Unfortunately, locksmiths in the UK are not government-regulated, which has led to an increase in scam locksmiths that tarnish the industry's reputation. These scammers often occupy the top spots on Google, advertising impossibly short waiting times and unrealistically low prices. Victims are left waiting much longer than expected and end up paying far more than they were led to believe, due to hidden charges and unnecessary damage.
When you contact a scam locksmith, they will often avoid giving a proper company name. Instead, the call handler may simply answer with vague terms like "service" or "locksmith." They may also quote an attractively low price, such as "£39 and up."
Once you've agreed to the suspiciously low price, a so-called locksmith is dispatched to your location. When they arrive, the next phase of the scam begins. They will pretend to struggle with your lock, it will turn out you’ve got a very good security lock and the only way to open the lock is to break it. In reality, most locks can be easily opened and repaired, but this tactic forces you into paying for unnecessary replacements and they will charge exorbitant prices for parts.
This inflated work can increase the final price by 10 to 20 times what was initially quoted. What should have been a simple, affordable job is turned into an expensive and complicated one.
Choose a locksmith with a strong reputation and several years of experience.
Make sure the company is still actively trading by checking Companies House.
Read verifiable feedback. Scam locksmith websites often feature fake reviews that they’ve written themselves.
A legitimate locksmith will carry ID and will be happy to show it to you upon request.
Professional locksmiths will offer multiple payment methods and will always provide a proper invoice. Be cautious of anyone insisting on cash-only payments.
A genuine locksmith will offer a free, no-obligation security check and provide useful information without being pushy.
While it's not always possible to give a final price over the phone, you should be given a rough estimate before any work begins. Always confirm the pricing details to avoid surprises.
Unfortunately, locksmiths in the UK are not government-regulated, which has led to an increase in scam locksmiths that tarnish the industry's reputation. These scammers often occupy the top spots on Google, advertising impossibly short waiting times and unrealistically low prices. Victims are left waiting much longer than expected and end up paying far more than they were led to believe, due to hidden charges and unnecessary damage.
When you contact a scam locksmith, they will often avoid giving a proper company name. Instead, the call handler may simply answer with vague terms like "service" or "locksmith." They may also quote an attractively low price, such as "£39 and up."
Once you've agreed to the suspiciously low price, a so-called locksmith is dispatched to your location. When they arrive, the next phase of the scam begins. They will pretend to struggle with your lock, it will turn out you’ve got a very good security lock and the only way to open the lock is to break it. In reality, most locks can be easily opened and repaired, but this tactic forces you into paying for unnecessary replacements and they will charge exorbitant prices for parts.
This inflated work can increase the final price by 10 to 20 times what was initially quoted. What should have been a simple, affordable job is turned into an expensive and complicated one.
Choose a locksmith with a strong reputation and several years of experience.
Make sure the company is still actively trading by checking Companies House.
Read verifiable feedback. Scam locksmith websites often feature fake reviews that they’ve written themselves.
A legitimate locksmith will carry ID and will be happy to show it to you upon request.
Professional locksmiths will offer multiple payment methods and will always provide a proper invoice. Be cautious of anyone insisting on cash-only payments.
A genuine locksmith will offer a free, no-obligation security check and provide useful information without being pushy.
While it's not always possible to give a final price over the phone, you should be given a rough estimate before any work begins. Always confirm the pricing details to avoid surprises.