Locksmith under fire for charging elderly woman $80 despite cancelled service

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 helped retrieve it, and they managed to open the door.

The neighbour, 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.

When the locksmith arrived, however, he demanded the full $80. According to the neighbour, 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?"

The neighbour responded that he was offering a 24-hour service.

The "auntie" asked if he could at least check her door's lock, but the neighbour 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,'" the neighbour 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 the neighbour 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.