Locksmith Fob Replacement review: Them to pay for tow to the dealership

I called Locksmith - Budget Lock and Key listed # [protected]

Spoke to the office service who had someone call me back in about 15 minutes. Took a call from "Simon" (saved his number in my phone as guy from locksmith) shortly after, who advised they would be to my address around 10. I text the number that he called from shortly after, to let them know to pull into the driveway as I pulled the Car out to the road, so my husband can take the other car to work.

Three people showed up to my home shortly after 10 in 2 vans. One van pulled into the driveway and the other pulled on the other side of the driveway (in front of my car). As I noticed them outside, my phone started ringing... (same # that I already had saved as "guy 2 from locksmith". I went out, the "Simon" guy introduced himself to me and the other younger guy said his name was Johnny. The 3rd guy just kind of smiled and didn't say or do much, he was mostly playing on his phone. Simon explained that the amount of the fob (key) would be determined by what the car reads off but normally just the FOB would be about $180 and the FOB with the key that pops out, would be around $280 but he will know for sure, once the guy gets the reading off the car. Johnny goes in the car and hooks the laptop thingy to the car, they speak in their language and then tell me that the FOB alone would be $220 and FOB with Key pop out would be $320. I called my husband to discuss which we should go with and we decided the one with the key that pops out.

I went inside to work, Laptop is on the kitchen table, I'm sitting by the window facing the front of the house so I see everything.

For the first 15 minutes into this ordeal they are in my driveway crouched down on the ground doing something but I realized that it is about 90 outside and I don't have any bottled water to offer the three but I did share some gatorade as it is hot out there. When I bring them it out to them, Simon explains that they are just cutting the key. I return inside and back to the table where my laptop is and continue working on my modules and watching as the 2, Johnny and Simon, go in and out of the car. Another perhaps 20 minutes pass when I go outside and Simon is sitting in the car with the computer thing on his lap. I ask if there is a problem. He says NO. He says the car went into "theft mode" but this happens and it will not be a problem, they just have to bypass it. I asked if I should panic. He says NO and laughs. He point to Johnny and says "He panics but for no reason, we will take care of this". I start walking away again and hear them talking in their language, this time however they spoke with more force or base if you will. I returned to same spot to work at my table in front of the window. Another 20 minutes or so I notice they have the hood up on the car and the 3rd guy now has his van pulled up all the way in front of my car and has jumper cables going to my car. I go outside. I ask what are they doing. "Johnny" says that the car doesn't have any power and before he could say anything else he is opening the fuse box... I walk past him to "Simon" who says that the computer doesn't have enough power so they have to fully charge it. He then goes to say that there is no way that this car has been drivable. I said, the car was absolutely drivable. He says "we'll see"... then says "this should not take so long but let me see if this will work". I go back in the house again in front of the window, but not working anymore... just watching. This goes on for another 15 minutes or so with both Johnny and Simon going in and out of the car as well as putting the cables on and removing them. I went to rest room when I hear the doorbell.

I go outside to see if they were done and the 3rd guy is removing cables and putting in his van, while "Simon" tells me to "come here" and begins to say that I could've saved them the last 2 hours if I would've told them what was wrong with the car to begin with. When the car is in _ mode, it will not work. He motions me to look under the hood where I see a small orange pokey looking tool.. He says "This here" and points to the fuse box, "clearly someone tried to remove or switch out this fuse" and points to the orange tool. I interrupted him and stated that the car was perfectly drivable before they arrived and explained that I had moved it earlier in the morning. He said "Well, you could have put it in Neutral to move it, I don't know". His voice is getting louder and more aggressive. as he motions to Johnny to give him the keys. He closes my hood and walks to the driveway where his van was and starts arranging his tool box and tells me that I owe them $150.00 for running the diagnostics and I can pay him Cash App, Venmo or Zelle. I asked him for my keys, he again says that I wasted their time and I am insisting the only thing wrong with the car was the darn Fob's buttons were gone and I couldn't 't se the alarm. He cuts me off and states that he is not going to charge me for the key they cut since it doesn't work but again asks if I'm paying him via Cash App, Venmo or Zelle. I ask again for my keys. He hands them to me as I'm walking up the driveway, he is walking closely up the driveway with me. I can't see my screen on my phone due to the sun so walking to the porch. He then gets uncomfortably close and repeats that I owe him $150.00 for the diagnostic and I can pay him Cash App, Venmo or Zelle. I asked him for a business card and / or Invoice for what they did... they start talking in their language as I dial the police department as I felt a report needed to be made since now there is something wrong with the care AND they now have a copy of the key to my car.

As soon as the police department answered, I was making my way to the door to get in my home and Simon heard me asking for a police officer. I walked into the house and immediately they got into the 2 vans and left, the white van even went down the wrong way on the one way.

I have since called the office number along with the 2 numbers they have called me from numerous times to try to get this rectified. The office tells me that someone will call me back but no one does. Johnny's number, he hangs up as soon as he hears my voice and Simon # he says I have the wrong number but I don't... I saved the numbers as they called me initially.