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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
GoodChat · 02/05/2023 19:36

lilkimm500 · 02/05/2023 19:24

He turned up, saw it was more than a quick job, so upped the price. Either you refuse and he doesn’t do it and gets away or he does it, its a pain in the arse but he makes a decent profit. Standard for any trade, when the quote or cost is high or unreasonable its because they don’t want or need to do the work - if you pay that price it takes the sting out of the hassle of doing it, 9 times out of 10 they will be hoping you decline.

I looked at becoming a locksmith because it seemed like a license to print money. Spoke to one and he said the only way to make a decent living from it is to work 24/7 as most jobs come in from the evenings throughout the night - which sounds like a young persons game, and not mine.

Did you read the OP's updates? The guys a scam artist.

GoodChat · 02/05/2023 19:36

Rosscameasdoody · 02/05/2023 19:36

OP can you not take this up with your bank ? Tell them you think you’ve been scammed and see if they will cover the expense.

She's spoken to her bank.

UggyPow · 02/05/2023 19:36

Landlords absolutely do have spare keys for their properties - in this instance as the landlord wasn't able to provide after the OP travelled there, they have offered to cover the cost, I would have done it myself but I would have also got the lock myself (Screwfix is a wonderful place😁). My tenant locked herself out on Christmas day, we just confirmed a time & she called to collect my key, when I gave it to her I warned it was the only spare & she returned it a few days later.
OP could you ask your landlord if it is okay to fit a lock box outside where you can safely put a spare in case this happens again.
I also have an autistic child & if they are in flight mode, they not keys will always be your priority.
Hopefully your bank will be able to resolve it for you & transactions can be pending for a few days before they actually become fully debited

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 19:37

Mummyoflittledragon · 02/05/2023 19:26

Legally (I believe) you should also have received a written quote for the work. And if you look at the bill, it said the lock was faulty. It wasn’t faulty. He broke it by drilling through the lock. Did he tell you before he did this so you could give him permission to do so op?

I gave him permission to drill the lock yes as he told me it's the only option or I'm not getting in, but the lock was def not faulty to begin with.

He was telling me to tell my landlord, to tell her insurance, that the lock was faulty and therefore she'd be able to claim against it.

OP posts:
MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 19:41

He couldn't open a standard yale lock? He's a cocksmith that ripped you off.

Florenz · 02/05/2023 19:41

Locksmiths are trained professionals and deserve to be paid well. You aren't just paying for the time it takes them to do the job, you're paying for all the years of training they've undertaken. Doctors charge far more but because hardly anyone actually pays them directly, no-one questions it. (Before anyone starts, no I do not think locksmiths deserve to be paid more than doctors. But they are both trained professionals.).

lilkimm500 · 02/05/2023 19:42

Yeah clearly, £350 for 10 minutes work… apologies if I made it sound like he was Mother Terasa.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 19:44

Florenz · 02/05/2023 19:41

Locksmiths are trained professionals and deserve to be paid well. You aren't just paying for the time it takes them to do the job, you're paying for all the years of training they've undertaken. Doctors charge far more but because hardly anyone actually pays them directly, no-one questions it. (Before anyone starts, no I do not think locksmiths deserve to be paid more than doctors. But they are both trained professionals.).

See my previous posts. He's a well known scammer.

The company name I saw when looking for a locksmith is not the name shown on the invoice, so what they've done is changed the name on their website to look shiny and professional ... but forgot to get new invoice papers printed.

When you Google the company name on the invoice it brings up dozens of reviews of people being scammed including elderly people for over £1000

OP posts:
Prettypennies · 02/05/2023 19:45

Pure scum

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 19:47

.

Locksmith quoted £50 and charged £351.60
OP posts:
BadNomad · 02/05/2023 19:48

Years of training yet can't open a simple Yale lock? If that was a doctor, he wouldn't be allowed to practice.

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 19:49

Apparently they've threatened to attack people with a drill if they refuse to pay the over inflated price. What the hell.

Locksmith quoted £50 and charged £351.60
OP posts:
Fairyliz · 02/05/2023 19:52

Dd recently purchased a flat that had previously been tenanted.
Just to be on the safe side we arranged for her lock to be changed and we were charged £150. Sounds like you were ripped off to me.

SnackSizeRaisin · 02/05/2023 19:55

Florenz · 02/05/2023 19:41

Locksmiths are trained professionals and deserve to be paid well. You aren't just paying for the time it takes them to do the job, you're paying for all the years of training they've undertaken. Doctors charge far more but because hardly anyone actually pays them directly, no-one questions it. (Before anyone starts, no I do not think locksmiths deserve to be paid more than doctors. But they are both trained professionals.).

Haha. Training to be a locksmith is a few days course then learn on the job. Training to be a doctor is 5 years of university (then learn on the job for at least 5 more years).

No doctor charges £350 for ten minutes work either. The cost to the NHS for a ten minute GP appointment is somewhere in the region of £75. Fair enough there's travel time and a call out fee on top but it's still excessive.

SmallSpaniels · 02/05/2023 19:56

I'd gone across the city to get the spares from my Landlady

so you had your car keys or bus fare, and a phone, when you “ran out” to get your child but not your door key?

toomuchlaundry · 02/05/2023 19:59

If you are going to go down the legal route on this, I would get this thread deleted

Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 20:00

SmallSpaniels · 02/05/2023 19:56

I'd gone across the city to get the spares from my Landlady

so you had your car keys or bus fare, and a phone, when you “ran out” to get your child but not your door key?

Oh do sod off, im not in the mood.

I have my phone on a lanyard around my neck. I use my phone to pay contactless for transport.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeezed1 · 02/05/2023 20:00

toomuchlaundry · 02/05/2023 19:59

If you are going to go down the legal route on this, I would get this thread deleted

Why?

OP posts:
OhwhyOY · 02/05/2023 20:05

OP I would delete the photo of the guy as sharing this image is a breach of data protection (GDPR). I'm glad you've approached your bank, fingers crossed they sort this for you. Horrendous people taking advantage of people in a vulnerable situation. I'd also call Trading Standards.

MobilityCat · 02/05/2023 20:05

Florenz · 02/05/2023 19:41

Locksmiths are trained professionals and deserve to be paid well. You aren't just paying for the time it takes them to do the job, you're paying for all the years of training they've undertaken. Doctors charge far more but because hardly anyone actually pays them directly, no-one questions it. (Before anyone starts, no I do not think locksmiths deserve to be paid more than doctors. But they are both trained professionals.).

A trained professional locksmith who couldn't open a standard yale door lock?

AppallinglyReheated · 02/05/2023 20:06

You've absolutely been scammed, here's how long it takes to pick that lock (I assume it is that one..)

s

Now obviously this guy is good at picking locks but so should a locksmith be - the idea that this is an unpickable lock is the biggest steaming heap of bullshit I have ever smelt!

A True Classic - picking the Yale 1109 Night Latch

Any brand of lock of this type is known simply as a ‘Yale Lock’ in the U.K., demonstrating just how ubiquitous they are. This classic rim cylinder or night l...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=32s&v=knjgdAn_14w

GoodChat · 02/05/2023 20:07

OhwhyOY · 02/05/2023 20:05

OP I would delete the photo of the guy as sharing this image is a breach of data protection (GDPR). I'm glad you've approached your bank, fingers crossed they sort this for you. Horrendous people taking advantage of people in a vulnerable situation. I'd also call Trading Standards.

A photo isn't a GDPR breach. It's not wise to post it, but GDPR isn't the reason.
Your face isn't confidential information.

Candidate987 · 02/05/2023 20:07

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.

Yes, but your man didn't do anything to the lock - after paying an £80 call out for the same issue, I won't have to ever again.
I think the OP was conned by someone who figured that he could take the rest of the day off if he got his days wages from one job.

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 02/05/2023 20:08

You were scammed for sure, Ive never paid more than £100. The fact he stood there and wouldnt leave till he got his money reeks of scam. So many of these obnoxious pricks around.

Chezza2502 · 02/05/2023 20:14

I'd be very surprised if your landlady repaid you the money for the locksmith, and I very much doubt she's obliged to> I would have questioned why a locksmith wouldn't have been able to pick a standard yale lock, if that was me I would have asked him BEFORE he drilled the lock out how much it would cost and I think I would have rather broken a window to gain access, stay awake for the night and get it replaced the next morning...would have been a darn sight cheaper.

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