What are your rates for LOCK-OUTS?

[Krypos]

ok so im not a locksmith, but would be interested in doing so as a side job when i get more knowledgable. but my question is this:

how do you know that mrs. johnson isnt trying to break into this house? i mean, how do you know you are helping the actual owner and not a thief? is there any way they can prove its theres later? i mean, what if you open the car door and then make a second key for them, and then you turn your back and they zoom off with the second car key? then you are responsible legally because you opened it.

how do you guys know a genuine lockout?

[p1ckf1sh]

how do you guys know a genuine lockout?

I think in most auto lockouts the key will be on the seat, in the ignition or something. Or are lost keyrings the majority of lockouts? Whatever, if it#s the car it should be easy to prove ownership if the person can present the registration for the car. And people in the states carry some kind of picture ID, right?

In some cases, I suppose the lockie might call the cops to have them check the info given by the customer.

[bonez]

just read this thread with interest!

i had a call this week to open an 06 transit van some guys had
locked the keys in the cab!

anyway quoted the lockout fee over the phone , turn up on site
do the entry! to then be told by an angry builder i'm not paying that
it only took you a few minutes!!

fair enough keys go back in the cab click goes the tibbe pick!

back to the van "have a nice day lads"

not the best start to the week but the look on their face!!!!!

f**king pricless.

[Shrub]

With you on that one mate, cheky buggers, its not what you do but what you know, its still cheaper than getting a window replaced,

I went to one the other day which was a euro lock swap, someone had stolen some keys and he just wanted the lock swapping,

£40 callout and £20 for the lock, i was there all but 2 mins lol he said thats a good wage isnt it £60 for 2 mins then said i suppose its not what you do but what you now etc and i said well thats it also i may not get another job today so that may be my wage for today, he was very happy and waved me off but perhaps the fingers went up the second i turned the corner lol

I hope you used the tibbe pick for the tranny? that way they couldnt have got in themselves after you had left lol

[bonez]

yeah the tibbe pick is working well mate

the 06 tranny only has the one cylinder on the drivers door!

i think the £50 i quoted was reasonable maybe i should change
the company name to "charity lockouts" free lockouts to big
scary builders

[Raccoon]

Regarding customer verification when taking a lockout.

I have two invoices, one for regular work, and another for lockout work. My lockout invoice has fields for "Vehicle Information: Description (make/model/year/color), License Plates, VIN Number", "Location Information: Description, Address", "Customer Information: Name, Address, Phone, DL (Drivers License #), DOB (Date of Birth), SHWEH (Sex/Height/Weight/Eye/Hair)".

Depending on the situation, I don't bother recording all of the above information. If a vehicle, I always record the make/model/year/color and license plates, the location of the vehicle, the customer's name, phone and driver's license #. If we're not at the owner's home, but at a parking lot or roadside, I will record every detail including VIN and the driver's SHWEH.

If the driver can't produce an ID card, I ask if it's in their vehicle. If it's not in their vehicle, I find a co-worker or neighbor, or somebody else who can vouch for the driver and claim legal responsibility in case this really is a theft (I record that person's information and require them to co-sign).

I have only had one case where a girl forgot her driver's license at home, and her co-worker was kind enough to vouch for her. If I ever get a call in the middle of nowhere and the customer has no ID, I will call the police for assistance in running the plates.

I have yet to ask for the vehicle's registration. I guess I'm too trusting in that respect, but I feel the sheer amount of information I gather is enough to scare off any car thief. Besides, how many thieves go around looking for cars with keys on the seat-- then pay a locksmith to get them out.

If the lockout is at a home, I will only open the door if they can produce an ID card with the matching home address. If they do not have their ID handy, or if the ID card looks damaged or forged, I will ask a neighbor to identify the customer. Entering homes may be easier than cars, but it's harder to verify a home owner than it is a vehicle owner, so it's important you don't let just anyone into the home. Once that door closes, they are fortified and have assumed firepower and freedom to rape or murder anyone inside. You have to be cautious. I always record full customer details with home re-entries.

Here are my invoices. Feel free to model your invoices off mine, but do not steal them.

http://www.lockwiki.com/misc/sample-invoices.pdf

[Devs]

I run on an inverted price schedule: (all prices very by call location and my mood ) Auto/residental $45-50 Night Rate $80-85 Day Rate, Commercial $60-65 night rate $80 Day Rate, $60-65 Large trucks (semi-trucks or really tall pickups caus I'm short) Flat Rate. Lock Repair call get tricky $ 20 callout charge + parts cost. Keys cut on site $5 for the first $3.50 for each added. No weekend or holiday charges set. Discounts for: Military, Students (who don't seem to have much money), if you don't seem to have much money at all (when they have to choose between geting into their car or having food for the week It's better to take what they can give than watch them break their window and get nothing at all. ) , Or if i happen to like you.

I have the best night rates around because I'm all ready awake. But, my day rates can be beat with no contest. My truck rates oddly enough can't be beat by my competetors. I started this busniess so I can do what I love, help people in need and to live my noctunal lifestyle with out a possiblity a sudden shift change.

Do what you enjoy for a living and enjoy life! -Dev

[Magic]

....anyway quoted the lockout fee over the phone , turn up on site do the entry! to then be told by an angry builder i'm not paying that it only took you a few minutes!!....

Is it worth taking payment upfront? (having assessed the situation and coming to the conclusion that the job is "do-able").

[Shrub]

You can try,

[Raccoon]

You only take payment after the work is completed. This is partly because people who forget their keys in their car, often forgot their purse (as most lockouts tend to be women). But mainly because I don't believe in taking people's money until I have completed a job. If I were to break a window, or cause some minor damage, I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting payment, and it would be awkward handing cash or a check back. If you accept credit card payment, this gets even messier.

I like your inverted lockout rates, Devs. I too have the same goal in life-- to live the nocturnal dream. I'd love it to wake up at 8PM and fall asleep around Noon. I have the most energy when I do this, and I feel I live life at its fullest. Once I locate to a place where business is steady and overflowing, I think I'll do the same!

My non-lockout customers also get a real kick when I show up to do work in the evening. Not as late as 8PM, but at 6PM when the heat has died down and people are relaxed, they tend to be more pleasant to work for and really appreciate that "I could come out at this hour". I'd be willing to hang doors at 2AM if there was a demand for it.

[I Pik U]

We charge $85 for a service call, residential or commercial, 1st half hour to 45 minutes. Then it's $45 an hour after that, plus parts and tax. We do not do vehicle lock outs. This is during daytime. We've just started offering night time service, and rate the call depending on location, starting at approx. $125.

i'm not paying that it only took you a few minutes!!....

This is one of the reasons we quit doing vehicle lock outs.


I also use a form that must be filled out by the customer who requires lockout service. Although in one situation where I let a lady and her one child into a house and she had ID for the residence backfired. As I was in my truck making a key to the front door lock, another lady comes by and asks what I'm doing. After explaining to her I helped the home owner into her home, the second lady states I should not have done that. I told her I have no ides who she is, where as the first lady had ID showing the address of the home. There even were toys and clothes about I could tell belonged to the child. The second lady tells me not to give the key to the first one, while she calls the police. Thinking I want to get paid for my work, I finish making keys (she said she lost hers) reinstall the lock and give her a non working set of keys (keeping the real keys for myself) and settle up the invoice. I then wait for the Police to show up.
Turns out there's a split in the marriage and the first lady is not supposed to have access. She is given permission to grab some clothes, etc. I hand the keys over to the Police officer and am on my way.
I did recieve business from the husband after that day to put in a high security lock system, and he has been a customer for a few years now.

[Pahaseta]

We charge 70€--> on automotive entry depending on the distance and time. We don´t open house doors.

The best one of those customers who complain on the price was a surgeon who moaned that I make more money than him!

[bonez]

men in white coats hey

[Raccoon]

I don't know why you wouldn't open homes (any building doors? businesses too?), as they tend to be easier than vehicle openings.

I could be wrong though. We don't have lever locks or a wide selection of residential locks to mess with. Everyone has the same crappy kwikset installed.

[Bud Wiser]

I charge 1 six pack (cold) for auto or home, no questions asked. If it's a female, pay can be negotiated. But I'm not a locksmith, oops, so I probably shouldn't be doing this. DANG! Sorry. But you still owe me a cold 6 pack!