You are absolutely correct, but since the original post gave no mention of any ongoing symptoms but rather a one-time occurrence, I put forth a possibility. When trouble shooting anything, always eliminate the easy stuff first.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

'Repeat after me: "A Master Locksmith can fix this Lock problem with ease!"
One Hundred Times!

They (True Master Locksmiths) are Few and Far Between,
But this kinda thing is child's play to them.

The "Pop-A-Lock",Triple A Guy,Etc.,Etc. Etc. ...
(Even the Shop Foreman at the Mercedes Dealership)
Are like Ducks out of Water... In Comparison.

If you had a Prostate problem ,would you go see an Orthopedic Surgeon?

['Just for future reference...If your "Locking Steering System" is approaching
Two (With five Zeros Attached to it).
The actual Bolt Throwing Locking Mechanism
(And the Electrical Portion of the Ignition Switch,Also) is on
Borrowed Time.]

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

We've got a complaint in the works with AAA...I'll let you know how it gets resolved.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Daughter got car back today. According to mechanic, locksmith's mistake cost an additional 5-1/2 hours labor and $38 in parts. We've got old parts and written documentation from mechanic. So, all in all, we're seeking to recoup about $420. We're in dialogue with AAA who has an investigation underway.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Right or wrong for $400 something a business will normally settle our of court. As, they lose more money having their Locksmith sitting waiting in Court; they would be paying him to do nothing and he would not be bringing in income for them during that time.

However, they will normally not settle till just before they would have to go to court; which could take a year or more.

I think the exception would be if the Auto Club can pressure them and it could be the Lock Smith Company has insurance that would cover the loss.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I agree, the $400 isn't really worth their time if they actually think you will pursue it in court. However, it's probably not worth your time either.

To the extent that the locksmith was acting as an agent of AAA and attempting to provide a contractually-covered roadside service, it is AAA that needs to be the defendant in this case, not the locksmith. AAA vs. locksmith is a whole different case, which is entirely AAA's problem to pursue.

Do you really think anyone is going to court over $400?

Irrelevant. If you are not going to court, it doesn't matter who you don't sue.

That's exactly why there is small claims court.

$400 may not seem like a lot to you but it is all relative and myself I would fight for less over principle. Why should someone's shoddy work be acceptable just because "it's too much trouble to fight it", that's B.S. and it is the sole reason so many shoddy mechanics exist. If everyone were forced to stand behind their work then there would be fewer bad mechanics still working.

You had explained earlier how a $2000 A/C repair wasn't something you felt worth fighting over - it's nice to be able to be so cavalier. I'm sure the guy who ripped you off appreciates it.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Yes, I understand that this will never make it to court and he may eventually be offered a $200 settlement for going through the motions. However, it sounds to me like the OP has already subjected himself to more than $400 worth of hassle. Yes, the locksmith is partially responsible and he will eventally offer some compensation if this drags out long enough and affects his relationship with AAA. Sometimes "stuff" just happens and it's better not to spend too much time on trivial "stuff."

Sorry if I wasn't clear; I'm not being cavalier, I'm being practical. I'm simply not willing to expend my time and energy to deal with trivia from the past. I'm certainly not going to spend my time in "small claims court" trying to convince some third rate judge that the AC system in my 27 year old car failed due to poor workmanship. I wouldn't even buy that story, and I (unlike the judge) actually passed thermodynamics 101 and understand how the silly thing works. If I had that kind of free time, I could find more interesting windmills to tilt.

We are not talking about an injury or any real damage, we are talking about a little incovienence and a small amount of money. I've already spent too much time/effort on my silly AC system. It's fixed and I don't have to think about it until the next time it blows up (which it will in about 100k miles if history is any guide).

You're lucky that $2000 is a small amount of money (to you)!

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I am not sure AAA works. The Locksmith I do not think is an agent for AAA. I think they would be a private contractor or something like that.

A long time ago my a person I know had a Spa (looks like a Hot Tub to me) built into their Patio.
When a problem came up the Contractor She ordered the Spa from (he was building a Roof over the Patio so she ask him to build the Spa) said he subcontracted the Sap to another company and that the other Contractor was responsiable for the warranty.

Also when I worked at Security job one of the reasons they Contract Security is that the Security Company gets sued if one of their Officers screws up. You act as a agent for the Company that hired you but the Security Compan has liability for what you do.
I worked at a Carnival Cruise Line site and a Laptop fell off of the Conver Belt at the Airport like Security Check Point.
Our Company paid for a new Computer. Carnival Cruise Line never was not envolved at all.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

It really doesn't matter if it's $20 or $2000, there is no realistic way of recovering money spent on this repair (without it being much more trouble than it's worth, like going to court), and I refuse to spend any time or energy worrying about it. I was finished with this issue the minute I realized that bringing the car back to the original shop was impractical. I'm afraid the OP is probably in a similar situation.

If I was going to worry about stuff like this I would only drive new cars with full warrantees. I understood that any work performed away from home is at risk (much like calling out a locksmith instead of having the car towed). You pay your money and you take your chances is these types of situations.