08 Civic's trunk won't open?

My 2008 civic's trunk won't open. I've tried the manual latch attached to gas latch inside vehicle, I've tried the trunk button on keys.

called honda and they said they'd charge me $700 (yes $700) to "break the locks" and open the trunk.

isn't there another cheaper option?

Added (1). One locksmith told me they couldn't do anything. Haven't tried bodyshop yet though.

TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP

Try a locksmith.

Take out the rear seat cushion. Just a couple bolts.

A locksmith could probably open it for less than $700.

Call a locksmith. Much cheaper. They can fix the lock and cut a new key if necessary

Take it to a body shop. At my shop we would remove the latch assembly from inside of the trunk by going through the backseat. It will likely run an hour or two labor

Try using the key!

You can get access to the trunk by removing the back seat. The part you sit on is taken out first by unlatching it from its mounts. Then the seat back is removed by taking out some bolts.

Then you can see the mechanism, which may be broken, stuck or something in the trunk may have gotten into it the last time you closed it.

Not $700. Not even close.

Once you get the trunk open, you have to find out what happened. It's best if it's done non-destructively.

I just opened a 97 Geo trunk for somebody, who never had a key, and the cable release broke. It took 15 minutes.