I was working late last week and, stupid me, I left my office to go to the bathroom and forgot the office key to get back in. So I'm standing outside my office, after hours, freaking out because my phone, house keys, money, everything is inside the office.
A nice office neighbor let me use their phone book to find a locksmith (wow it's been a long time since I used one of those. That's what yelp is for right?) I called several and this one had the most reasonable lockout fee ($65), the others were telling me anywhere from $80-$100. I guess when you're desperate, you'll pay anything. I was told the locksmith would come within half an hour.
While I was waiting, the office neighbor said I could surf the net on one of their computers, so I googled "lock out fees" just to see if I was paying a decent amount. I couldn't help it, it's the Chinese in me, even after booking the service I was looking for a better deal.
I ended up on a forum where this one guy was complaining about how he paid a $80 lock out fee only to have the locksmith come by and slide a credit card through the lock and open it. You see it on TV on the time. I know I'm always thinking, "that can't possibly work." Well, I had half an hour to kill, so I borrowed a plastic card and got to work. After 5 minutes of jiggling the handle and sliding the card in the slit, the door opened! O_O
I called the locksmith back but they were already almost to my office. I ended being charged a $35 service fee since I made the call, which sucks but at least now I know to try a credit card before calling anyone and the locksmith was very nice about everything.
3 stars - for coming on time and friendliness, but not any more because they didn't end up doing any work. And I still think $35 is a high for just showing up and leaving. read more
