A locksmith offering 24-hour services has come forward to defend himself after being accused online of scolding an elderly customer who called for assistance at 7am. The incident, which occurred at Blk 701 Yishun Avenue 5, has sparked heated discussion online and drawn attention to issues around service expectations and social responsibility.
According to the original Facebook posts—now deleted—a woman claimed that her neighbour, an elderly auntie, was locked out of her home and had called for help. A separate neighbour reached out to the locksmith, who allegedly became angry upon arrival and demanded S$80 despite not performing any service.
The locksmith has since responded by filing a police report, saying the accusations were false, and that the online posts had led to personal harassment and disruption to his business.
Dispute Arises Over Fees and Customer Expectations
Screenshots of the Facebook post surfaced on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit, where the poster claimed she was assisting her elderly neighbour, who had broken her key while trying to open the gate. Before the locksmith arrived, they managed to retrieve a spare key from inside the flat using a long stick. They then contacted the locksmith to cancel the job.
However, the locksmith reportedly arrived shortly after and allegedly appeared upset, questioning why he was called so early. Despite being told his service was no longer needed, he demanded S$80 for the inconvenience. The elderly woman paid the sum, but the OP claimed he refused to even inspect the door, leaving her tearful.
The Facebook user shared the story to caution others about hiring unfamiliar service providers and urged the public to look out for the elderly, especially when money and emotional stress are involved.
Locksmith Responds: “False Accusations Damaging My Reputation”
In response, the locksmith posted on his business Facebook page, 新加坡开換锁服务Locksmith83880733, to address what he described as misleading and harmful accusations. He stated that he had already arrived at the block when the cancellation call came in and was simply following his company policy by requesting partial payment.
He claimed the original quote was S$120, which he had communicated clearly when the job was confirmed. He reduced the fee to S$80 out of goodwill and said the elderly woman had agreed to pay it, though the neighbour who made the post was unhappy with the charge.
Following the online backlash, the locksmith revealed that he had received numerous spam calls from both local and overseas numbers. He stressed that while he advertises his services as available 24/7, it does not mean cancellations can be made freely once he is en route.
Caution Urged for Both Customers and Service Providers
This case has sparked debate over how 24-hour services operate, and whether service providers should charge for cancellations—especially when vulnerable groups like seniors are involved. Some online users sympathised with the auntie, while others defended the locksmith’s right to compensation for his time and effort.
The incident highlights a grey area in customer-service interactions, where goodwill, expectations, and business policies sometimes clash. It also sheds light on how quickly viral social media posts can impact small businesses, regardless of whether claims are fully verified.
With both parties standing firm, the situation serves as a reminder to approach such matters with understanding and clear communication—and to think twice before taking grievances to social media without resolution attempts.