overcharged

On a Friday I contacted KEYTEK (yellow pages) for an emergency callout to open a locked closed upvc door where the mechanism had jammed. KEYTEK sent IN-2-LOCK (Blackburn) to my aid. The guy had the door open in minutes. He removed the mechanism and declared it was a 'special' unit that he didn't carry in his van and would have to return on the Monday. He fitted two sash jammers to secure the door for the weekend. Cost for that visit was £114.89 on a KEYTEK receipt. On Monday he returned and fitted a new mechanism. Cost for that visit was £140 on an IN-2-LOCK receipt. Total £254.89. The new mechanism was troublesome and sticking so a few days later I removed it myself and found it binding on a portion of upvc which was easily rectified. While having full access to the mechanism I checked out an actual replacement cost. Available from Screwfix for about £65 and there was nothing 'special' about it. ANY locksmith should have had one in his van. I believe the job could have been completed on the first visit but I was sold unnecessary sash jammers and an additional callout fee. He also wanted to fit two new door hinges as there was slight play but prior to his return I found that they were adjustable and fixed that myself in minutes.

David King - 19/11/2012 | report this review