This was the same Slough customer from Locksmith Slough 254, this time asking me to sort out the lower door lock. The door already had a code lock higher up, with a separate keyed lock further down.
From the initial description, I expected to replace the barrel because the lock was not working properly. Once on site and able to test everything properly, it became clear that the barrel itself was still working perfectly well. The actual problem was the sash lock case, so replacing a good barrel would have achieved nothing.
I explained that the job was different from what had originally been quoted and that the price therefore needed to change. The customer was happy to go ahead with the revised repair, so I replaced the failed lock case and kept the existing working barrel.
Having to re-quote after arriving is one of the parts of the job I dislike most because it can put both sides in an awkward position. Unfortunately, sometimes the real fault only becomes clear once the lock is tested and taken apart. In this case the correct repair was the lock case, not the cylinder, and the door was left working properly again.
