I am feeling extremely anxious after getting my locks in my condo changed. The estimate given by the co was low, but the final charges when they came and replaced the doorknob and deadbolt was shockingly high-the installation guy when he got there said it would XXX amount but after he finished, the bill was for 69$ more than the amount.
He had already switched the locks and even worse he asked me 4 times while he was writing the bill and inside my home, if I lived alone. I ignored his question all 4 times and changed the subject but it was creepy as heck. I honestly feared he was casing my place or was looking to rob it later. It just struck me as unusual because I never had any repairman ask me something even close to that before…
While it probably would bother people without OCd (I am only guessing) the whole experience (particularly extremely high unexpected cost, and the nosy questions) has me obsessing about whether my place is safe enough.
I assume it is (the locks are now new) but the whole thing (including paying by credit card which he had to call in to his co to process) made me also worry about overbilling, even though he gave me a receipt before leaving. Usually I would chat with a friend about this but I figure if I rehash this to other people. it will just knaw on my mind that much longer. I do not like such uncertainty and there is no way I want to deal with locksmith or such a person/co ever again.
Its like my OCD turns a situation that is probably stressful for normal people but puts my mind into overdrive. I am shaking my leg as I write this, something I only do when I am super nervous…I also have been ruminating what I could have done differently even though it is done with and my locks are changed…not sure if I will be able to get this off my head or if there is some technique to make me forget all this and think about something more pleasant…I worry that some of my friends may get sick of me going on about my problems, so I am trying to cope with this on my own and through writing this blog on OCDtribe:( This whole situation sort of reinforced my worse fears when it comes to letting someone I never met into my home (even if it is to replace something I cannot do myself) I had found that locksmith on bing search engine, so it really was a leap of faith on my part…very difficult to judge who is honest or not when it comes to this:( Well thanks for reading…
Maybe he was going to use the excuse "Well you live alone so any price to pay for saftey is worth it" after you answered that you did live alone? Perhaps it was just a sales tactic. But I agree with Cuppy, I would request to have the locks rekeyed free of charge.
Hi RandomGirl and guppy,
Thanks for the advice. I do not think they are a large nationwide co, and worry if I ask to have the locks rekeyed I will get charged again. It cost me $314 last time (outrageously high) but it was the charges they added on and did not disclose over the phone that made the difference. The whole thing was stressful and why the guy asked me 4 times if I lived alone was creepy but I guess not illegal? I did not tell him yes or no that I lived alone but ignored the question and changed subject.
I do not know the name of the guy sent so I may end up with the same person. I will look to see if there is some govt agency that deals with locksmith services, and see what they think…I kept the original lock and the box of the lock replacement because the guy offered to throw it away for me but I decided to be safe…The whole thing is unsettling and at least I know now that the interaction was unusual. Sometimes with my OCD I cannot tell if I am overblowing events or if anxiety is legit…I know the guy gave me 4 keys for the lock and perhaps if I check to see if that deadbolt and lockset only has 4 keys. If so would you still advise me to get it rekeyed? I found this co on bing search engine and had been looking for reviews of the co. but it was nearly impossible to find.
There are a lot of small locksmiths in S. FL, and the whole process to get a locksmith to come over was difficult. These people were the 3rd locksmith I called, after the first 2 never called back to inquire about my lock inquiry:(
Thank you both for your helpful comments. I appreciate your thoughts as I do not want to have made a mountain out of a mollhill (so to speak)
Best Wishes