When you need a locksmith: how to avoid the dodgy ones

Save a local locksmith’s number in your phone before you need one, check they’re MLA-approved, and get a fixed price on the phone – not at your door.

Locksmiths are one of the most scam-infested trades in the UK, because people only need one in a hurry and don’t have time to vet. A genuine locksmith charges £80-150 for most lock-outs. A scam outfit starts at £50 on the phone, arrives, and bills £500 cash at your door. There are locksmiths listed across the UK on WotsItCalled, and a bit of prep means the good ones are the ones you ring.

How the scam works

It’s worth knowing the pattern, because it’s been running for years:

• Fake national “locksmith” websites that aren’t locksmiths at all – they’re call centres that farm out your job to the nearest subcontractor.
• Cheap quote on the phone – £49 call-out, £25 labour – to get you to commit.
• Arrive, assess, and immediately “find” problems. “Lock is broken beyond repair”, “needs full replacement”, “requires security upgrade”.
• The final bill is £400-800. Usually demanded in cash on the spot, with a new lock that cost them £15 wholesale.
• No receipt, no business card, no trace. They disappear back into the call centre and the website changes its phone number every few weeks.

This is why the single best thing you can do is find a local locksmith BEFORE you need one. Five minutes now saves you £500 later.

What to look for in a real one

• MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) approval. Members are vetted, inspected, and carry DBS checks. Their approved locksmith directory is public – look for the MLA logo and cross-check. It’s the gold standard.
• A real business address. Not just a mobile number. A physical office, a workshop, a van with a proper business name and number.
• Local phone number. 0800 numbers and national “we come to you” websites are usually call centres in disguise.
• Years in business. Check Companies House if they’re incorporated. A five-year-old local firm beats a “registered yesterday” outfit every time.
• Specific reviews mentioning the person. “Dave from [company] was brilliant” is a real review. “Very quick service, excellent” (posted 30 times in a month) is a review farm.

What to ask on the phone before they come out

1. What’s the total price – call-out, labour, VAT, everything? Not “starting from”. The actual number. If they won’t commit, hang up.
2. Do you charge more at night / weekends? Real locksmiths might have a small out-of-hours surcharge but will tell you up front.
3. Do you need to replace the lock, or can you open it? A real locksmith can open almost any lock non-destructively. If they immediately start talking about drilling and replacing, that’s a flag.
4. What’s your business name and address? They should answer without hesitating.
5. Are you MLA-approved? Yes or no. Then cross-check if you have any doubt.
6. Will I get a receipt with your company details on it? Genuine firms always say yes.

Save a number now

Seriously – do this today, not when you’re locked out. Pick one local locksmith, save the number in your phone, and you’ve removed the entire problem. You’ll never need to search in a panic at 10pm on a Sunday.

The locksmiths directory lists local locksmiths across the UK. Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds. Pick one with MLA approval and specific reviews, save the number, forget about it until the day you need it.

Locksmith work beyond lock-outs

A good relationship with a local locksmith is worth more than a one-off panic call. Things they can actually help with:

• Upgrading your locks to British Standard BS3621. Required by some home insurance policies. Worth checking your own.
• Anti-snap, anti-bump euro cylinders. The most common form of break-in on uPVC doors is lock snapping. A proper locksmith can upgrade you for £50-100.
• Smart locks and keyless entry. Installed properly, not just “bought on Amazon and bodged”.
• Rekeying after losing keys. Cheaper than replacing the whole lock in many cases.
• Security audits. A walk-round of your house pointing out weak points – door locks, window catches, patio doors. Takes half an hour, often worth it.

The short version

• Locksmith scams are a known, repeating pattern – cheap quote, inflated bill, cash-only, vanished.
• Look for MLA approval, a real address, local phone number, and years in business.
• Get a firm total on the phone before they come out – not an “from” price.
• Most locks can be opened non-destructively. If they’re talking drilling immediately, hang up.
• Save a local number now. Do not rely on a panicked Google search at midnight.

WotsItCalled is a free UK business directory. No signup, no catch. Find the place everyone’s on about, or browse the full locksmiths directory.