The locksmith scam starts before anyone reaches your door

How the scam works

A search for “locksmith near me” at night throws up paid adverts. Some belong to genuine local firms. Others belong to national call-handling operations with no locksmiths of their own, who sell your job on to whoever is nearest and cheapest.

The hook is a low headline price: “from £49”. It is rarely the price you pay. On arrival the lock is “high security”, the door needs drilling, there’s a night rate, a call-out fee, a parts charge. The final bill can be several times the quote, and by then the door is already open.

Five questions that stop it

• Is there a call-out charge? A reputable locksmith tells you upfront. LockFit never charges one.
• Is that a fixed price, or a starting price? Ask what could change it.
• Who exactly is coming, and are they DBS checked?
• Will you try non-destructive entry before drilling?
• Can I pay by card, and will I get an itemised invoice?

What a fair call-out looks like

You speak to a person who takes your postcode and tells you what happens next. A named, local, uniformed locksmith arrives in a marked van. They explain the options and agree a fixed price before they start, and you get an invoice that breaks down labour and parts.

If anyone refuses to give you a price before starting work, you are allowed to say no.

LockFit publishes its accreditations and certificate numbers so you can check them at source, and every local LockFit page lists the locksmith’s name and direct number.