Lockout emergency. Should I be reimbursed?

Ectophile

outtatune said:

Nothing to add to the main question, but I'm wondering why the locksmith needed to drill the lock. If there's nothing wrong with the cylinder then picking your typical domestic lock is bread and butter for the pros.

They needed to drill out the lock so that they could sell a new lock at a massive mark-up over the price of a new lock from any DIY shed.  That's how they make their profit.

GDB2222

£650, though! You have my sympathy.

I know the op was desperate, but that is an eye watering price for a very easy job that any handyman could do. The locksmith acted completely immorally.

I really don’t understand why the friends who helped him out by paying for the locksmith couldn’t pay for a taxi instead? 

littleboo

How is the £650 broken down?

Section62

GDB2222 said:

£650, though! You have my sympathy.

I know the op was desperate, but that is an eye watering price for a very easy job that any handyman could do. The locksmith acted completely immorally.

...

I wouldn't go as far as 'immorally' without knowing a bit more about what was involved.

If the agent really suggested 'drilling' as a solution it might suggest the lock was something more secure than a bog standard euro cylinder from a DIY shed.

Similarly, emergency locksmith callouts aren't cheap, and where you are and when you call them can turn 'not cheap' into eyewateringly expensive.

I'm not saying £650 is Ok, just that there's a lack of detail to gauge what a reasonable cost would be.