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December 3, 2007
High Tech Lock & Security
This is the worst locksmith I've dealt wiht. I needed a repair on my intercom system for a four story brownstone. I called High Tech and was told that a service call would cost $60.00 for the call, plus parts. At no time was I informed of any labor charges. The "technician" arrived, fixed the intercom in 35 minutes using no new parts, then wanted to leave my intercom box hanging off the wall with wires exposed. I told him to put everything back the way he found it. the total job took 90 minutes and I was hit with a bill for $369.00. At no time prior to his completing the call was I told of this outrageous price. A call to the company knocked $100.00 off the bill, but a $100.00 per hour labor charge that I was not informed of is a complete ripoff. Worse than that, I noticed their web site and invoices do not give a physical address for the company. Perhaps today I am the example of "live and learn". I'm disputing the charge with my credit card company and have a call in to the Better Business Bureau. I will never call this "company" again. Does anyone know a reputable intercom service company I could call in the future?
Comments
Sorry for a couple of typos in my post, most importantly the cost of the service call was $69.00, not $60.
Posted by: Brownstone Dweller at December 3, 2007 3:03 PM
Hi,
I run a small business that does intercom wiring so I can add a little bit to this conversation. I'm not hoping to win your business so I'm not including my contact info.
Their price ($100 per hour plus parts plus $69 for the service call --in other words "$69 for showing up") is competitive with the industry. Before I setup my business I did a lot of research into what the market will bear and I can tell you that their fee is in the middle of the range. I've seen companies that charge as much as $150/hour for intercom work.
Didn't it sound odd to you that they were going to fix it for $69 before even looking at it? Right there, you should have asked for clarification.
I would like to know how they got to $369 though. By my mind, you should have been charged $269 not $369.
I think the lesson here is: "service call charge" means "you are going to be charged a certain amount when someone shows up before anything actually happens" and not "we're going to fix it for this amount".
I hope this brings no angry responses from anyone. Remember, I don't have a pony in this race.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 5:43 PM
To the respondent who does intercom wiring, thank you for the information.
No, I did not expect them to fix my intercom for $69. I knew there would be charges over and above the initial service call fee. What I didn't know was how much those charges would add up to. I expected to be told the price and/or labor charges in advance. It's possible that I asked one too few questions. I am an exterminator. When I have a client they are told of any possible charges prior to the start of service. My clients know in advance what they are getting and how much it will cost.
High Tech did a 35 minute job shoddily, thinking they would leave the wires on the outside box exposed. The "technician" even suggested I hire my handyman to reattach the outside intercom box.
I have no idea how High Tech got to $369, without tax. When I "hit the roof" and only then did they drop the price to $269 plus sales tax.
Posted by: Brownstone Dweller at December 3, 2007 6:14 PM
I dealt with the same locksmith. I locked my keys in my apartment, so their technician had to drill out the cylinder, in the process of which he mangled the lock so badly that he had to replace a new one. He refused to tell me how much it would cost, which I should have taken as a bad sign right there, then hit me with a bill for, get ready, $1637.42! Cash only, of course.
Do not, do not, do not use this locksmith. He threatened me with his buddy from the Israeli army when I told him I wasn't going to pay two thousand dollars for 45 minutes of work.
Posted by: guest at December 30, 2007 1:41 PM
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