A pensioner in Ashford found herself locked out of her home in the dark and ended up paying a whopping £1,600 to a locksmith to get back in. Jayne Marney, 68, felt like she was taken advantage of by a “rogue trader” who charged her way more than other professionals would have for the same job.
After struggling to unlock her front door, Jayne called an emergency locksmith out of desperation. The locksmith quickly arrived and got to work, but Jayne was shocked when he presented her with a bill for £1,599.60. Feeling like she had no choice, she paid up, only to later discover that she had been overcharged.
Feeling frustrated, Jayne made a complaint to Trading Standards and sought quotes from other locksmiths, all of whom were appalled by the price she had been charged. One locksmith even came out to inspect the work and confirmed that the mechanism the original locksmith claimed to have replaced had not been changed at all.
Despite her ordeal, Jayne hopes that sharing her story will prevent others from falling victim to similar scams. Trust 24/7 Locksmith, the company Jayne used, has yet to respond to inquiries about the incident. Other customers have also reported negative experiences with the company, warning others to steer clear.
While Jayne may not get her money back, she is determined to raise awareness and protect others from being ripped off by unscrupulous traders. Let’s hope her story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone in need of locksmith services.