Yes we do WD40 regularly. There was a real problem.
And yes we knew it would be costly - it just turns out it WAS NOT NECESSARY.
The conversation has diverged but my issue was not the price, my issue is that the person who intervened did not follow protocol and changed the cylinder when it was clearly not necessary. I am knowledgable about many things but not locks and keys. When one hires a professional one expect them to know how to do their job. We researched and discussed with others beforehand and the general consensus was that the cylinder would need replacing. It does happen. However, I did NOT ask for the cylinder to be replaced. I explained our problem and trusted a professional to identify the solution. We ended up with a new cylinder and two keys that still didn't work. The guy screwed up and it was clearly not the only time as he has been terminated since.
Thanks for all the advice, but the question was not about the cost of the replacement. It was about what to do when a repair company intervenes and does work that subsequently proves unnecessary. We can do all the research and take all the precautions in the world and people still screw up sometimes.
Locks are best lubricated with a dry lubricant such as graphite powder. The tolerances are so tight that even sewing machine oil gets contaminated and can long term do more harm than good.
I've just never seen graphite powder in hardware stores here, but I'm probably blind.
If you informed the Gerance, then it's them who are responsible for the invoice, not you. Tell this to the key company and leave it to them to sort out. Do not get involved and it certainly is not your insurance who should pay. In fact in this case I don't think they will. You should not offer to pay anything.
I've just read you own the apartment, so the invoice is indeed down to you. You mentioned any offer over CHF 500 had to receive your OK? It seems this was not done. It also seems it was the fault of the lock company in the first place. I'd just offer CHF 500 in settlement (still a bit high) and hopefully settle.
Next time, just fit a new cylinder yourself, it's very easy to do, and keep the old key for the main door, cellar etc.
One thing you always have to be careful of, especially with tradesmen, is the "Spiesen" that are added to a bill, especially if the shop is not located nearby. In effect, you will pay for the travel time and travel expense per km.
I got all my cylidenrs replaced, and had three quotes (Kaba Star, Mul-T-lock and ABS). All dimple locks, all coded... the highest quote was around 100chf/cylinder.
250chf is about right for Kaba Star, especially if the cylinder is ordered to match the existing keys/locking plan. Kaba 8 are cheap, but not very secure.
OK everyone, situation resolved. The gérance wrote a strongly worded email and the company has taken full responsibility and cancelled the entire invoice. As I'd hoped, I think the gérance's involvement helped resolve things quickly, they are much more important clients than we are. But I do like to be prepared for all potential outcomes
At least my key incident allowed us all to have a conversation about locks and repairs Perhaps it will provide useful information to someone at some point.
Please do not WD40 your lock cylinders. It is a magnet for dirt, dust etc. and will cause problems as it “gums up” over time !
If you wish, go to Hornbach and get a small bottle of powdered graphite and give the cylinder a couple of puffs. It will give you the lubrication you are looking for without the messy gunk you will get from oil (sewing machine etc.) or WD40.
There are times when this is more suitable than graphite powder - in a wet or humid environment, the powder can gunk up.
I’d never, for example, use the powder on the cylinder of my bike lock which is always attached to the bike come rain or snow.
Indeed, and the technician we had this morning also used this exact product while getting all the keys to work. Although my experience with the company was not ideal, the second technician was thorough and seemed very knowledgable.
As a person who rents, some things might be covered by the landlord, but you will soon find that DIY projects are the best here, especially because of the high prices from workers.
Use youtube, buy stuff from different countries.. you could basically call it Switzerland DIY --> in the first 3 months for example, my wife changed the drainage syphon and I installed everything wall related (lights, curtain holders, etc)
Being a home owner will imply in the future some work around and in your house.
The advice to use graphite was superceeded a few years ago by most locksmith associations.
The main isues with graphite powder are that it accelerates galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals, being electrically conductive, and that it causes galvanic corrosion in itself. (i.e. will cause your cylinder to fail prematurely)
Since it does not lubricate in a vacuum we know graphite relies on moisture in the air to lubricate. We also know graphite will corrode all common metals save for titanium, gold and silver in the presence of moisture. So coating a metal with graphite grease is coating it with a substance that will corrode it in the presence of moisture, in a form where it constantly holds moisture.