"Do Not Duplicate" Keys? Condo Corp. wants $105/per key

[sillysimms]

Are condo corporation replaced all the locks on our doors this year. They gave each unit owner 2 keys. It was fine for us since only 2 of us live here.

We will be having some visitors this summer so I went to get them a temporary pass so they can come in and out of the building as I won't be home all the time to let them in. No problem. I don't mind paying $20 for a 2 month pass.

I went to get a copy of the key made and then realized (after the man told me he could not copy it) that it says "Do Not Duplicate" on it. I called Property Management and they said they can get copies made for a fee of $105 per key. To me this sounds excessive.

I'm guessing there is no way around this as I don't suppose anyone will copy these as that's what I was told today. The key says "Scorpion" on it.

I'm going to talk to someone on our Board of Directors as I think $105 for a key is excessive.

Has anyone had any experience with this or know if it is illegal for someone to copy this key?

[mirek]

It's not hard finding someone that will copy them, the hard part is finding someone who has a blank key for your lock. If it's a simple regular key, you can find an asian place that will usually do it, check fleamarkets or asian shops.

Your best bet might be to find a neighbour that has a spare and would be willing to lend you the key for 2 months.

[sillysimms]

It's not hard finding someone that will copy them, the hard part is finding someone who has a blank key for your lock. If it's a simple regular key, you can find an asian place that will usually do it, check fleamarkets or asian shops.

Your best bet might be to find a neighbour that has a spare and would be willing to lend you the key for 2 months.

Thank you for this. I'll look into it.

Sorry I wasn't clear in my post. I did get an access pass for my guest from the management for $10/month for lobby access. They key is actually for the front door to our unit so unfortunately there are actually only 2 keys for our unit (plus the master the management office has).

Thanks again.

[Techhead]

I would go as far as getting a locksmith to recore the cylendar and cut a set of keys. Then you can make more keys from there.

I would not trust a condo management that dosen't allow you to control your own entry set. It's your place.

[sillysimms]

I would go as far as getting a locksmith to recore the cylendar and cut a set of keys. Then you can make more keys from there.

I would not trust a condo management that dosen't allow you to control your own entry set. It's your place.

That would be nice! But unfortunately, although I like living in a condo, one of the things is that you have to go by the rules and only the building can change your lock. They are required, as per the condo by-laws, to have a master set.

Which would be okay with me if they didn't want $105/per key!

[mirek]

You can change the lock for 2 months to one from Home Depot and then change it back when they leave.

Otherwise just find someone to copy it if it's a simple door key,

[Techhead]

That would be nice! But unfortunately, although I like living in a condo, one of the things is that you have to go by the rules and only the building can change your lock. They are required, as per the condo by-laws, to have a master set.

Which would be okay with me if they didn't want $105/per key!

HUMMMM... Just yesterday morning I changed out my bro-in-laws lockset. He is @Burnhamthorp & Central Parkway. I should get him to find out if he needs to supply management with a copy. :confused:

[Sylvestre]

Find out why the charge is 105.
Legally, for things like that, a condo cannot charge more than the "recoup" costs. i.e. if it will cost the condo $20, they have to charge you the same.
Now, having said that, the condo may be doing more than just copying a key. They may be administrative work involved i.e. paperwork since you have 3 keys etc etc, but again, all that should be explained.
If the condo can't/won't provide justification for the costs, you can politely explain to them that legally they can't charge that much (May have to do some research and dig up the relevant sections in the condo rules etc).

And as you surmised, in almost all condo's, locks are common elements and cannot be changed without express written permission.

[Stock R]

Back when I use to live in an apartment (15 years ago?) the building front door used a Medeco brand "do not duplicate" key and charged about $100 for the key. However, the charge was meant more as a deposit. After the return of the key, they gave most (can't remember how much) back.

[ssainani]

I would not trust a condo management that dosen't allow you to control your own entry set. It's your place.

why? i like the fact management has a copy

deliveries come up inside my home....filters get replaced

all without me having to worry or care

[sunnybono]

Thank you for this. I'll look into it.

Sorry I wasn't clear in my post. I did get an access pass for my guest from the management for $10/month for lobby access. They key is actually for the front door to our unit so unfortunately there are actually only 2 keys for our unit (plus the master the management office has).

Thanks again.

What brand of key is it??? Medco, ASSA, Mul-T-Lock???? These are all high security keys which only a specific Locksmith carries and yes they are expensive!!!!!

sk

[project240]

When I lived in an apartment a few years ago they had the same thing. I believe the fee was $80 for a key and I needed it for basically the same situation you are describing.

They were just regular keys with Do Not Copy inscribed on them... I went down to Canadian Tire and left with a new key that cost me about $2. The sales guy looked at the key and reads Do Not Copy aloud, then turns to the machine, copies it and hands me both... I laughed after that.

[Chookman]

Get one of those rubber plastic things that cover the head of the key. If you go to a keycutter, they`ll just grab your keychain without even taking the key off, match it up and cut it. Heck, you could probably use some different coloured electrical tape and tape up a few keys to make it look like you`re doing it to quickly recognize which key is which and the locksmith probably won`t bat an eye and copy it.

[sillysimms]

What brand of key is it??? Medco, ASSA, Mul-T-Lock???? These are all high security keys which only a specific Locksmith carries and yes they are expensive!!!!!

sk

Thanks. It doesn't have any of those names mentioned on the key. It just says "SCORPION" down the right side and has the letters "CVC" in a box with "do not duplicate" underneath. On the back of it there are some letters and numbers engraved which may be a code.

When I lived in an apartment a few years ago they had the same thing. I believe the fee was $80 for a key and I needed it for basically the same situation you are describing.

They were just regular keys with Do Not Copy inscribed on them... I went down to Canadian Tire and left with a new key that cost me about $2. The sales guy looked at the key and reads Do Not Copy aloud, then turns to the machine, copies it and hands me both... I laughed after that.

Thanks. I'll try a few places and maybe will have some luck. Since I only need the key for a couple months and someone isn't moving in permanently, I'd hate to spend $105 unnecessarily.

Get one of those rubber plastic things that cover the head of the key. If you go to a keycutter, they`ll just grab your keychain without even taking the key off, match it up and cut it. Heck, you could probably use some different coloured electrical tape and tape up a few keys to make it look like you`re doing it to quickly recognize which key is which and the locksmith probably won`t bat an eye and copy it.

Another good tip! Thanks

[Keigotw]

Are condo corporation replaced all the locks on our doors this year. They gave each unit owner 2 keys. It was fine for us since only 2 of us live here.

We will be having some visitors this summer so I went to get them a temporary pass so they can come in and out of the building as I won't be home all the time to let them in. No problem. I don't mind paying $20 for a 2 month pass.

I went to get a copy of the key made and then realized (after the man told me he could not copy it) that it says "Do Not Duplicate" on it. I called Property Management and they said they can get copies made for a fee of $105 per key. To me this sounds excessive.

I'm guessing there is no way around this as I don't suppose anyone will copy these as that's what I was told today. The key says "Scorpion" on it.

I'm going to talk to someone on our Board of Directors as I think $105 for a key is excessive.

Has anyone had any experience with this or know if it is illegal for someone to copy this key?

$105 is a ripp off
I only paid $16.00 to make an extra copy
doesn't it have a phone # on your key??
if there is call that # and ask them if is really $105!!

[porphyra]

We are assigned ASSA keys. They are much thicker than regular keys, and even though it doesn't say "Do not duplicate", I have yet to find a locksmith that is able to duplicate these keys. Apparently, they are expensive for a reason.

[sillysimms]

$105 is a ripp off
I only paid $16.00 to make an extra copy
doesn't it have a phone # on your key??
if there is call that # and ask them if is really $105!!

Unfortunately no telephone number. Just a few letters & numbers on the back which I think is a code.

Thanks everyone. I'll go to a few places and see if a copy can be made.

[Keigotw]

Unfortunately no telephone number. Just a few letters & numbers on the back which I think is a code.

Thanks everyone. I'll go to a few places and see if a copy can be made.

is it a new condo?
who is the builder?

[sillysimms]

is it a new condo?
who is the builder?

It's an old building. About 20 years old. The management company replaced all the locks this year on every unit owners' door throughout the entire building. They have rules about only the management office being allowed to change your lock (due to the master key requirement) but over the years some had not followed this. They also said the locks needed replacement, so they replaced all the locks and gave everyone 2 keys per unit.

[Digital_Domain]

What brand of key is it??? Medco, ASSA, Mul-T-Lock???? These are all high security keys which only a specific Locksmith carries and yes they are expensive!!!!!

sk
We have a Mul-T-Lock at home and it's like $40 to get a single key cut. It was like $20 at the time of install so the guy told us to "make sure you get the count right now - otherwise it will cost you later". But $105? Damn.
Thanks. It doesn't have any of those names mentioned on the key. It just says "SCORPION" down the right side and has the letters "CVC" in a box with "do not duplicate" underneath. On the back of it there are some letters and numbers engraved which may be a code.
I couldn't find a picture of your key, but check here...

http://www.scorpionlocks.com/home/home_ca_en.htm

If you think this is the same manufacture then your key is a high-security key and you will pay through the leg for another key, but $105 seems way too high, IMO. Note, you CANNOT get these keys cut at a local store - you must go to a locksmith as they require both special key blanks and special cutting tools.

[venice_it]

If you can temporarily put a lock box on your door (similar to real estate agents) you can put the key inside and give the code to your friends. Depending on the box it will cost about 20-40 bucks.

[sillysimms]

http://www.scorpionlocks.com/home/home_ca_en.htm

If you think this is the same manufacture then your key is a high-security key and you will pay through the leg for another key, but $105 seems way too high, IMO. Note, you CANNOT get these keys cut at a local store - you must go to a locksmith as they require both special key blanks and special cutting tools.

Thank you for this. I looked at the link and that is probably the manufacturer. I looked around some more online and was able to find a picture of exactly what our key looks like here:
http://www.upstatelocksmiths.com/scorpion_locks

Based on what is says on the site, you are right that they key would not be able to be cut at a local store.

If you can temporarily put a lock box on your door (similar to real estate agents) you can put the key inside and give the code to your friends. Depending on the box it will cost about 20-40 bucks.

Thank you! This is an excellent idea. After reading your post, I spoke with a friend of mine who is a realtor and she said she'll lend me one of her lock boxes. This is a great idea that I hadn't thought of, so I think the problem is solved since our building allows lock boxes on doors.

Thanks to everyone for their help with this!

[Cheap Cat]

People don't seem to understand that in condos, the property management must keep the master key in the event of an emergency. For example, a pipe bursts and it is flooding the neighbour below. They need to get in to shut off the water to minimize the damage. If you were to change the lock and they couldn't get in, they could break down the door and you would be charged for the repairs and any other costs related to your violation of the rules.

Also the no duplication keys and the high fees for replacements are to control the number of keys available. This way all keys can be accounted for when a unit changes hands.