BBC Rip Off Britain – Locksmith Episode featuring Master Locksmiths Association (MLA)

Locked out in an emergency – don’t panic! Visit www.locksmiths.co.uk

Lost keys, broken locks – at one time or another a lot of people find themselves locked out of their homes. In most cases the immediate response is to take to your favoured search engine and find your local emergency locksmith.

In many cases when searching for a locksmith using a search engine is a fine strategy, however we are finding a growing trend towards consumers being left feeling overcharged for companies they have found a locksmith at the top of searches.

Already this year the MLA have received nearly 200 complaints from consumers that feel they have been misled into paying much higher bills than they should have to get back into their property.

We’ve had reports of emergency callouts costing over £500 and one consumer who received a bill for £3123.60 to gain entry, change 2 locks and cut some keys!

Locksmith Overcharging What To Do

Overcharging Case Study – One homeowner’s story

After locking himself out of his house, this homeowner took to Google and found a ‘local locksmith’ – £45 call out fee was quoted.

And when – an hour later – the ‘local’ locksmith arrived – he estimated a possible £100 for opening the door.

Eventually this would end up costing £863! That was the cost of call out, drilling out the lock AND fitting a new one. That new lock was £350 alone. The rest was time and labour!

Upon reflection the homeowner approached some other locksmiths to find out what the cost SHOULD have been – he got 3 quotes ranging from £75 to £120!

Trading standards advised him to write to the firm that supplied the locksmith which he did, and he outlined that he thought he had been overcharged for the service and was willing to pay £200 and he would welcome a refund of the balance. The homeowner received no response from the locksmith firm.

Make a Locksmith Complaint

2nd Overcharging Case Study – One father’s story

A father turned detective after coming home from holiday to find his son had forked out £405 for a job that was initially quoted at £55 by an intimidating locksmith who stood over him while he made payment, then told him not to tell anyone.

This father said he was extremely angry began to research rogue locksmiths.

He said he went to the Police but they said they couldn’t do anything. He then went to his MP, he said they were very nice but couldn’t do anything.

He approached trading standards but they said they couldn’t do anything.

As he runs a web based business – and knows how per pay click works – he says he’s found a host of Google links high up the search which look plain dodgy. And he wants action to stop it.

Unfortunately, stories like these are only too common. Consumers find themselves needing a locksmith urgently and turn to web searches on their mobile phone, either got for one of the first entries to appear, which are adverts, or look for a cheap price mentioned and call them. They then go on to find that the price charged is significantly over the odds.

Overcharging Advice & What to do

To help prevent being overcharged, we’ve compiled some of our top tips for helping anyone caught out in an emergency avoid being caught out by less then dishonest companies.

Helpful Advice When Hiring a Locksmith to Prevent Overcharging

Q: What are the red flags that might tell you you’re booking a rogue locksmith?

The red flags to look out for when a hiring a locksmith are:

1. Very low price mentioned in an online adver – It will normally be an advert rather than organic entry – top of the listing
2. False Claims of 3rd party approval and accreditation – always check any claims of being vetted/accredited by 3rd parties and check what they actually mean. For example MLA Approved Companies are vetted, inspected and have an qualification based proof of competence.
3. Police Claims – false claims of being Police Recommended or Police Approved
4. Company Name – Generic name or no company name on the ad
5. National Locksmith – Claiming to be national locksmith company

When speaking to them they just mention the low price on their advert and want to take your details to get the booking. They’ll likely keep repeating the low price and not answer questions

When on site then if their first action is to get the drill out, often not even giving a price, rather than asking any questions then this should raise doubt and you should ask why they’re drilling, what the cost will be, what the cost of replacing the lock will be etc.

There are times when drilling is indeed the only way to gain entry, but drilling a lock should be a last resort.

It’s the classic “bait and switch” scheme that is used – they quote a low amount and the charge a significantly higher amount.

Bait and Switch Scheme – What It Is
How to Spot a Rogue Locksmith

Watch out for very positive consumer reviews:

Very often we find that these companies have very positive google reviews at the top of their listings – these could be fake. It’s a good idea to filter for the 1-star reviews, often if the company is irresponsible you’ll find reviews here of other consumers claiming they have been misled.

Choosing a Locksmith – Top tips

Q: What should we do, if we didn’t want to move forward with a locksmith we think could be rogue?

1. If on the phone and you don’t like what you’re hearing then don’t book them. Don’t provide any payment details and make it clear that you are not engaging their services, especially if you’ve already given them your address.
2. If you’ve spoken to them on the phone but then decide you have doubts once you’ve put the phone down then call them back and cancel. Make sure you get confirmation of cancellation and check whether any payment is due or has already been taken (if you’ve provided your payment details)
3. If they’re on site already and you don’t want them to do the job then make it clear to them that you don’t want them to do the job, ask them to leave, you may have to pay a callout fee but by getting a professional locksmith to come and do the job you’ll still save money even after paying that callout fee!

Find your closest MLA Approved Locksmith

Q: Which adverts should I be cautious of?

• Firstly it’s important to note that it’s not a “fake ad” – they can often look very professional, and can link to professional looking websites. It’s the company that is in question. I.e. an ad for a rogue locksmith
• The ad would be vague on pricing, normally only mentioning a very low price in advert (and refusing to give further info when spoken to
• Cheap Google Advert Price usually states prices such as £39 / £49 / £59
• Are they truly local? It could be a call centre or subcontracting entity who will take the job and then sub it out to anyone and take their cut.
• Normally it’s a paid for ad – at the top of the listings – rather than an organic listing

When speaking to the locksmith

• Refusing or unable to give the locksmiths name usually indicates a call centre type operation who then subcontract the work out.
• Won’t ask any questions to get more details on the job and simply push to get the booking and often to get payment details
• Are very vague when asked about price and constantly refer to the low rate on the advert but won’t explain what the price actually covers.

Questions to Ask a Locksmith

Q: What are the typical jobs an emergency locksmith would do?

• Typical jobs for a emergency locksmith range from simple lockouts where you’ve left your keys in the property and the door has locked behind you, to lost keys scenarios, a broken lock or in some unfortunate cases after a burglary

What Can a Locksmith Do

Q: What is a fair charge for an emergency locksmith?

• Unfortunately there’s no way to give a typical correct price as there are too many variables. It’s a bit of a “how long is a piece of string” type question. Price would depend on things like what’s the scenario (e.g. is the lock broken, is it a lockout where the keys are inside, is it a lost keys scenario etc.), what type of lock is it, what’s the security level (especially for replacement locks where needed), what’s the time of day of job, where is the job (e.g. in large conurbations then things like congestion charge and parking need to be taken into account, in other locations then the distance the locksmith would need to travel could be significant), sometimes it’s not the lock but the door, or the multipoint lock rather than the cylinder that’s the problem……..etc
• Also important to remember that you can’t really compare the price of the lock alone against hardware stores as a professional locksmith is specifying (e.g. correct size and appropriate security level) and providing the lock to you, rather than you having to got to a store and best guess what to buy.
• There are lots of different types of locks, different sizes, different security levels, different key types………… one of the reasons why security isn’t really a DIY type thing

Find a Emergency Locksmith Near You

Q: How else can consumers protect themselves?

Know who they’re going to use before they need them. Find a local, reliable, professional locksmith either by looking for the MLA Approved logo or through word of mouth or research, and store their number in your mobile phone in case the worst happens.

Whilst there will be rogues in other trades, due to the nature of what locksmiths do, i.e. security, then it’s even more important. These are people who quite literally have the keys to your property.

It’s also a good idea to get your local vetted, inspected and qualified locksmith to come out to survey your property to ensure that you have the correct level of security to not only meet your insurance fine print, but also minimise the potential of falling victim of burglary.

Hiring a Locksmith FAQs

Q: Do you recommend that people have their own locksmith in advance?

Absolutely – people should decide who they’re going to use before ever needing a locksmith, and save their details in their phone. The easiest way of finding a local vetted, inspected and qualified locksmith is by visiting www.locksmiths.co.uk or get referrals from trusted family and friends.

Find your nearest Vetted Locksmith

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I use a locksmith approved by Master Locksmiths Association?

Hiring a locksmith approved by the Master Locksmiths Association will ensure your locksmith will be a vetted, trustworthy skilled locksmith, all our locksmiths are:

• VETTED – Criminal Record Checked via the Disclosure Barring Service
• INSPECTED – All Locksmiths are inspected on a regular basis
• QUALIFIED – All our locksmiths have passed the MLA Qualification

Why use an MLA Approved Locksmith

2. What is the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA)?

We, the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) are the UK’s largest trade association for locksmiths and not for profit.

The MLA was originally setup in 1958, we currently have over 350 fully vetted locksmiths operating throughout the UK and Ireland.

Locksmiths approved by the Master Locksmiths Association are recommended by Police forces, insurers and also Neighbourhood Watch, this is due to the strict vetting procedure for each MLA approved locksmith.

About Master Locksmiths Association

3. Are Your Locksmiths Vetted?

All Locksmiths approved by the Master Locksmiths Association are fully vetted and inspected by ourselves, with approved companies all strictly fully vetted with criminal record checks.

How MLA locksmiths are vetted

Useful Reading

FAQ’s – Advice & Tips
Prevent a Rogue Locksmith
Why use an MLA Approved Locksmith
Make a Locksmith Complaint