Locksmith Help

Don't be bullied into paying and don't be afraid to call the Guardia if he threatens you in any way.

In the circumstances I'd suggest offering him half on production of a fully itemised bill, once you have that you can take it to another locksmith for pricing, or even post it here, then you can argue the toss with him.

Don't forget he'll be paying trade prices which can be up to 30-50% less than retail and if he believes you owe him money then there are proper avenues for him to pursue you for it.

The thing you can't really dispute is the call out charge because effectively he can charge whatever he likes and particularly at 2:30 in the morning, although I'd expect him to tell you what it is BEFORE turning out but from what you've said it's the parts he's really trying to rip you off over.

Finally is he a one man band or an employee of a company, if the latter you might try going over his head to his boss or the owner of the business.

I hope after this you'll be keeping a spare key hidden outside or at least with a neighbour!

No comment about the bag theft except to say let it be a warning.

I couldn't begin to put a number to the ones I've seen casually hooked on the back of a chair or dropped on the floor many of which, had I been of a mind to do so, I could have easily whipped away without the owners noticing a thing, then think how much better at it a practiced thief would be at it!

Hi, so sorry this happened you. By chance does your (or owners?) insurance cover it? We are with Mapfre and our emergency locksmiths are covered. 

Wishing you well

To properly benefit from that I'm pretty sure you'd have to go through the insurer and not just call out any locksmith but I suppose it might be that they after an emergency event they would pay out an amount based on their estimation of the cost.

Hi Debbie, I am sorry to hear of yet another bag snatch, pure scrum who pull that kind of trick . Grrrr!

Hope nothing else of great value was lost.

The prices for the job,you mention, are certainly not of a trivial amount, although if you did not recieve a written quote before the work started then I dont see you having any legal right to challenge it . Morally, most definately, but Legally ? 

You mention you have gained prices from a ferreteria .Before you challenge the cost of the locks please be aware that there can be a massive difference in cost between standard lock cylinders and High Security 'anti drill ,anti pick lock cylinders .if not already done so, then It would be worth checking which type you have been supplied.

I hope it works out satisfactory for you .

LeckyLes 

Yes, that's a thought!! I think I'll call Mapfre to clarify the situation, thanks

Afraid I can only offer my sympathy for such a scary situation but sadly can’t offer any practical help.   

We Payed £180 to get into our house and have the whole door mechanism changed along with the lock. This was on a very cold night around 10.30 in England. We was happy to get in. I do think the price is very high in Spain. I used to charge 100 Euros after midnight for call out when I lived in Spain.

Hello,

I'd just to like to say a huge thank you to those of you who answered my 'locksmith problem'. It was helpful and really supportive of you. I managed to negotiate a more humane quote, shall we say!!!!

Ladies, just be careful with the handbags and phones left on table tops.

Wishing you all a safe, healthy, peaceful Summer.

Wishing