Locked out and ripped off: How one Estero senior fought back against a $650 locksmith bill and won

ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) - For Beth Reurink, a simple trip to take out the trash ended in a $650 nightmare.

Locked out of her Estero condo on a Friday evening in January, with her phone locked inside, she had a friend call the first locksmith they could find.

What followed was less than 10 minutes of work that resulted in a bill nearly 5 times the industry average and a discovery of how little regulation locksmiths face in Florida. 

The $650 Lockout

Beth said the technician arrived in an unmarked car, armed only with two screwdrivers and a drill. After drilling through her lock, without replacement, he presented Reurink with a bill for $649.99.

The breakdown included:

• $399.00 for the service call

• $100.00 for the use of a drill

• $150.00 "after-hours" surcharge

"I could have bought a new door for the cost of the service call," Reurink told Chief WINK Investigates Reporter Chorus Nylander.

The 'Wild West' of Florida Locksmithing

While Reurink’s bill was staggering, it wasn’t illegal. Chief WINK Investigates: Reporter Chorus Nylander uncovered a "startling reality": Florida has no state licensing or regulatory requirements for locksmiths.

"It’s wide, wide open," said Barry Roberts, attorney for the Associated Locksmiths of America. 

According to Roberts, scammers thrive on the anonymity provided by a lack of state oversight. Efforts to pass a regulation in the Florida legislature have repeatedly failed, leaving the door open for anyone with a drill to claim professional status.

Ray Greenlaw, a second-generation locksmith, called Reurink's bill "outrageous." He noted that a similar job should typically cost between $125 and $150.

"It hurts that there’s no license, because anybody can go out there and claim to be a professional locksmith," Greenlaw said.

WINK Listens: Getting Results

After Reurink’s attempts to contact the company for a refund went ignored, WINK Investigates stepped in. When questioned about the pricing, the company owner initially defended the $650 charge, citing the time frame on Friday evening. He said that if the call came in on a Monday, it would probably have been $200. 

However, following WINK’s involvement, the technician returned to Reurink’s home—not to fix a lock, but to hand-deliver $450 in cash. Because the company made the overcharge right, WINK Investigates is not identifying the business.

"It would not have happened without you," Reurink said. "Thank you for your help."

How to Protect Yourself

Experts like Greenlaw and Roberts say that because the state doesn't vet locksmiths, the burden of due diligence falls entirely on the homeowner. To avoid being taken advantage of, follow these steps:

• Vetting in Advance: Don't wait for an emergency. Find a reputable, local locksmith with a physical address now and save their number in your phone.

• Demand a Quote: Always ask for a verbal or written quote over the phone before the technician is dispatched.

• Check the Vehicle: Reputable locksmiths usually drive marked vans or trucks with company branding.

• Beware of "Starting at" Prices: Low-ball lead-in prices (e.g., "$15 service calls") are often a red flag for a "bait-and-switch" scheme.

That’s advice Reurink said she wishes she had followed.

“In retrospect, I wish I had gotten a verbal quote or written quote before they came to do the work,” she said. 

If you have a story that you would like WINK Investigates to look into, email us at winkinvestigates@winknews.com