Apparently, living in a nice neighborhood adds $120 to the price.
I contacted Green Locks & Keys because my vehicle battery had died, leaving me completely unable to access my vehicle. Since the vehicle had no power, the key fob would not work, and I needed a locksmith to unlock the door so I could access the hood and address the dead battery.
Before anyone was dispatched, I explained exactly what was wrong. I told them the vehicle was completely dead, that the key fob was not working because the battery was dead, and that I needed the door unlocked. I also provided the make and model of the vehicle and asked for an approximate total beforehand so neither of us would waste time. Technician Louis told me the service would start around $55.
When Louis arrived, before performing any work, the price suddenly jumped to $175. When I asked why, he told me it was because the vehicle was dead, because it was a more expensive vehicle, and because I lived in a nice neighborhood.
That explanation made no sense. The fact that the vehicle was dead was not new information. That was the entire reason I called in the first place and was clearly disclosed before the estimate was given. The make and model of the vehicle had also already been provided. Nothing about the service request changed between the phone call and the technician’s arrival except that he physically saw my neighborhood.
What made the situation even more concerning was that after quoting $175, he offered to lower the price to $150 if I paid him directly through Zelle.
I declined the service, at which point I was told I still owed a $20 service call fee.
I then contacted customer service hoping they would address the issue. Instead, I was told that the original quote was only a starting price and that final pricing is determined once the technician arrives. However, if the vehicle being dead was supposedly a major factor in the higher price, that should have been reflected in the estimate from the beginning since they already knew that before dispatching the technician.
After this experience, I looked through reviews on other platforms and was genuinely shocked to find multiple customers describing situations that sounded nearly identical to mine. Several reviews alleged low initial quotes that increased dramatically upon arrival despite the company already having the relevant information beforehand.
I understand that final pricing can vary once a technician arrives. What I do not understand is how a quote increases from approximately $55 to $175 when all relevant details were provided upfront, especially when one of the reasons given was that I live in a nice neighborhood. I paid the $20 fee, received no service, and will not be using this company again.