call out charge

pandrosp

Probably just the one off post.

However, I just walked out of a neighbor's house with an ancient lock on the door.
I've been so used to unlocking doors, and then being able to close the door behind me. Knowing my door was open and could get in without a key, that I did this and locked myself out, with the key in the door.
Just needed the chap to to use the tools they have to pull the handle down...£90!
That is my entire spare amount of cash after bills. (on a very low income)


They insisted there was no call out charge, but that this was the price for the job.
How do they get away with this? 5 minute job £90. Allowing for travel etc...(they were 2 miles away)
Let's say 15 mins. That would be an hourly rate of £360.
£60 more than a solicitor with 8 years experience, based in London.
No parts required.

They know they have you in a desperate situation and so they charge these set fees for an hour or part thereof regardless.

pramsay13

I don't understand how you locked yourself out.
If it was such an easy thing to do why didn't you just do it yourself?
If you couldn't do it and needed an expert then I imagine that is what you have paid the premium for.
The tools the person has used will be expensive and there is the training that allows them to do it when you are unable to.

tacpot12

pandrosp wrote: »

Probably just the one off post.

However, I just walked out of a neighbor's house with an ancient lock on the door.
I've been so used to unlocking doors, and then being able to close the door behind me. Knowing my door was open and could get in without a key, that I did this and locked myself out, with the key in the door.
Just needed the chap to to use the tools they have to pull the handle down...£90!
That is my entire spare amount of cash after bills. (on a very low income)


They insisted there was no call out charge, but that this was the price for the job.
How do they get away with this? 5 minute job £90. Allowing for travel etc...(they were 2 miles away)
Let's say 15 mins. That would be an hourly rate of £360.
£60 more than a solicitor with 8 years experience, based in London.
No parts required.

They know they have you in a desperate situation and so they charge these set fees for an hour or part thereof regardless.

While this might seem like they are profiteering, and perhaps they are to some degree, but they came out when you called them, they used their expertise and specialst tools, and presumably saved a good deal of damage. They have all the costs of running a business, premises, insurance, a vehicle. I think the hourly rate you paid was closer to £90/hr and is not outrageous for a callout. You could have called other locksmiths and tried to get a cheaper service.

king132

why not just ask the person how much they were going to charge for the job before they started?!

HHarry

There would have been considerably more disruption to their work schedule than the 15 minutes you've allowed.

You were stuck, it was an emergency, they came quickly. £90 isn't cheap, but you weren't ripped off.

Dan-Dan

pandrosp wrote: »

Probably just the one off post.

However, I just walked out of a neighbor's house with an ancient lock on the door.
I've been so used to unlocking doors, and then being able to close the door behind me. Knowing my door was open and could get in without a key, that I did this and locked myself out, with the key in the door.
Just needed the chap to to use the tools they have to pull the handle down...£90!
That is my entire spare amount of cash after bills. (on a very low income)


They insisted there was no call out charge, but that this was the price for the job.
How do they get away with this? 5 minute job £90. Allowing for travel etc...(they were 2 miles away)
Let's say 15 mins. That would be an hourly rate of £360.
£60 more than a solicitor with 8 years experience, based in London.
No parts required.

They know they have you in a desperate situation and so they charge these set fees for an hour or part thereof regardless.

Isnt it a shame people dont run business`s and feed their kids on fresh air

jakemillspaek

The locksmith was sitting in his office waiting for your call!!!!
£90 call out or minimum charge call it what you like.
Fair price for any trade in London and you got a prompt response and your error remedied.

greenface

Did they just go through the letterbox and knock the handle down . when you have a spare ten minutes work it out so you can do it yourself next time . Little bit of bent bar . ive had one or two bits in my van for over 30 years that have saved me & my customers a fortune in time and extra materials . Havent drilled a lock out for years (I'm a window fitter not a locksmith )