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Locked Out

Yesterday I managed to get myself locked out of my apartment by stupidly forgetting my key. Unlike my building in NYC , the concierge here is not always around so I had to pay $400 or $70 US to a locksmith to help me get back in. I was kicking myself all day and couldn't help remembering my early days in NYC when I found myself in a similar situation. I had gone to the building chute to throw garbage and was attired in a skirt, top and slippers in the dead of winter when my front door banged shut behind me. I went to the building doorman to get the spare key to the second door of my apartment and then realized that I had bolted the second door from inside so there was no way that I could get in. I couldn't venture out as I was not dressed for winter and had no money or cell phone so I had no option but to wait in the laundry room for the husband to get home to let me in.
Have you ever been locked out in NYC? What did you do?did you have to call a locksmith to let you in?
Question asked via StreetAdvisor The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of Douglas Elliman.
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JenMac 2yrs+
I locked myself out once and called my dog walkers to let me in. It sucked big time because it was really hot and my dogs were with me, roasting outside after a long walk. I was lucky that they had a key to begin with; but, now I always check several times for my key before I leave my apartment.
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uptowngirl 2yrs+
@JenMac Me too, believe me coughing up all that money is really no fun.
Also wanted to ask you is it safe to leave a key with a dog walker?
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hhusted 2yrs+
Knock on wood I never experienced that. I locked my cars keys in the car once when at college, but I never locked myself out of my apartment.
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NeverSleeps 2yrs+
I have never - knock on wood - been locked out. I am a stickler with my keys.
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Uraniumfish 2yrs+
The last three buildings I lived in, the locks were so lousy, it would have been easy to force them open. Which is really unsettling.
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NeverSleeps 2yrs+
I have a feeling I could easily break into my house as well....
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uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Everyone the locksmith made it look so easy, maybe I should have tried to pick the lock myself instead of calling him at least that way I could have avoided paying that preposterous sum of money. Never again will I pay that ridiculous amount of money and I have begun to become very careful with my keys but this week I have been a real scatterbrain with stuff I have lost one wedge from a pair of wedges( had taken them to the cobbler to get them mended and can't for the life of me remember where they went after that ) and a hoop from a pair of silver hoops( I am really upset about this loss) .
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I locked myself out of my flat in Copenhagen once for two days (my roommate had gone to Jutland for the weekend!) Luckily my friend was in town and he had a hotel room I could crash in. But I hate being locked out - it's scary and exhausting!
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Thank you for sharing this article on your experience of when you locked yourself outside, it is so difficult to be outside like that in the winter time! I had a similar experience when I locked my car keys in the car, and had to wait a whole hour outside for a locksmith to come! It is good they have locksmiths to help us in those situations though! Take care, and have a great day! Durandana http://www.adalocksmithnyc.com
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It's sometimes hard to share these experiences, so thank you. I almost can't believe that it cost 400 dollars for you to get a locksmith. That's crazy, I would hope it's not that expensive everywhere you go. I'll have to look into that, so I can find myself an emergency locksmith. http://www.locksmithandsafesredondobeach.com
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