09/18/2024
🚨 Lockout Story & A Little Wisdom 🚨
Earlier today, the maintenance manager at my apartment complex reached out to me for help. A tenant was locked out of her apartment with no key. Since I've done some locksmith work for them in the past, they thought I might be able to assist.
🔑 I immediately asked what type of lock it was. If it was a Smart Lock, I'd have to break it, but if it was a regular pin lock, I could pick it. In the locksmith world, any mobile locksmith you call will charge you just for showing up—this is known as a service call fee or trip charge, which can range from $50 to over $100, depending on the company. Even if you decide you don't need the service, you're still responsible for that charge, and refusing to pay it can lead to theft of service charges.
🕒 So, I tell them I'll be right over. I'm already on the property because I live here. But by the time I walk from my apartment to the tenant’s door, someone had already "helped" her by kicking the door in.
😬 I understand she had a little one with her and needed to get in, but that move was not only drastic but also reckless and expensive. My charge would have been $50 for the service call and $25 to pick the lock—$75 total. Now, it's going to cost the apartment complex upwards of $800 to replace the door, a cost likely to be passed on to her.
💡 Moral of the story: Be patient and communicate. It saves you money and the headache that comes with making hasty decisions. I don't think replacing an entire door jamb (or an automotive window) is worth the 30 minutes to an hour it might take for a locksmith to arrive. But that's just my two cents.
👉 If you or someone you know finds themselves in a lockout situation, give them my contact and tell them to hang on. Better to wait a bit than pay a lot.
Hit the like button, leave a comment, or just take this as a friendly piece of advice from your Big G's Lock & Keys. 🔧🔒
