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Shoddy locksmith — Brooklynian

Shoddy locksmith

brooklynpotter
brooklynpotter
edited November -1 in Park Slope
well, i locked my keys in my car... and i called AAA and they called a company named ALL BROOKLYN LOCKSMITH. i googled them, they're on flatbush. they are, apparently, AAA's brooklyn locksmith. (altho`, if i have anything to do with it, not much longer)

locksmith called me, said that because my make and model it would be harder to get into my car, ergo $31 more than the $50 AAA reimburses, so i would owe him the rest. (this isn't uncommon, if it were true)

an HOUR later some lackey arrives that the locksmith has sent. he has a chisel and a giant piece of wire, not unlike a coat hanger. he uses chisel to pry open door wide enough to get the coat hanger in, and unlocks my car. then i pay him. (because i am a moron...)

i called AAA, and they are working to get my $$ back. hell, i should have opened up the damned car myself with a chisel and a coat hanger.

ergo, if you lock your keys out of your car and you call AAA, don't let them send over all brooklyn locksmith. because they're cheating assholes.

i'm just saying.

Comments

  • lisajank123
    lisajank123
    I'm not sure what you were expecting to happen here. I have called AAA for locking my keys in once before (many years ago) and they came with a long piece of metal (a slim jim, I think it's called) and jammed it in next to the window.

    They came, they got you into your car. It doesn't sound like you could have done it yourself, or you would have, right?

    What exactly is it that you're objecting to? The tool they used? I'm thinking "who cares? As long as it works and didn't do any damage".
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    i'm objecting to the fact that the locksmith was a gonuff. he, himself, didn't come--he said he was sending another locksmith and sent some kid with a coat hanger. kid didn't need the "special tools" he told AAA he needed, which is why there was a higher price.

    essentially, he has a contract with AAA, and gets XX per call. he can sit back and collect that steady stream of money by pretending cars need "extra" tools to get into, then sending out some lackey to get into them and pocket the cash. he wins, the lackey wins.

    i'm all about paying for good service, for extra service. but i pay AAA for a reason, to make things easier in emergencies. this guy screwed me and AAA (who agreed with me, BTW).
  • meanderthal
    meanderthal

    Subject: Re: Shoddy locksmith

    brooklynpotter wrote: ... he has a chisel and a giant piece of wire, not unlike a coat hanger. he uses chisel to pry open door wide enough to get the coat hanger in
    I'm with you on this one. They didn't send a locksmith, they sent a sanctioned vandal. If a thief can pick a lock, surely a locksmith can, and without damaging the finish. Didn't your car get a boo boo from that chisel? If so, drop that in AAA's lap too.
  • livetotravel
    livetotravel
    careful - it could be bad karma to call some hard-working kid a lackey
  • lp1378
    lp1378
    Well, I might agree about the extra charges, but as far as who gets paid for what, I know that a lot of work is sub-contracted out and I wouldn't really care so much about that as long as the job got done and in a timely manner.

    If AAA agreed with you, what did they offer to do about it?
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    Flexichick wrote: Well, I might agree about the extra charges, but as far as who gets paid for what, I know that a lot of work is sub-contracted out and I wouldn't really care so much about that as long as the job got done and in a timely manner.

    If AAA agreed with you, what did they offer to do about it?
    i filed a complaint with AAA and told them i wanted my $$ back. that i felt that we had both been scammed. they said that they agreed with me and gave me a case #, are filing a report, and are calling me tomorrow with answers.

    i'm not saying i mind who gets paid, but i'm not much into getting cheated. (and i would hazard a guess that if they treat their AAA customers this way, it's not too long a jump to think they might be cheating AAA.)

    i already pay AAA for my service, if i'm paying extra there should be an actual reason for the extra charge other than a company trying to cheat vulnerable people (who have locked themselves out of cars)
  • nyscof
    nyscof
    Well, at least it sounds like AAA is taking the right steps to investigate. If you put the charges on your credit card, you can call and dispute those as well.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    Flexichick wrote: Well, at least it sounds like AAA is taking the right steps to investigate. If you put the charges on your credit card, you can call and dispute those as well.
    '
    there wasn't a credit card option...

    the more i think about it, it just becomes shadier. (but, at least now i know how to break into my car...)
  • steve
    steve
    First of all, it sure sounds like BP got ripped off, and I hope you get your money back from AAA. It's a shame you gave it to them in the first place, but it sounds like one of those in the moment blunders people make when they are stressed.

    However, all this hostility should be directed at All Brooklyn's Mgmt, not the guy who came into the field. He's not a lackey or a sanctioned vandel. I'm a little shocvked at the vitriol.

    Back in my car owning days, I locked myself out several times. The only time a slimjim or something similar to what BP described wasn't used, the guy made a key based on the lock, I think out of plastic. It was impressive but it was 15 years ago so the details are sketchy.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    steve wrote: He's not a lackey or a sanctioned vandel. I'm a little shocvked at the vitriol.
    i think i'd be a tad suspect if i got a job that involved driving to cars where people have been locked out, then break in "officially" with a coat hanger and a chisel. don't you think?

    i mean, of course it's the company's fault, no question there. but the job this kid is sent to do is more than a little shady.
  • steve
    steve
    brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=steve]He's not a lackey or a sanctioned vandel. I'm a little shocvked at the vitriol.
    i think i'd be a tad suspect if i got a job that involved driving to cars where people have been locked out, then break in "officially" with a coat hanger and a chisel. don't you think?

    i mean, of course it's the company's fault, no question there. but the job this kid is sent to do is more than a little shady.

    I don't think it's a "tad suspect" actually. Based on what you've said, he seems to have done his job well enough. The only crime here seems to be by the manager/dispatcher. Personally, I would have taken it up with him once I saw it play out, but I love confrontation when I feel like I'm right.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    well, i'll keep you posted after i speak with AAA tomorrow. :roll:
  • steve
    steve
    coolio. you know I have a client whose an ace locksmith, I'm going to mention it to him, I'm curious what he says.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    i'd love to hear what he has to say as well.

    and, note to self: keep valet key in wallet.
  • grandzu
    grandzu
    Toyota gave me a credit card key in case I lock my keys in the car. Its a credit card with a metal filler so the dealer cuts a key out of the plastic. I just keep it in my wallet and it just opens the drivers side door.
    Some keysmiths can make a key like that. Look into it.
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