u/AdOwn5368

Hi, I’m in the Netherlands and just got charged €786 for a locksmith on Sunday and I honestly don’t understand if this is normal or not.

What happened:

I was getting ready for work

I got stuck outside my bathroom because the door wouldn’t open

I called a locksmith and said basically: “door is stuck, I don’t know what to do”

No price was clearly given beforehand

He arrived after ~2 hours

I just said, "Okay, fix it," because I was stressed and needed to use the bathroom before, as I had work that day.

What he did:

Opened the door

Also replaced parts (handle/lock) I did NOT request

Took ~30 minutes

Final bill:

€786.26

They also said there is:

€649 cash price

€786 card price

So paying by card was significantly more expensive.

My problem:

I never agreed to anything close to this price or to replacing parts. I only wanted the door opened. I was in a rush, so my mind didn't fully grasp the situation. I just put the card to pay, and it was done.

I tried calling and got the excuse of them not knowing English very well. Then, yesterday, they told my boyfriend to call today, and today, on the weekend, he tried to call again. The call is picked up automatically, but no one is saying anything.

Question:

Is this normal for emergency locksmiths in the Netherlands on Sundays, or should I dispute this with my bank / consumer protection?

I understand that it was really dumb. I was just so out of touch that I didn’t realize it at the moment. I offered to pay beforehand, but he said I could pay after. Same thing for me, So I paid after the work was done, so it was mostly just due to being rushed.

Edit: Lesson learned, I just wanted to know if there is something that I can do.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been accepted to Global Management of Social Issues at Tilburg University and International Business at Avans (Breda).

I’m trying to decide between the two and would really appreciate honest opinions from people who studied at either.

Here’s my situation:

- EU student (already in the Netherlands)

- I care about career opportunities and salary

- I’m considering doing a master if I choose Tilburg

- I also want a good student life and not too much stress

My main questions:

1. Is Tilburg + a master really better than Avans for jobs?

2. How practical is Avans compared to Tilburg?

3. Which one gives better chances to stay and work in the Netherlands?

4. Which one did you enjoy more (student life, stress, etc.)?

Any experiences or advice would help a lot 🙏