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We left the keys in the lock inside the house and we couldn't open the front door from the outside despite having another key, so we had to call a locksmith....
FML, he charged us £570, this is the invoice:
This is the first time I've ever had to call a locksmith so I jsut want to know if this is fair or if we've been ripped off.
Looks a bit steep to me - how long did it take him?
I paid £120 recently enough, no new parts though just labour.
Did you phone one of those "find a locksmith" websites?
If so, I would say yes. They are notorious. Luckily we have a very good local locksmith, not cheap but nothing like that invoice!
How long did it take him to do the work?
Did you discuss hourly rates before he started?
He's not very good at English is he?
From past experience I think he's overcooked the invoice by 20-25% but I have no documentary evidence.
Crumbs! Is your bum sore?
On the one hand its seems shocking, but depending on the labour rate I'm sort of pleased from a security perspective it took him more than 3 times as long to open a locked door with a key in it, that it did to replace the whole gubbins.
But did it really?
I thought that we had all agreed that key workers should be paid more.
We have done the same thing costs from memory around £170 (London) I would say you have been ripped off but nothing you can do now presuming you have paid.
£120 no new parts and on a Sunday. He even had the decency to make it look hard. Worryingly easy if you ask me.
I'd say yours is a bit steep.
Based on the cost of reglazing a window, I'd say that's a bit steep.
It took him 30 min all in all.
It was my wife who took care of everything as it happened when she arrived from dropping me at the airport, I'm pretty sure she jsut googled 'locksmith'.
FML, that's almost the cost of a new bike.
I thought that we had all agreed that key workers should be paid more.
👏😂
FML, that’s almost the cost of a new bike.
It really isn’t!
FML, that’s almost the cost of a new bike.
Hah, not round these parts (STW) it's not, unless you are telling people a very different price than the one you are paying 😉
£89 call out is expensive but not crazy.
£175 to break in, I suppose depends how hard it was, but if it took him 20 mins then its excessive
A new cyclinder is about £30 for a good one so £162 sounds a bit steep.
£49 to change the lock sounds reasonable but if nothing was damaged its less than a 10 min job.
All in, I'd say it is pretty steep, but what can you do now?
I paid less form my trials, dirt jump and bmx bikes! (all used)
30 mins!!! Massive rip off. And his cost for a new euro cylinder and keys is extortionate too.
Sounds like he's had your pants down at your express invitation.
The fact that the invoice refers to an anti snap lock strongly suggests it's a Euro Profile cylinder.
£89 for an emergency callout - Fair enough, it's the price you pay.
£175 to drill out a lock. - Seems excessive unless it took half a day.
£162 for a replacement anti snap cylinder - They cost about £40 - £50 for high end ones.
£49 to change the cylinder. He's tearing the arse out of it now. They're held in by a single machine screw and take 30 seconds to change.
Same a couple of years ago in South Wales, Saturday evening £300 which i thought was a bit much, I did my best not to google the costs of the parts he fitted (minimal around £40) it did take him about an hour to sort it though so wasnt just 5 minutes
I'd have waited and done it in the week but the house had no independent rear access, I'd have had to go through my neighbors and jump the fence every time i wanted to leave the house!
A high security Avocet ABS Eurocylinder replacement with 2 extra keys on top of the three it already comes with is £50 over the counter, which will be a lot more than he's paying for it. Labour aside you've had your pants pulled down for £100 there at least.
£175 to break in, I suppose depends
how hard it washow long it took.
FTFY.
Go and watch that episode of rogue traders where they cover this. It seems like you've had the exact situation they cover!
Ok, thanks for the feedback, gonna complain to whoever I can complain
cost of a new bike
I paid less form my trials, dirt jump and bmx bikes! (all used)
Though it does seem I should train as a locksmith. Or invoice writer. 😂
The cost of a replacement sealed double glazing unit in a small window is approx £30-40, small but plenty big enough to crawl through. Takes two minutes to pop them out from the inside by clipping the plastic beading out, 3 to 4 days for replacement which can be boarded up while waiting. It's easy to be wise after the event though, or from a diatance!
*all of the above assumes upvc DG units with internal beading
Can you claim on your house insurance?
Same scenario for me about 12 months ago, cost £120 in total
Christ on a bike that's expensive - I had someone fix a broken electric garage door (it wouldn't close). He came out on a bank holiday, spent the whole day at the house and fixed it (no parts were needed) and even came back to adjust it because it wasn't closing fully when it had settled down with a few ups and downs) so all in it was some nine hours - and that was only £230. Ohh and he fixed a faulty remote too (a spring on the battery contact had come away from the circuit board).
No ‘smashing your back doors in’ comments yet? Disappointed
So you locked yourselves out, called out an emergency locksmith, presumably discussed rates, asked him to do the job, he did it, charged you what was discussed (?) and now it's too expensive?
Why didn't you do it yourself if it's only xyz £'s for this and that? Not convenient? Oh...
The very definition of a distressed purchase. Certainly ask him (nicely) if there's anything he can do with the charge but in the circumstances, why should he?
It was my wife who took care of
This is really where you should be looking isn't it? Coward 😉
In this the locksmith charges £312 for drilling out and replacing a Yale lock and that is described as an absolute rip off. You have been properly shafted.
Also worth considering that if the locksmith is dishonest enough to rip you off, can you be sure he won’t use an extra key to access your house when you are out?
Long time ago, about £100 I think. However it was very easy and didn't involve replacing locks. Gadget through letterbox with mirrors and pull the handle from inside.
Somewhat shocked and I got myself a new door with a lot better security as a result!
So you locked yourselves out, called out an emergency locksmith, presumably discussed rates
I'm assuming the locksmith never quoted a labour rate of circa £800 per hour before he did the job.
There's a world of difference between charging a rate commensurate with skills / experience / having the right tools and taking the piss out of people in a vulnerable situation.
We lost our door keys when out running. Drill out two locks and fitting new locks was £300 I thought that was steep but after seeing your quote I’m happy.
There’s a world of difference between charging a rate commensurate with skills / experience / having the right tools and taking the piss out of people in a vulnerable situation
There is but who would ask how much per hour then agree to an invoice for 30 mins based on a completely different rate?
If someone is coming to do something, get an indication of cost before and make sure they charge accordingly unless otherwise agreed. N'est ce pas?
boblo, I see your point, I wasn't there so I can't tell, but I don't think he quoted that ammount initially as my wife texted me it would cost around £200.
I just think that he took advantage of the situation, that's all.
That's what pisses me off.
He could aswell had charged her £1000, and she would have paid.
Anyway, it is what it is, it will just take me a couple of months to digest it.
If someone is coming to do something, get an indication of cost before and make sure they charge accordingly unless otherwise agreed.
Yes, when dealing with someone honest. When dealing with a rogue trader or a conman it isn't so simple. The price will creep up, extras get added, any price mentioned at the start has no relation to the final bill.
I understand this and I'm sorry if I'm coming over unsympathetic. It is a lot but presumably there was a discussion pre and post work and before payment was made (assuming it has been, you usually pay the man when he's done)?
If that's the case, there was opportunity to understand the likely cost, query the actual and withhold payment when the two didn't tally. Why didn't she do that?
Was this locksmith so intimidating that she couldn't think straight? Not sure what can be done if so (call the Police?) cos there's no use shutting the door and locking them out...
She was on her own, I think she just felt vulnerable and not in a position to start discussing, and I understand her ... I might have done the same.
But it's mostly what nickjb expressed I believe. The guy probably said 200, then he asked if he should put a new lock, wife said yes, and the he charged an extra £200 for that...
Paid less than a third of that for a locksmith to turn up on emergency call out in the evening, open a jammed lock and replace the lock cylinder. And that was with London pricing. Maybe put in a moody call asking how much he charges for an emergency call etc, out and compare and contrast the two with him
This is not going to help but I had a similar (locked out) problem a few months ago. The front UPVC door handle wouldn't open and just went round and round. Apparently there are gears in there and they had stripped.
I called round for someone 'immediately' - it was either evening or w/e can't remember. He came from 20 miles away within 30 mins, got in with some inflatable witch craft, fixed it without further damage and buggered off for a lot less than your poor Mrs was charged.
Obv I did confirm call out, travel costs, parts, labour, inc/exc VAT etc and managed to avoid getting shafted. Mebbies he was a good un?
You could try and appeal to his better nature and/or report to whomever oversees ripping people off but you might just have to chalk it up to experience...
Right tools? You can break open a standard Eurocylinder with a screwdriver and lump hammer in about ten seconds and replace it in two minutes, it's literally one screw to remove. Not only was he expensive, he was crap (or deliberately milking it out).
Expensive experience!
I think you should also get on to Trading Standards
You think Trading Standards can do something about it?