Locksmith charge

[Rosemarie9]

Just wanted some advice. Guests came home Friday night and managed to twist and break key in my studio door. As the key was well and truly stuck in the lock, I had to call a locksmith and was charged 120 euro. The locksmith said the lock barrel is totally functional and it was the guest twisting the key in the wrong direction, with force that resulted in the key breaking. This guest had trouble listening to my instructions when I showed him earlier in the stay. No other guests have done this before, literally hundreds of stays with no problem. Should I claim the whole or part off the guest? Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Rosemarie9  You need a receipt from your locksmith and it would be great if he would write down on it what he has done and why the key broke ( same as you wrote in your post)

Then file a damage claim and if your guest ignores it or decline, involve Airbnb

[Rosemarie9]

Thanks for the advice, just sent the claim in. Hopefully they will cough up the money.

[Yadira22]

@Rosemarie9 Also with this type of guests it helps to not only physically show them but have them do it themselves- here, you are able to see what is going wrong. 

It also takes into account that people learn in different manners... but yes to the advice given above. Good luck to you 🙂

[Rosemarie9]

Hi Yadira,

Yes, I show each guest how to lock the door. The funny thing is I got him to do it himself twice on the first night as he was not really getting it. He unfortunately was one of those guests who does not listen properly, and then rushes you on when you are trying to explain something. He and his wife were just difficult. I felt better when the locksmith determined that it was him and not the lock at fault, like the guest had insinuated. In fact he was whinging to the locksmith who then told him flat out he was forcing the key in the wrong way. This was after he had just fished it out and we gave him the spare key. So he didn't like listening to instructions from a man not just a "simple" woman like me! You know the type, nothing is their fault ever.