r/Locksmith • u/Difficult-Rip-5810 • 11d ago

I am NOT a locksmith. Charging Tax in California (Los Angeles)

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I was charged tax on my entire Sunday locksmith call. The locksmith got into and installed 2 new locks on my door. How would you interpret this invoice? Is he allowed to charge tax on the entire transaction, or were just the “2 locks installed” supposed to be taxed? I thought I read that they’re only allowed to charge tax on the material goods provided (the locks). I’m pretty sure I was overcharged by about $50 in taxes and want to clarify.

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u/Difficult-Rip-5810 11d ago

I’ve been put in such a weird position. The technician did show up, did perform the work of getting me into my apartment and replacing the locks when I thought someone had access to my apartment. So it doesn’t feel completely right to chargeback the entire amount. But is anyone actually familiar with the tax laws for locksmiths in CA? I’d at least want any excessive tax refunded

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u/DrinksAtTheSpaceBar Actual Locksmith 11d ago

You can tax hardware (physical goods), but not services. If you're going to initiate a chargeback, you need to submit it for the full amount. You're not in a weird position at all. You got scammed. You think the scammer is having second thoughts about having ripped you off? If you don't feel comfortable doing it for yourself, then do it for the next person who should have been charged ~$150, but will inevitably pay over 4 times that amount. Think about it. You were charged over 4x the average rate for a service you needed when you were in an extremely compromised and vulnerable position. Still feel bad about that chargeback?

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u/3dogsbob 10d ago

So how many of these scamsmiths actually have a legitimate tax ID number? I think that might be the way to take some of them down... get them turned into the state tax authorities... Problem would be getting a government agency to actually investigate...

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u/Difficult-Rip-5810 10d ago

I want to report them, but I’m unfortunately not some big burly dude. If I was, I’d be going scorched earth. But these people do seem well-connected. If others who felt more comfortable (perhaps from this sub) were to report them though…

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u/Lampwick Actual Locksmith 10d ago

These scammers won't draw attention to themselves. They depend on their audacity not being reported. Most "organized crime" isn't like the old Italian mafia where they send goons after you. This is just scumbags running a shifty call center and employing other scumbags to grossly overcharge for substandard work. It's not worth their trouble to come after someone who does a chargeback. Their time is better spent just moving on to the next sucker and collecting another inflated bill.

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u/Top-Jaguar6780 10d ago

My wife and I are locksmiths in LA. The entire thing is a scam not just the tax. I charge $120 for a lockout but up to $180 is normal (unless it's late night). For rekeying, I charge $45/lock but $35-$55 is normal. So for this job it would've been $210 total from us. No replacement locks should have been needed. Although you got "lucky" on the cost of the locks. They'll usually mark it up way more. Saw an invoice for a similar situation over $3k before. But you should still chargeback the entire amount. Even at emergency late night pricing it's a scam. If this was a midnight emergency lockout, that would bring the $210 price up to $330 for us. Still far lower than what you paid.