A Very Expensive Locksmith

Elicar: 10th Apr 2006 - 23:19 GMT

I locked out myself out, not once, but twice. My door automatically locks when it is closed. It was the second locksmith who taught me how to disable it. DUH! $200 later. I wonder if I had called 911, I would have gotten the same response.

Unfortunately, there is a fine for false alarms in Toronto. I am not sure of the amount, but I believe it's either $500 or $600 each time.

hool: 11th Apr 2006 - 00:01 GMT

for that amount of money, why not break the small glass panel in the door and have it replaced? definitely cheaper than a locksmith and/or emergency response fees.

Elicar: 11th Apr 2006 - 00:47 GMT

I thought of that hool, but here's my front door, showing all its 80 years of age:

The automatic lock is unlocked by the door knob from the inside, the bolt is a separate key. Even with long slim hands, it would be difficult to do so. It would have been easier to break the glass of my front window, but what can a lady do to sleep soundly that night? It's not so easy to get window people at a moment's notice!

Iam slowly getting housebroken.

jeeff: 11th Apr 2006 - 05:05 GMT

in japan i was told that you have to pay for your own ambulance ride after the fact.

drea: 11th Apr 2006 - 05:39 GMT

In Toronto you have to pay, I think $50, for ambulance ride if it's not a big emergency. My friend had to pay for it cuz he fainted at school, and the school called 911.

EvilGentleman: 11th Apr 2006 - 07:35 GMT

I remember a few years ago, perhaps some time in the 1990's, there was a story in the Montreal media about a fire in an apartment building where one of the residents, a man from India, required medical attention. The ambulance driver wanted payment or proof of health insurance in advance, but of course the man's home is on fire, he has just barely escaped with his life, so he has no ID or money. The ambulance refused to transport him, so he had to walk about 20 blocks to the hospital in minus 20 degree weather in his pyjamas and bare feet. And to think that Americans are jealous of our "universal" health care system? Scary stuff...

Tyfoid Kid: 11th Apr 2006 - 13:19 GMT

Last time my mother took a ride in an ambulance it was $700 to go one mile. When I was in college I worked at a fast food restraunt and we the assistant managers had these fobs we carried around so we could set off the silent alarm by pushing the buttons on the fob. It happened a couple of times by accident so the police told us one more time and it's $300 and that was 20 years ago. This guy looks like he's well into 4 figures for this stunt.

chiamattt: 11th Apr 2006 - 22:19 GMT

jeeff: population density is so high in Japan and Korea that Health Care costs, such as routine checks and ambulance rides are quite cheap compared to what they cost in the U.S and Canada.

Could you imagine having to pay for a helicopter flight from some crappy northern arctic fishing settlement to a hospital? I couldn't.

Grange: 12th Apr 2006 - 13:44 GMT

I m a paramedic , so I can tell you some of the rates . In Ont . its 45 $ from a residence or public place . This is collected by the hospital which you go to . If uninsured ,like from out of the county its $340 + .Strangly enough the hospital keeps the money too , it dosent go to the ambulance service which was downloaded to the municipalities , think tax grab/user fee.( not Toronto thought as they have been independent for years , they dont get their money either from thehospital either )
If you a transferd from a Hursing Home /retierment home , disabled facility or hospital to hospital there is no charge at all .Now the charges ,like as in the uninsured people, do not go up depending on care recieved as in Basic life support of advanced life support . Its a flat fee. It should be noted ,paramedic's do not recieve this money or do the billing .
In British columbia the do something similar but as their system in province wide they can charge for "no services " which is if you call for EMS and change your mind and dont go , it's a $50 fee. I dont know how they collect, but service is never denied for not paying any bill , same as in Ont
FD, can bill you directly depending on their local by-laws . They do as a normal course of action bill your insurance company ie , car , home etc .Of course in some areas they bill for false alarms etc .But some fire dude/ dudette could answer that better than me .
Most air ambulances are government run or contarcted outand bill the Ministry of health or have service contract for a fixed fee . In northern Ontario and some of the artic these are serviced by helicopters with trained ALS flight crews as well ,also by the D.N.D. who operate in extreme weather and operate rescue operations to airlift patients to southern hospitals .
It is unlikely there is alot of billing . Its a health care service .
As to the arse hole with the locked door .. Someone hand him a rock . what a jerk . We get some calls that are lift assist . Someone disabled or a senior fall , isnt hurt but cant get up due to that . Thats free . Part of the service . We do get people who just want to ride to the the hopital as its close to town and they want a ride . Their out the door before i finish my paper work . But its all part of the job .
For the record in Ont , there some services that want to stop doing routine transfers ,hosp to hosp . IF that is going on in your area . Its a bad idea as some of these people are elderly , frail and have complicated medical conditions which need professional care . I like seniors as their easy calls and their interesting and fun , and i may be the only new face they see in weeks so for 30 min they have my undivided attention . Visit a N. H . and be a volunteer . Good for you and good for them .After all were are going to be seniors one day too
Cheers
Derek

jack: 14th Apr 2006 - 03:10 GMT

once in 1965 i got locked out of my parents home, so instead of waking everyone up i went to sleep on the lounge in the yard.

Philippe: 8th May 2006 - 03:48 GMT

Hmm... Where I work, in Mexico, we don't charge anyone for emergency calls (066, the equivalent of 911). We DO charge for planed transports and events...

mike: 3rd Feb 2007 - 13:10 GMT

Definatly should have called a locksmith, cheap and quick.
would have cost $70.
Cheaper and less mucking around that smashing glass.