock that doesn’t lock itself now?

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:11

She asked me to get an invoice with her name on it. I'd already paid it so the invoice has my name on. I sent her the invoice to show I'd paid for it and she said she's going to get the money back to me. I didn't actually ask her to pay for it but paying for it has left me skint.

Expensive lesson learned 😔

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 02/05/2023 18:13

I don't think it's your landlady's problem.

£50 was likely the call out charge and is on the low side. Get a keypad lock or a keysafe.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:14

Heroicallyfound · 02/05/2023 18:11

Annoying, but I don’t understand why you had no choice but to pay it? It’s inconvenient being locked out with kids but you could take them to the park while you call round for another locksmith?

Have you managed to get a lock that doesn’t lock itself now?

I wish I had.

We'd been locked out all day by the point this locksmith came though.

I'd gone across the city to get the spares from my Landlady but she couldn't find the right ones, DS was tired and had been having a meltdown for the past hour and I was desperate to get indoors. Long trip there and back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:17

cocksstrideintheevening · 02/05/2023 18:13

I don't think it's your landlady's problem.

£50 was likely the call out charge and is on the low side. Get a keypad lock or a keysafe.

I've never used a locksmith before so I'm not clued up on the costs.

I've changed the locks twice on a previous property but as I had access it was just a quick change of the locks and no drilling needed.

I thought stuff like changing locks was the landlord/landladys remit but I could be wrong.

I'm just gutted I've wiped out my whole months budget on one stupid fuck up.

OP posts:
Stratusinium · 02/05/2023 18:19

In answer to your question OP, if you have a standard yale lock it does seem like a bit of a swizz to claim they can’t do that type of lock and suddenly it’s a case of fitting a new lock for 7 x the amount. Surely they could check on the phone what type of lock you have?

I think some of the PPs haven’t read the OP properly.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:20

Stratusinium · 02/05/2023 18:19

In answer to your question OP, if you have a standard yale lock it does seem like a bit of a swizz to claim they can’t do that type of lock and suddenly it’s a case of fitting a new lock for 7 x the amount. Surely they could check on the phone what type of lock you have?

I think some of the PPs haven’t read the OP properly.

Thank you!

I've just checked the website again and it lists the "let in" service (without a change of lock) as being £50, it doesn't say anything about being limited as to what locks they can and can't pick. It's just a standard yale.

OP posts:
S0upertrooper · 02/05/2023 18:25

It's not your land ladie's responsibility to pay for a new lock when you locked yourself out, that's what your insurance is for.

I appreciate you're skint but you can't expect someone else to pay for your mistake.

GasPanic · 02/05/2023 18:26

Changing the locks because you lock yourself out doesn't really come under the landlords remit, so surprised she is willing to pay.

If it is a standard yale lock, yes surprising it can't be picked.

Most of them can be opened fairly easily with a little practice, unless it is some sort of special high security type. You don't even have to pick them if you know what you are doing. A high security eurocylinder type - that is a lot more difficult to pick.

Sounds like this guy could well have been making work for himself.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:27

S0upertrooper · 02/05/2023 18:25

It's not your land ladie's responsibility to pay for a new lock when you locked yourself out, that's what your insurance is for.

I appreciate you're skint but you can't expect someone else to pay for your mistake.

I don't have insurance yet I haven't even lived here a whole week.

As PP said she was being kind offering to take the hit as she wasn't able to provide me with the spare key which would ordinarily be the case if a tenant can't get in.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:30

GasPanic · 02/05/2023 18:26

Changing the locks because you lock yourself out doesn't really come under the landlords remit, so surprised she is willing to pay.

If it is a standard yale lock, yes surprising it can't be picked.

Most of them can be opened fairly easily with a little practice, unless it is some sort of special high security type. You don't even have to pick them if you know what you are doing. A high security eurocylinder type - that is a lot more difficult to pick.

Sounds like this guy could well have been making work for himself.

Gosh I must be incredibly lucky to have such a kind landlady then. I assumed the landlord/lady handled things like this as standard.

This is the lock I had in, pic should be attached.

What do you reckon?

Locksmith quoted £50 and charged £351.60
OP posts:
Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:32

When I've had to change the locks on a door myself in the past (albeit without the being locked out part) it only cost £10-£15 for the new lock.

£350 odd seems extortionate. He was only here 10 minutes.

OP posts:
krustykittens · 02/05/2023 18:33

Yeah, I think you have been conned. I had my front door lock changed last year and it came to a total of £110. It wasn't an emergency call out, though, I was able to wait until the next day. But it seems a bit outrageous that the bill went that high and I doubt your landlady is going to pay that, it is not what she agreed to.

JudgeRudy · 02/05/2023 18:33

Reallyareyousure · 02/05/2023 18:08

Why would your landlady pay for it? It's absolutely nothing to do with her. You can't even ask her.

Yes, I don't get this either.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:33

JudgeRudy · 02/05/2023 18:33

Yes, I don't get this either.

Show quote history

Read my previous posts.

OP posts:
Ellaelle · 02/05/2023 18:35

How dreadful, I hate when people (locksmith)take advantage of someone's misfortune like that. My worst nightmare is getting locked out! Next time check with your car insurance, add key coverage for about 20 pounds extra for the year I believe it covers all your keys (car and house). I'm not sure why your landlady must pay for it though, does she have insurance that covers it?

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 18:35

krustykittens · 02/05/2023 18:33

Yeah, I think you have been conned. I had my front door lock changed last year and it came to a total of £110. It wasn't an emergency call out, though, I was able to wait until the next day. But it seems a bit outrageous that the bill went that high and I doubt your landlady is going to pay that, it is not what she agreed to.

I certainly feel conned!

When I called them I asked for confirmation that it was infact £50 and the lady said "yes, it's £50 for us to pick the lock" she didn't say anything about additional fees. If they'd have mentioned anything within the realms of £300 I'd have hung up.

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 02/05/2023 18:36

Wow.

We got locked out of our house just as we were leaving for a long journey - it's a UPVC door that locks itself and DS had closed the door not realising the key was still in the lock on the other side.

I called the first person I found on Google, he was there in an hour and charged us £60?! I think he's absolutely scammed you OP and I reckon there are a lot of people on here also being scammed if they think £350~ for ten minutes work and however long it took to get to you.