Any locksmiths out there?
Discussion
Last week we were locked out of our house with no way in. Internal parts of a door lock (probably installed in 1956 when the house was built!) had crumbled and broken.
Current wife called first company on google search (mistake, obv!) and was quoted a £39 call out charge, which seemed reasonable. Chap arrived and told us he had to drill the lock out (as expected) and that would cost £185 (not expected but what can ya do?). Gave the go-ahead and the door was open in 10-15 mins.
No chance of replacing current lock, like-for-like, so need to opt for something else. Was offered a new lock at £300 plus VAT but the lock only costs £49 if you buy it on line in the (more expensive) matt black version rather than the £30 for the stainless steel finish we were quoted for. Door repairs to fill the old hole too but they weren't mentioned..
So the costs we were quoted were £300 for the lock, £140 to fit the lock, all plus VAT. Fricking cowboys! Inevitably we told them that we will sort it ourselves and the following day got a carpenter to deal with it, including repainting the door after the making good to old holes.
After that long winded detail, is there a way to employ an emergency locksmith without always getting a shyster (sincerest apologies to all honest locksmiths out there)? It must be possible (other than not phoning the first person on the emergency locksmith google search!).
Not surprisingly the chap who first visited us suggested his mate could do the same job for £300 all in.
Awaiting the fallout herein! Expecting abuse but hoping otherwise.
Current wife called first company on google search (mistake, obv!) and was quoted a £39 call out charge, which seemed reasonable. Chap arrived and told us he had to drill the lock out (as expected) and that would cost £185 (not expected but what can ya do?). Gave the go-ahead and the door was open in 10-15 mins.
No chance of replacing current lock, like-for-like, so need to opt for something else. Was offered a new lock at £300 plus VAT but the lock only costs £49 if you buy it on line in the (more expensive) matt black version rather than the £30 for the stainless steel finish we were quoted for. Door repairs to fill the old hole too but they weren't mentioned..
So the costs we were quoted were £300 for the lock, £140 to fit the lock, all plus VAT. Fricking cowboys! Inevitably we told them that we will sort it ourselves and the following day got a carpenter to deal with it, including repainting the door after the making good to old holes.
After that long winded detail, is there a way to employ an emergency locksmith without always getting a shyster (sincerest apologies to all honest locksmiths out there)? It must be possible (other than not phoning the first person on the emergency locksmith google search!).
Not surprisingly the chap who first visited us suggested his mate could do the same job for £300 all in.
Awaiting the fallout herein! Expecting abuse but hoping otherwise.
Countdown said:
Just playing Devil's Advocate - you're expecting somebody to be available to come out in the middle of the night and sort out your broken lock issues. That is going to cost you a lot of money.
I get what you're saying but it was 3.30 in the afternoon. The call out charge was reasonable but once they get there....£185 to drill out the lock (15 mins max), £300 + VAT to supply a £30 lock and £140 to fit it. Not acceptable. Johnniem said:
Countdown said:
Just playing Devil's Advocate - you're expecting somebody to be available to come out in the middle of the night and sort out your broken lock issues. That is going to cost you a lot of money.
I get what you're saying but it was 3.30 in the afternoon. The call out charge was reasonable but once they get there....£185 to drill out the lock (15 mins max), £300 + VAT to supply a £30 lock and £140 to fit it. Not acceptable. I was in a cobblers once getting a key cut. In front of me was a bloke looking to get a Yale type key cut. He asked how much and the cobbler told him (can't remember how much it was, let's say £9.99). He reacted in exactly the same way as you OP. Said it was a rip off and it only took a couple of minutes at the most. So the cobbler gave him a blank key and said, that's free. Now you cut it.
I get paying for their expertise and time but £300+VAT to supply a lock is a rip off as they're making plenty of money on the call out etc. Looks like you'd have been in for over £500 if you'd let them do it all.
I like to think other locksmiths may have been more reasonable so maybe the lesson is to ring a few and get their full costs upfront.
I like to think other locksmiths may have been more reasonable so maybe the lesson is to ring a few and get their full costs upfront.
Johnniem said:
Countdown said:
Just playing Devil's Advocate - you're expecting somebody to be available to come out in the middle of the night and sort out your broken lock issues. That is going to cost you a lot of money.
I get what you're saying but it was 3.30 in the afternoon. The call out charge was reasonable but once they get there....£185 to drill out the lock (15 mins max), £300 + VAT to supply a £30 lock and £140 to fit it. Not acceptable. Only time I used a locksmith I checked the local google reviews and it turned out fine, the work he did (picking a very secure truck boot lock) was extremely skillful and that's worth paying for. This sounds like the other thread of someone moaning about the cost of a skip, where the OP went very quiet when I asked how much money he's want for owning and driving a skip lorry through town twice.
If I was locked out of my house I'd do what I did as a student and smash the most convenient / cheapest window.
If I was locked out of my house I'd do what I did as a student and smash the most convenient / cheapest window.
Peterpetrole said:
If I was locked out of my house I'd do what I did as a student and smash the most convenient / cheapest window.
Sadly the days of common sense seemed to have disappeared in all walks of life and events.You’d be amazed or probably wouldn’t how many new home customers lock themselves out within the first week, I know the OP situation was different as the lock gave up working.
But calling first company on google search is like many years ago picking the largest advert in the yellow pages and ringing them.
It’s going to be more than a local one man outfit going down that route, in these situations people panic and just do whatever and feel hard done by afterwards but nobody forces you to pay the quote, if you don’t like it tell them and find alternatives.
Most locks can be drilled out though as long as you have a lot of sharp bits and know where to drill, it takes time but you get in, then just buy a new lock.
Johnniem said:
I get what you're saying but it was 3.30 in the afternoon. The call out charge was reasonable but once they get there....£185 to drill out the lock (15 mins max), £300 + VAT to supply a £30 lock and £140 to fit it. Not acceptable.
As an ex-MLA member, just out of interest, did they drill out the old lock with anything bigger than a 6mm hole?To pass the exam you need to drill out a lock with nothing bigger than a 6mm hole from the "wrong side" of the lock.
There should be a call out charge, a per hour labor charge (drilling is considerably quicker than picking, but more destructive), expect a 100% mark up on the lock, per hour labor to fix, fit a new lock and then probably some extra keys. That said I have been out of the business for a while now.
Trouble is you are on the back foot as it is an emergency situation.
I do think £300 for a lock is taking this piss, loading up the labour/call out I can understand, the price gouging on the lock I don't.
Unfortunately I would put it down to experience but get recommendations for who to call next time rather than playing the google lottery. If your insurance covers locks then get the number in your phone just in case.
It could be worse such as needing to call out a locksmith out on Christmas morning because your Gran and Mum got locked out, the chap turned up wiggled the key in the lock and opened the door, lets just say the Christmas cheer only went one way that morning.
I do think £300 for a lock is taking this piss, loading up the labour/call out I can understand, the price gouging on the lock I don't.
Unfortunately I would put it down to experience but get recommendations for who to call next time rather than playing the google lottery. If your insurance covers locks then get the number in your phone just in case.
It could be worse such as needing to call out a locksmith out on Christmas morning because your Gran and Mum got locked out, the chap turned up wiggled the key in the lock and opened the door, lets just say the Christmas cheer only went one way that morning.
Edited by FMOB on Tuesday 15th October 17:43
Johnniem said:
Countdown said:
Just playing Devil's Advocate - you're expecting somebody to be available to come out in the middle of the night and sort out your broken lock issues. That is going to cost you a lot of money.
I get what you're saying but it was 3.30 in the afternoon. The call out charge was reasonable but once they get there....£185 to drill out the lock (15 mins max), £300 + VAT to supply a £30 lock and £140 to fit it. Not acceptable. Or have access to handyman (who will tackle it). My old landlord always paid tradesmen in cash.
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