Slammed Door: the Right Reflexes Before Calling a Locksmith

It happens to everyone: you step out to grab the post or take the bin down, a draught catches the door — clack. You're on the landing, keys inside. Here's exactly what to do, and what not to do.

1. Check the obvious first

Before calling anyone: is another window or back entrance open? Does a partner, flatmate, neighbour or building guardian (gardien) hold a spare key? Many Paris buildings have a gardien with access to a double for emergencies. Two minutes of checking can save you an intervention entirely.

2. Understand what “slammed” means for the price

A door that simply slammed shut — without the key being turned — is the easiest case for a professional. It's opened with non-destructive by-pass techniques in a few minutes, and your lock survives intact. In Paris, a fair daytime price for this is roughly €110–150 incl. VAT. If the key was turned (locked) or lost, the cylinder usually has to be drilled and replaced, which costs more — a serious locksmith explains this difference on the phone, before coming.

3. Avoid the classic Paris scams

• Stickers in your hallway and 24/7 flyers often lead to dispatch platforms, not local artisans. The person on the phone is not the person who shows up.
• No price on the phone is a red flag. A professional can always give you a firm range for a described situation.
• “It has to be drilled” in the first 30 seconds — for a simply slammed door, drilling is almost never necessary. Ask why, and ask for the price of the replacement before any drilling starts.
• Prices that triple on site (“special lock”, “night rate” invented after the work). Demand a written quote before work begins — it's your legal right in France.

4. What we do differently

When you call us, we ask two or three questions in English, sometimes a photo of the lock via WhatsApp, and we announce the exact price before dispatching a technician. The price on the phone is the price on the invoice — and the invoice works for your insurance claim if your policy covers lockouts (many French “assurance habitation” policies do).

5. Prevent the next one

Ask us about a “cylinder with a key on both sides” if your door slams often, leave a double with someone you trust, or consider a small key safe. One slammed door usually pays for all three.