Top ten (or more) things that piss a locksmith off!

[npdaniels]

I get called to a auto lockout today, I'm about 30 KM away and tell the guy I'll be about 30 min. I arrive to find some CAA dude with his opening tool stuck in the door trying to open the lock. So the tell the guy next time don't bother to call me lol.

[nostromo]

I don;t know about Canadian law, but US law says that there are three elements: an offer, acceptance, and performance. For a breach there need to be damages. So he made you an offer to pay if you acted, you agreed, and you began to fulfill your part of the contract but were stopped by someone else in the way.

Your travel cost you lost opportunity, gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, etc. So you have damages.

Do you have something like a small claims court?

[npdaniels]

We have small claims but the process is brutal. Your paying money from the start and even if there’s a settlement the defendant does not have to pay unless you pay a collector to enforce payment. Our laws protect the bad guys in Canada. One of the reasons I got out of law. In the end I'm sure I would get my $65 bucks but it's not worth the lost time and effort.

[nostromo]

That's rough. It;s hard to walk away from things like that.

Have you seen http://www.liquidass.com [url]this[/url] stuff? It's too potent for practical jokes, so I reserve it for people that park in handicapped spaces.

[aussielocky]

At the end of the day write, an invoice and present it. If they don't pay it's a bad debt to write off against tax liability .....

[npdaniels]

Thanks for the advise. I think that's what i'm going to do.

Now thats one funny prank they pulled, fart spray the next dudes car who doesn't pay, I'm sold lol

[mtcrowe]

People in my area love playing the game of calling all the locksmiths they can get to answer the phone and just wait for whoever shows up first. It is a breach of verbal contract and they are required to pay you for appearing.

The only way I found to keep this from happening is telling them that you are finishing up a current job and that you will call when you are on your way (rather true or not). Wait 15 minutes and tell them that you are comming and should be there in X number of minutes. If they are going to find some other way to get into their vehicle or house it will happen in this time period and gives them a chance to back out without you having to waste gas and time.

[meastabrook]

i hate it when someone just hands over a lock and doesnt say anything, like he thinks i can read his mind and know whats wrong. like is it broken, need a key, need a rekey, etc.

[allamericanlock]

1. When a customer calls back after working on their lock and says its not working and you explain that youll come out and take a look but if it is user error than they have to pay the service call. Then they get mad because they think you think they are stupid and you come out and it is user error and they are pissed off because they have to pay the service call.

2. When you unlock a car and tell them the price and they say that it is too much to pay for someone who is an unskilled laborer.

3. When you do work at a liquor store and the owner tries to get a lower price after you already quoted a price before you come out. (just because he gave me a water to drink while i was working doesnt mean im going to lower the price.

4. When im rekeying a 14 lock house and the mother doesnt keep her kids on a leash and im spending all my time holding on to my tools and looking for parts that have gone missing.

[mhole]

1 & 4 are far, far too common!

I'd also like a penny for everytime I've asked 'Do you know what kind of lock it is?' and had the answer:

'Just a normal lock' .....Long pause whilst they try to recall some unique quality which will identify the kind of lock..... 'The kind you use with a key'.

Excellent, I know exactly which kind you mean, thanks for the clarification.

[meastabrook]

i hate it when doing an open up and the kids are asking what your doing and touching your tools

[79commando]

My pet hate is "I'm looking to do locksmithing part time can you tell me where to get work!" Like we need more part timers taking the work.

[globallockytoo]

My pet hate is "I'm looking to do locksmithing part time can you tell me where to get work!" Like we need more part timers taking the work.

Answer: That will be 20 quid extra, for the information

[thelockoutguys]

"Thats not how the last locksmith did it." Well Then get his F##king A$$ out here!

[Rickthepick]

Hooligans shouting from across the road 'mate can you open safes and stuff init?'

A large audience whilst picking a lock is always tough especially when you aint winning.

Fat arse bailiffs that talk waaaay too much BS

The price of Multipoint locks

Cold calls trying to sell me top spot on google

Robbing people blind (when i used to be a subby for Reactfast/Lockaid/Able)

...i could go on forever but its an exciting job that outweighs any of this