No one would have known that she would later suddenly remember she had a spare key. They prolly thought they had to resort to a locksmith liao at that point in time.
Same thing happening in mrt. Don’t give up seat look at hp what can you do besides online shaming with one sided stories
$30-40 max for transport as a reasonable amount.
no use brain, no patience & also dont wanna pay can blame who?
If heng then can use nail clipper to take the broken key out
no use brain, no patience & also dont wanna pay can blame who?
Bravo, digital lock...
Fact is that if already stated before hand, then pay for it.
she cant rem, neighbor also cant rem. beri sad
Wah, this kind of situation really damn heart pain to read. Imagine elderly already stressed, probably locked out or confused, then kena scolded and asked to pay $80 even though the service was cancelled?? That’s not just unprofessional — it’s just heartless. Locksmith or any service provider should have basic empathy, especially towards seniors. If there’s a cancellation fee, say so nicely lah, don’t go full rage mode. No need to intimidate people to get payment. Respect goes both ways, even in business. Hopefully someone stepped in to help her, and authorities take a closer look at such cases. Elderly really need more protection from this kind of nonsense.Jul 11, 2025, 12:00pm
Elderly woman left in tears by 'angry' locksmith who demanded $80 payment despite cancelled service
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PHOTO: CHERYL SEE/FACEBOOK
2,901
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Ivan Lim
TNP
July 11, 2025
An elderly woman who was accidentally locked out of her home ended up in tears after a locksmith demanded $80 in payment - even though his services were ultimately not needed.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 10 after the woman realised her key had broken, and she was unable to unlock her door.
A helpful neighbour called a locksmith, but while waiting, the woman remembered she had a spare key in her bag that was inside the flat. Using a long stick, another neighbour, Cheryl See, helped retrieve it, and they managed to open the door.
Ms See, who shared the encounter in a public Facebook group, Complaint Singapore, said she called the locksmith to cancel the job. However, the elderly woman - whom she affectionately referred to as "auntie" - said she would still pay for his petrol.
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When the locksmith arrived, however, he demanded the full $80. According to Ms See, he "looked really angry".
When asked to be more understanding of the elderly woman's plight and feelings, he reportedly retorted: "Wouldn't you be angry if someone called you at 7am?"
Ms See responded that he was offering a 24-hour service.
The "auntie" asked if he could at least check her door's lock, but Ms See said he ignored her request.
"After he left, I saw auntie quietly wiping her tears and saying, 'It's okay, he wants it, just give it to him,'" Ms See wrote in her post. "My heart ached so much at this moment."
Her post drew over 700 reactions and more than 300 comments at press time. It was shared over 600 times.
Netizens criticise locksmith's behaviour
Many commenters criticised the locksmith's behaviour, saying he should have been more empathetic and that a smaller fee - such as $20 or $30 - would have been more reasonable.
Locksmiths in Singapore typically charge between $50 and $120 for a standard lockout service, depending on the type of lock, with digital locks potentially costing more.
"80 bucks for doing nothing? Could have written it off or given a huge discount. Angry for waking up at 7am when offering a 24-hour service? Might as well close shop!" said a user named X-lynge Lynge.
Another commenter, Bobby G Singh, said: "Thank you for sharing this, it truly broke my heart reading it. No one deserves to be treated that way, especially elders who have already given so much of their lives. Auntie showed so much grace and dignity despite being mistreated."
However, some users defended the locksmith, saying he was not completely wrong to have asked for compensation.
"I believe it's fair that someone gets paid something for their time, effort, and travel - especially if they've made the trip out," said Scott Maier.
"But charging the full $80 call-out fee without actually doing any meaningful checks or work feels unreasonable. It's not about age or income; it's about fairness and professionalism. If you're charging a fee, there should be a minimum standard of service. Sadly, some 24-hour trades can take advantage of urgency, so it's always worth asking upfront about costs and what's included."
Others, like commenter with the username Alvin Alvin, urged for empathy from both sides.
He felt that the auntie and her neighbours had to put themselves in the shoes of the locksmith, who would have been frustrated to have made the trip for nothing.
"Just let him vent his frustration (and) remove this post. It is unfair to the locksmith," he added.
Another, Ros Foo, said: "Already prepared to engage his services and he makes the effort to come - should pay…he is just making a living....both also poor thing."
Some netizens even offered to donate money to the woman, but Ms See said the auntie declined.
"She just hopes to use this platform to remind everyone to stay cautious and vigilant - let's help prevent this from happening to someone else," she said.
why they never call back to cancel , when they found the spare keys ?Jul 11, 2025, 12:00pm
Elderly woman left in tears by 'angry' locksmith who demanded $80 payment despite cancelled service
1/2
PHOTO: CHERYL SEE/FACEBOOK
2,901
2
2
Ivan Lim
TNP
July 11, 2025
An elderly woman who was accidentally locked out of her home ended up in tears after a locksmith demanded $80 in payment - even though his services were ultimately not needed.
The incident occurred on the morning of July 10 after the woman realised her key had broken, and she was unable to unlock her door.
A helpful neighbour called a locksmith, but while waiting, the woman remembered she had a spare key in her bag that was inside the flat. Using a long stick, another neighbour, Cheryl See, helped retrieve it, and they managed to open the door.
Ms See, who shared the encounter in a public Facebook group, Complaint Singapore, said she called the locksmith to cancel the job. However, the elderly woman - whom she affectionately referred to as "auntie" - said she would still pay for his petrol.
Related Story
More related stories
When the locksmith arrived, however, he demanded the full $80. According to Ms See, he "looked really angry".
When asked to be more understanding of the elderly woman's plight and feelings, he reportedly retorted: "Wouldn't you be angry if someone called you at 7am?"
Ms See responded that he was offering a 24-hour service.
The "auntie" asked if he could at least check her door's lock, but Ms See said he ignored her request.
"After he left, I saw auntie quietly wiping her tears and saying, 'It's okay, he wants it, just give it to him,'" Ms See wrote in her post. "My heart ached so much at this moment."
Her post drew over 700 reactions and more than 300 comments at press time. It was shared over 600 times.
Netizens criticise locksmith's behaviour
Many commenters criticised the locksmith's behaviour, saying he should have been more empathetic and that a smaller fee - such as $20 or $30 - would have been more reasonable.
Locksmiths in Singapore typically charge between $50 and $120 for a standard lockout service, depending on the type of lock, with digital locks potentially costing more.
"80 bucks for doing nothing? Could have written it off or given a huge discount. Angry for waking up at 7am when offering a 24-hour service? Might as well close shop!" said a user named X-lynge Lynge.
Another commenter, Bobby G Singh, said: "Thank you for sharing this, it truly broke my heart reading it. No one deserves to be treated that way, especially elders who have already given so much of their lives. Auntie showed so much grace and dignity despite being mistreated."
However, some users defended the locksmith, saying he was not completely wrong to have asked for compensation.
"I believe it's fair that someone gets paid something for their time, effort, and travel - especially if they've made the trip out," said Scott Maier.
"But charging the full $80 call-out fee without actually doing any meaningful checks or work feels unreasonable. It's not about age or income; it's about fairness and professionalism. If you're charging a fee, there should be a minimum standard of service. Sadly, some 24-hour trades can take advantage of urgency, so it's always worth asking upfront about costs and what's included."
Others, like commenter with the username Alvin Alvin, urged for empathy from both sides.
He felt that the auntie and her neighbours had to put themselves in the shoes of the locksmith, who would have been frustrated to have made the trip for nothing.
"Just let him vent his frustration (and) remove this post. It is unfair to the locksmith," he added.
Another, Ros Foo, said: "Already prepared to engage his services and he makes the effort to come - should pay…he is just making a living....both also poor thing."
Some netizens even offered to donate money to the woman, but Ms See said the auntie declined.
"She just hopes to use this platform to remind everyone to stay cautious and vigilant - let's help prevent this from happening to someone else," she said.
