Gransnet forums

House and home

Locksmiths…. Beware…

(11 Posts)
Grannygrumps1 Sat 12-Feb-22 16:18:20

I unfortunately got locked in the other day. As in my porch door latch / lock broke and I could not leave the house.
So I googled locksmiths. Found what I believed to be a local company who when called said they would arrive in less than half an hour and no call out fee.
Yes you’ve probably all guessed what I’m going to say.
An hour and fifty minutes later ( and three more phone calls) and young man who spoke such poor English turned up.
He used brute force to open the door. Then proceeded to tell me there is no available part for my door. Well, I think that’s what he said. So I asked what he could do. He said ‘nothing’.
£160 please now or dodgy repair for over £220. I said no. He wanted to take all the door mechanism with him. I told him to give it me back it was mine and why £160. You’ve done nothing. I said I’ll give you £20 for opening the door and nothing else. He argued and dropped the price to £90. I said no. Go away or I’ll call the police. £40.00.
He started to argue again and then said £70. To which I argued and actually paid him £60. To go away. And reported back to his company. Why would you charge someone for not doing a job.
The next day I rang another locksmiths. He said he would be an hour and arrived in 10 minutes. Repaired the mechanism and doctored it. I told him what had happened with the other guy to which he replied ‘good on you’ I wish more people argued with these cowboys’…… ‘that will be £10.00 please.
Made my day…. Don’t accept overinflated bill.

Cabbie21 Sat 12-Feb-22 17:09:50

Well done! Brilliant.

Shinamae Sat 12-Feb-22 17:17:44

Well done you ??????????

Scotsmum Sat 12-Feb-22 17:27:34

How could you have known? These days I can be quite brusque in querying a tradesman's qualifications - the genuine ones are delighted to tell you. Sorry you were conned but well done for standing your ground.

Teacheranne Sat 12-Feb-22 23:57:10

When I could not lock my patio door so was unable to go out safely, I went on a local Nextdoor group and asked for recommendations. I was given a few and called one chap who popped round that afternoon. He turned out to be a recently retired local businessman who used to have an iron mongers and also sold and fitted upvc doors. He just did odd repairs to boost his pension and only charged me £30 to fix the problem and do a general service of the hinges and frame. I was a bit dubious as I did not know him but happened to have someone working in my garden so I knew that if there had been any problems, the landscaper was around.

I wish I could find his phone number as my front door lock is now playing up and I could do with his help again!

bookwormbabe Sun 13-Feb-22 11:37:11

Nextdoor is fast becoming my go-to place for tradesmen recommendations.

AreWeThereYet Sun 13-Feb-22 11:50:34

bookwormbabe

Nextdoor is fast becoming my go-to place for tradesmen recommendations.

Our nextdoor and facebook is just full of recommendations from friends and family ? I've noticed one or two people asking for recommendations only from people who have hired someone, and there are very few responses.

biglouis Sun 13-Feb-22 18:41:02

A good little cash in hand earner if you have the skills.

Ali08 Sun 13-Feb-22 21:45:57

Grannygrumps1
£10 oh WOW, I thought it would be more than that but that first one, the cowboy, yeah I'd have had some choice words for him for wrecking the door and I'd happily have called the police on him! You should also let people on Fb and Nextdoor know NOT to hire him!!

Grannynannywanny Sun 13-Feb-22 22:30:05

Teacheranne
I wish I could find his phone number as my front door lock is now playing up and I could do with his help again!

If you haven’t already tried it I recommend a few drops of WD40 in your lock. I’ve recently done my locks with it and they are operating very smoothly again.

Ohmother Sun 13-Feb-22 22:56:18

I think silicone spray is better than WD40 as it doesn’t ‘eat through’ like WD40 does.