How I got scammed

[completia]

So, I got scammed today.

A customer calls, he locked himself out. Alright. I arrive there, he signs the paper and accept the cost- $65 - and I start lockpicking. Of course the lock is superbly easy to open, although I take my time to choose my tools and open the lock. Nothing infuriates a customer more than a lock I open in 15 seconds. It seems to them it was too easy and that anyone could have done it.

So I open the door, I give him the receipt, he shakes my hand and get in. I am bad at dealing with money, so it goes something like this:

ME: Excuse me, sir?
HIM: What?
ME: Could you please take care of the receipt, please?
HIM: Hahaha, why would I need to do that, now that the door is open?

As he closes the door I clearly hear him mutter "dumbass". There I am, alone, in front of a closed door, with a paper with a useless signature on it. What am I supposed to do, sue him? For $65? Come on, there is nothing I can do. Throw eggs at his door? Change the lock on his door while he sleeps?

So I got scammed. I lost nearly 30 minutes of travel time as well as fuel and transport cost. And there's nothing I can do.

Solutions? Ideas?

[freakparade3]

Call the police. It's called "theft of services" he will either pay or be arrested. He's going to pay you.

freakparade3

[barbarian]

Live and learn. Get the money first. Tell them when they first call that you have been ripped off before.

No money, then don't open the door.

[freakparade3]

Live and learn. Get the money first. Tell them when they first call that you have been ripped off before.

No money, then don't open the door.

It's very unprofessional to demand payment first. What if you can't get the door open? You like like an idiot.

[jimb]

Call the police. It's called "theft of services" he will either pay or be arrested. He's going to pay you.

freakparade3

Been there, done that. It's a theft of services in some areas, but not all. It is a civil mater in my area
and you would have to take him to court to get paid.

[thelockpickkid]

here is what you do when you open a car door for a customer, you make them first sign your liability waver, then you open the door, relock it and stand with half your body in the door, ask for your money, if the person resists or starts giving you a story, close the fricken door and leave!

[FarmerFreak]

Usually the customers money is inside whatever they are locked out of (house/car). So standing in the door way would prevent them from being able to pay you.

And yes when this type of problem happens it sucks. If it is a vehicle lock out you will normally know where the keys are before opening. In which case get the keys before the customer can, I'm always extra cautious of the customer if they keep telling me they are in a really really big hurry. In some of those cases I have actually asked the customer to stand back before I open the door, it may not be the most professional, but it will keep them from jumping in and driving away.

On a house lock out, I guess if you wanted to you could walk inside. I probably wouldn't though. I would call the police.

And if it an after hours lock out. It seems that most of the locksmiths in my area (myself included), will require a credit card up front before we even leave. For some reason there are more scammers locked out at night. Sometimes I feel bad for the customers though, the honest people are the ones that suffer because of a few dishonest people.

[straightpick]

Been there, done that. It's a theft of services in some areas, but not all. It is a civil mater in my area
and you would have to take him to court to get paid.

If it is a civil matter, file against him in small claims court. A small filing fee gets it on the docket and if he doesn't show up in court, a judgement is entered against him.(you win) This will go on his credit records, his credit gets trashes, rates go up, trouble getting loans, etc. Then you sic the bill collectors on him. A lot of grief for a small fee and maybe you will be teaching him a lesson.

[completia]

Thank you all for your advice. I have spoken with a financial advisor in my family and will call the person and deposit charges at the police office. The police doesn't really like doing that kind of stuff but my advisor told me it was the best solution (police never like to be bothered, especially for $65, can't blame them, they are very very busy).

Just for future referrence:

-You can take it to small claims. If you win, he will have to pay the court's fee. Since he has no proof he paid - no receipt - you will without any doubt win. He can however refuse to pay you and if that happens there is very little you can do, sadly, especially for such small amounts.
-Collections agencies won't care of such insignificant amounts.
-Police are very busy, but report it as theft. The signature of the guy is the proof he hired you. Even if you don't get your money, he will be labeled as a thieft in police's files.
-DON'T break his windows or throw eggs or do some stupid stuff BOTH because it can get you in trouble and because it's pointless: it won't make the person pay you.
-DO call the person, write to him, try to reason him.
-DO threaten to call the other businesses in town and let them know what happened. It will put some pressure on him.
-DO refuse any locksmith to that person in the future.
-DO threaten to add flyers in his neighborhood. We'll see how he reacts and this is legal since what you are giving people is true.

Hope it helps, and thank you again for your help. Perhaps I gave you some ideas!

[jerrasis]

All of that sounds great, and unfortunately for a revenge thing all you can do is flyer his neighborhood. Talk to his neighbors too.

[Legion303]

As he closes the door I clearly hear him mutter "dumbass".

Ironic considering he's the fully competent genius who locked himself out of his own house.

-steve

[n2oah]

The police doesn't really like doing that kind of stuff but my advisor told me it was the best solution (police never like to be bothered, especially for $65, can't blame them, they are very very busy).

That's not any way to think. The police are here to SERVE us. You shouldn't care if "they don't like it". It is THEIR duty to serve us.

[Safety0ff]

Just for future referrence:
...
Hope it helps, and thank you again for your help. Perhaps I gave you some ideas!

Thanks, those are good suggestions!

[completia]

Just for future referrence:
...
Hope it helps, and thank you again for your help. Perhaps I gave you some ideas!

Thanks, those are good suggestions!

The customer finally paid me - I didn't have to pay a cent to file form or I didn't even have to call the police. I didn't use violence or break the law neither. If you'd like to know how I did it please PM me.

[freakparade3]

The customer finally paid me - I didn't have to pay a cent to file form or I didn't even have to call the police. I didn't use violence or break the law neither. If you'd like to know how I did it please PM me.

Why would you ask for PM's to reveal the end result of a thread that you started asking for help? Seems kinda pointless to me. Is is a ninja secret?