Dave the locksmith Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 See attached. A rather large bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 What the hell sort of lock are they fitting for that price ??. Hope watchdog or someone looks into these shysters it is basically legalised robbery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryHeffernan Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 😳😳😳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShoes Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 I hope the customer at least got to keep the drill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapidlocks Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 these are common these days , always see a new one on various groups . im surprised people still pay such silly prices and dont phone around . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsy Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 I’m sure the so called locksmith featured on watchdog/rouge traders for drilling and ripping people off Was based out of Hertfordshire Probably the same man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapidlocks Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 theres a good few of them about , some eastern european outfits , leo locks that have just changed name again and a host of others . but you may be judging the firm unfairly , he may have had to drill and may have struggled if one of those locks defended by special metal , and the lock he fitted may be gold plated and jewel encrusted. if they have quoted prior to work commencing and the price was accepted , then they may be legally ok though morally despicable . customer should get quotes from reputable locksmiths based on same time and same parts , then contact trading standards kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC77 Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 I think you have in mind Mark Makowski I don't think it was him. He hanged himself. I do not know how people have the front to even try and explain these costs. Last night at 6.30pm I took a call a gentleman had returned home to find he had picked up the wrong set of keys. He is a diabetic pensioner and a neighbour found him sitting on the floor outside his flat having let him into his block of flats. I attended, slipped the latch on his lock and we found the set of keys he should have picked up and put the keys onto an oversize key ring to help him identify the keys he should take out with him. He was confused and in need of help, he asked how much. I did not want to charge him anything but I recognise that they want to pay something so I said ten pounds, he said can I give you twenty pounds? He pulled out his wallet and it was empty. His neighbour gave me the twenty pounds. None of us know what life has in store for us and every time I hear of bills like this I think of my Dad and I would not like anything like this to happen to him. DC grahamparker, MarkD, SteelCityShoes and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 DC11 you are obviously a good man, but also the customer seems blessed with a good neighbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petercoulson Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 Seem to be 2 people based in Israel working here that own the Ltd company Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 yep and it continues and will continue - there is nothing that can be done until we have a trading standards that work more than 3.5 days a week and have Funds to investigate and prosecute _it finished Makowski but it too years of complaints, and it seems he was not the worst offender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted January 7, 2018 Report Share Posted January 7, 2018 The end of last summer a disabled guy near me, through his hand trembles broke the key in his euro cylinder - called someone out and in the meantime called a mutual friend because he was getting cold - They waited about 1.5 hours. When the arse arrived, he spoke little english other than - 'this big job, muchwork init' he quoted £212.50 to drill the lock and it was designed to be anti drill and he would have to replace the lock and the key for another £200 all plus vat. Our mutual friend called me to verify I told they to F him off. The bloke threw a huge wobbly buy my friend is large - so he drove off swearing. I popped over and removed the broken key with a pair of tweezers and they used the spare key in the keysafe. Trouble is a rod for my back- I no longer do locksmithing only auto door operators, organise shows, do Drone surveys. kobblers and Mike at Vauxhall 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CitySafe Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 This is the reason we have brought out the 'Find a Locksmith' app to try and avoid situations like this!It is a joke that there are no regulations on what qualifications a locksmith has to have, or who can call themselves a locksmith!The only way we can try and protect customers against this is with our Tradelocks TL Approved Scheme on the app. Each of the TL approved locksmiths on the app are either members of the MLA (so have to go through yearly tests) or have proved to us that they are a competent locksmith with proof and certificates of approved locksmith courses they have attended! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapidlocks Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 Such silly bills are not a new thing at all , in fact they are common across many trades , see them regular from some builders, roofers , driveways , plumbers , electricians , drain clearing firms , even some garages . where ever the potential exists for someone to be in a desperate position , you will also find sharks circling to exploit them by either ripping them off with bodged jobs or over inflated prices . this extends to many aspects of big business too , oil , fuel , utilities , medicines etc etc . sharks are everywhere . they have been around in the locksmith trade for as long as i can remember , and will no doubt be around for many more years to come preying on the vulnerable . the only way you stop it is to educate the public about prices and about their 7 day cooling off period if they have not signed to waive it , plus it helps if locksmiths answer their phone out of normal hours , many dont , but the sharks do . i see new bills being put up almost weekly online . trading standards for some reason , probably budget related dont seem to be on this at all and should be , after all their role is to protect the consumer , i can understand lack of funding to mount investigations , but when they have an itemised invoice where £345 has been charged for a lock , unless gold plated and jewel encrusted , its pretty obvious its a scam , so should be an easy case , unless this was quoted and and accepted then it becomes greyer . but all the time theres vulnerable or desperate people , there will always be such sharks , even if they licence locksmiths . kobblers and DC77 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC77 Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 Mick said making a rod for my own back. There is also a saying "No good deed goes unpunished". 12.30 pm today I get another call from a different neighbour. The gentleman had done it again, picked up the wrong set of keys and locked himself out. Could I get him back in his flat again? Rather than see this vulnerable person fall into the clutches of a scam locksmith off I go again. This time no payment, this was a different neighbour who disappeared once the door was open. I thought I had it sorted by putting his keys on two oversize key rings and a attaching a label to them and leaving this by his front door. He really is in need of some sort of support from social services. He hardly said a word, not even thank you. DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forest Cobbler Posted January 8, 2018 Report Share Posted January 8, 2018 I suspect the poor bloke was seriously embarrassed at having to call on you again, and didn't know what to say. You're still one of the good guys though. DC77 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 Martin I think the 7 day cooling off thing did not or does not apply to 'emergency' callouts - else the world would be 10 feet deep in water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broms Cobb Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 I've seen this all over Facebook - so great publicity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted January 9, 2018 Report Share Posted January 9, 2018 1 star reviews except one which is 5 so that must be a family/employee review. https://www.yell.com/biz/all-service-4u-london-7277091/ kobblers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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