Sooo expensive!!

[petes_dragon]

Why so stupid household workmen cost so much!!...or have I been ripped off??

I picked my husband up from work the other day, after I'd been food shoppingg so had a boot full of stuff and my son was asleepin the back!......He went to open the front door while I started to get stuff out of the car - he turned the key...and...nothing!! It wouldnt open, couldn't turn the key, couldn't get the key out, couldn't push it further in - nothing - it was completely jammed!!.....After about 10 mins of wrestling with it and nothing happening, my husband decided to go round the back - unfortunately the gate locks from the inside so he had to scale an 8ft wall and jump down the other side (I'm surprised he didn't break his ankles!) to get in through the back door........the front door still wouldn't open from the inside so he had to let me, my son and the shopping in through the window...........very elegant, I'm sure!!

After trying to get the door open etc - drill, screwdriver, hammer etc with no luck we decided that the only thing we could do was call a locksmith!!!!!!!...............Just what you need in the middle of the month - still 2 weeks til pay day........3 phone calls later and the average was �80 an hour + vat + parts, by now it was after 5pm so an evening call out rate was to be added too!!

Just as we were about to go ahead, the first one called back saying that they could do a special deal for �40 an hour and no evening charge as the guy was fairly nearby anyway.......he came out, apparently the barrel had broken as it had expanded in the heat!! He did about 15 mins work and replaced the lock...............he then charged us �120!!!!

�120 for 15 mins work - I'm definately going to retrain as a locksmith!!!

Why is it that these people can charge so much??....Surely they are just taking advantage of people!

A xXx

[jake-the-peg]

So you paid �40 plus vat plus the lock.

If he managed to average 3 calls a day like that he's make about �30K a year which doesn't sound that excessive.

Maybe you should ask why the lock cost so much - of course he might have been able to free it and save your lock had you not attacked it with a drill and hammer.

[redcrx]

How come he charged so much after quoting such a good hourly rate??

I had to call a locksmith after my sister locked herself out of my flat (i was away at time) and he charged me �90 to get in the property

[Dollie]

Sorry to hear your plight pete's dragon - they charge it because they can. There has been a distinct shortage of young men going into building trades in the past few decades so we have a national shortage of decorators, builders, electricians, locksmiths, etc. and above all - the greatest shortage appears to be plumbers. They are in short supply and therefore booked up for ages - I know cos my husband's a tradesman, and if someone wants you in a hurry - you simply have to pay for it. They know you've no other choice cos you NEED them there and then. It is infuriating. My husband could work seven days a week , 24 hours a day if he wanted and charge far more per hour than he currently does which is �16 per hour. We think that is fair and he charges the same across the board - whether its a pensioner or a millionaire - the charge is the same - fair and square. I know my answer is no consolation but I hope it helps with some facts. Doll xx

[Pippa68]

As has been said, they charge because they can (especially the self employed ones).

Rip off artists!!!

[Octavius]

Supply & Demand.

Did you get a receipt to show how the �120 was built up? It sounds like you were charged for a call out and an evening rate plus a high rate for the barrel.

A replacement lock shouldn't cost more than say �25-�30 although the Yale night latch set can cost about �55 - and for the barrel alone it's about �10-15. It must have been gold plated...?

[raysparx]

Hi petes_dragon,

Some will rip you off,but not all, I have been self-employed 26 years,never advertised for work, I charge �15 per hour and no call out,just a minimum 1 hour charge,so we aren't all on the con,honest.

[Pippa68]

Awwww ray..I feel terrible now :o(

I saw a programme on TV once, honest..all about rip off artists. I am sure you aren't one of them!

[raysparx]

Hi pippa,

Why do you feel terrible ? I am happy, I have loads of work, should I put my prices up ? Most tradesmen are Honest, I have been in the building trade for over 40 years,and I can honestly say I have never conned anyone, I love my lifestyle I only work about 30 hours per week,could work 60,but I won't, I have met about 6 real cowboy builders in that time, all the ones I work with and for are really nice blokes, plus if you con someone in the countryside,it soon gets round, takes a long time to get a good name,One bad job to get a bad name, take care, Ray xx

[Pippa68]

Mr Pippa is in the building trade too, ray...never conned anyone in his life.. he is a chippy by trade, but can just about turn his hand to everything.

I felt terrible cos I said that all those self employed locksmiths seemed to be rip off artists!

[raysparx]

Hi pippa,

trouble is people can charge what they want,but I have never been motivated by money, I love my lifestyle, we don't have money worries so why ruin other peoples lives by ripping them off, it annoys me so much, it gets us all a bad name, but if you are honest people have you back, last month I did a job,that came to �1100, the elderly lady wrote out a cheque,when I got home and looked at it,it was for �1600, (my writing) so I took it straight back, she was so pleased,she has now asked me to rewire the house she lives in, and that will be �4000.00 so it pays to be honest doesn't it!!! take care, Ray xx

[Pippa68]

Oh it definately does ray. I agree builders & tradesmen do have a bad reputation. Mr Pippa was asked to go into the loft of an elderly neighbour of my mother in laws. She wanted her son to go up with him in case he '****** in the water tank'.

I mean, God!

[raysparx]

Hi petes_dragon,

Sorry to hijack your question,, pippa,it is very sad,I am glad these prats are exposed on the TV, but it does not stop them trading, I am registered with a registered company (Napit) and the new government backed scheme (trustmark) which give the customer automatic cover on every job over �75.00 so maybe it will make it better in time,be good, Ray xx

[88jim]

id personally say just do the work yourself if you can, its cheap enough to get the parts of www.fastkeys.co.uk, than ever hiring a external locksmith.

[tmpearce]

I don't think a lock should break because of the heat, but if it was broken and needed replacing it shouldn't have cost much more than £30 for a new one on top of your labour charge.
http://www.precisionlocksmiths.uk.com