Page 2 | Dog walker lost our key

CSJobseeker · 15/10/2021 18:32

Those who are chilled and think it's not a security risk unless they had the address on - you have no idea where the keys were lost. That's kind of the deal when something is lost.

They could have been dropped on the OPs driveway, and then picked up by someone who intended to come back at a quiet time of day/night.

I'd always change the locks as an address isn't the only way someone could link them to your house.

Tinkerscuss · 15/10/2021 18:38

Dog walker here...

This is one of my worst nightmares - losing a key. It happened to me. I replaced the key and then someone found the key I lost, so that was a relief.

Is she insured? If so, her insurance company might pay for the locks to be changed.

I run a website and a FB page. I do put the names to dogs in the pictures, but am very careful not to put in any other identifying details.

Having seen this post, however, I may just use initials.

steppemum · 15/10/2021 18:43

I wouldn't bother changing it, unless it had identifying things on it.
It has the builders name (that's not her fault) and your dog's name, that is her fault and I wouldn't be happy with her having the key 'named'

But I still don't think that the key is going to come back to your house other than by a very committed bit of detection work.

steppemum · 15/10/2021 18:45

@EggbertHeartsTina

My cat sitter posted my key back to me without telling me (cat had died so didn’t need her anymore). Months later I asked if I could get my spare key back and she said “oh I posted it to you ages ago”. Firstly, you don’t post door keys right?! With the address on the envelope?! And secondly I lived in a block and any neighbour could’ve taken it.

I made her fund a lock change but lucky for her, her partner was a locksmith

I once heard that the Post Office won't post keys, so if they realise that the parcel contains keys, they remove it from circulation. This was to stop theives, as people post keys to the house that the keys belong to.

No idea how true it is, it was an intruiging story at the time!

icedcoffees · 15/10/2021 18:46

Even if the address isn't on the key, it could still be identified as belonging to the OP.

eg. it could have been found on the driveway/near the home and someone could have already tried it in the lock.

If I lost my front door key I would be changing the locks - I don't trust strangers enough to believe they wouldn't try and get into my house otherwise.

TaraR2020 · 15/10/2021 18:48

@Quotelover

I would feel exactly the same. If I was you I think I would get the locks changed but I wouldn't ask her to pay for it.

I agree. People lose keys, she handled it the right way and whole you're completely reasonable to want to change the lock, you should bear that cost yourself (with no hard feelings).

madisonbridges · 15/10/2021 18:52

I would think most insurance, both the ops and the walkers have an excess so the cost wouldn't be refunded to either. If its a modern lock, it's pretty easy to change and new locks aren't that expensive. If you needed a locksmith to do it, it'd probably be about £80.
If I were the dogwalker, I think I'd feel obliged to pay as it was my fault. But if I were the homeowner, I'd probably just suck it up and put it down as one of those things. The likelihood of it resulting in a breaking is absolutely miniscule but peace of mind is more important.

SmallPrawnEnergy · 15/10/2021 18:55

@Roselilly36

I wouldn’t like this one bit, seems really irresponsible to me, I wouldnt trust my dog with an adult that can’t keep my key safe. I had a cleaner that held the key to our our house & had her own alarm code for the house alarm, she managed never to lose it. I would be hiring a new walker for my dog.

Never lost anything then? Human error exists, perfect humans do not. If she had lost a key in the past you might have a point, but this implying she is irresponsible or untrustworthy because of an accidental error is ridiculous.

donquixotedelamancha · 15/10/2021 18:56

Am I being dramatic that I want the back door locks changed instead?

Yes, wildly.

icedcoffees · 15/10/2021 18:58

@Roselilly36

I wouldn’t like this one bit, seems really irresponsible to me, I wouldnt trust my dog with an adult that can’t keep my key safe. I had a cleaner that held the key to our our house & had her own alarm code for the house alarm, she managed never to lose it. I would be hiring a new walker for my dog.

Unless you're perfect yourself, that's a bit of an overreaction!

saraclara · 15/10/2021 18:59

I was astonished how simple and cheap it was for me to buy a new barrel and fit it. I'm as cack handed and clueless about DIY as you can get. But it took two minutes. Goodness knows how locksmiths justify their charges!

If you're worried, I'd just change the lock barrel and pay for it myself.

madisonbridges · 15/10/2021 19:00

@Roselilly36

I wouldn’t like this one bit, seems really irresponsible to me, I wouldnt trust my dog with an adult that can’t keep my key safe. I had a cleaner that held the key to our our house & had her own alarm code for the house alarm, she managed never to lose it. I would be hiring a new walker for my dog.

I'd be cross if they lost my dog. THAT would be irresponsible. But losing a key.... that's such an easy thing to do.

nomoneytreehere · 15/10/2021 19:04

Honestly if you are giving people your key it is your responsibility to ensure there is insurance in place of it gets lost. So if you checked and she has insurance claim on that otherwise claim on your own and if there is no insurance to cover it pay for it yourself.

Roselilly36 · 15/10/2021 19:05

No I am not perfect by any stretch, but I have never lost a key, and would take extra care of someone else’s key that I was trusted with. The OP’s home insurance would not pay out if a key was used to access her home, only if there was evidence of violent, forceable entry.

MamsellMarie · 15/10/2021 19:06

If you have an attractive dog I wouldn't post too many pics.

icedcoffees · 15/10/2021 19:08

@Roselilly36

No I am not perfect by any stretch, but I have never lost a key, and would take extra care of someone else’s key that I was trusted with. The OP’s home insurance would not pay out if a key was used to access her home, only if there was evidence of violent, forceable entry.

Which is why the dog walkers' insurance will cover a lock change.

I take extra care of keys too, but I'm not perfect. I carry 20-30 keys around with me day in, day out. They go in and out of pockets, my car, clients' homes and my own house. Luckily I've not lost one yet but it's very easy to see how it could happen.

ILoveYouMoreTheEnd · 15/10/2021 19:39

I was a dog walker and we also have a dog walker now for our own dogs. I've not lost a key but did drop one getting out my van at a clients house to collect her dog and i knew it wasn't outside but could I find that shit of a key?! Nope it went into van oblivion under the seat somewhere, luckily for me the owner was at home and she was fine about it. I paid for a key and the original was never found.

Your walkers insurance should cover it, the dogs name will be on it and if you and your dog is well known in the area obviously people will know who you are. Of our key had Dalmatians on it and got lost I would change the locks as we are the only people in the village with Dals. Our key says a nickname for our 3 😂

In regards to the social media our walker has a closed group for clients only with pics of their walks and updates. My own page did have updates of our own dogs and business details and a closed group for fun walk pics of their dogs day out.

Original poster

Wantabub · 15/10/2021 20:56

Thank you for all the replies.
We are getting a new lock. Our dog walker has arranged everything.

OP posts: