Locksmith broke a piece inside the car door and damaged another part. Can he be held responsible?

Question

My husband lost the electronic key while out of town. He called a locksmith who came out and made him a new key but in the process broke the handle and locking mechanism to the tune of $380.00. The locksmith didn't want to give his insurance info. Don't they have to be bonded and insured to cover things like this and what recourse do we have?

Answer 1

He should pay for it if he doesn't want to give his insurance info.  

Your husband hired him to do the job so he is responsible for what he did.

Answer 2

Send him a certified letter demanding he pay the $380.00 and put a time limit on it, say 14 days.  Tell him in the letter if he has not submitted payment by the date of the fifteenth day you will file suit with your county's court house.  Include a self addressed envelope--you want to make it easy for him to pay you.  Often just sending a letter like this will get you what you want.

If no response file a claim with the better business bureau and file a claim in small claims court.  It's easy, just go to the local court house and ask what papers you need to fill out.  It will cost between $20 and $40 dollars to file the suit.  You can even demand he pay your court fees.

His defense will probably change to it was like that when I got there.  If you can get something from your dealer's quote indicating damage appears to be from the locksmith that would help your case.

I'd be careful with the ad the other person said to take out--that could be liable or slander.

Answer 3

Not all states require locksmiths to be bonded.  But if the locksmith

was a responsible person you would not be asking this question because he would have taken care of the repairs hiself.  Take out a

very small at in the local newpaper that says "contact me before hireing_____________________to do your locksmith work.  You might

get your day in court free, and get payed to do it.

Answer 4

well really its not hard to know if he broke he should fix it pretty easy answer.. turn it in to insurance and or sue him

Answer 5

use a .380 caliber Browning,or equivalent(.38 S&W)to coax the 380.00 out of him.