There is a growing demand for skilled trades people in the UK, with locksmiths being among the most needed. Locksmith scams have therefore increased over the past few years so please take care not to select a rogue tradesman.
The locksmith industry remains unregulated, making it easier for fraudsters to operate but a legitimate locksmith may be a member of the Master Locksmiths Association and display the logo on their website. The MLA is a key resource for information and have verified and checked any locksmiths that they allow to become members of the association.
If you are looking to hire a locksmith there a some warnings signs you should be aware of to avoid being scammed by a rogue trader.
Here are some red flags to look out for:
- Cheap Google Advert Prices usually states from £39 / £49 / £59
- False Claims of 3rd party approval and accreditation, always check any claims of being vetted/verified by 3rd parties
- Claims of being Police Recommended or Police Approved
- Refusing or unable to give the locksmiths name usually indicates a call centre that is subcontracting work
- Vague on pricing and only mentions the low price displayed on the advert and refuses to give further information
- Suggests drilling the lock as a first attempt to gain entry
- False claim of an insurance refund – the scammer may keep saying that you can get a refund from your insurer
Stay Alert: Be wary of extremely low advertised prices, cheap quotes and vague costs displayed on Google etc. These are Bait and Switch Prices. This means that the final price is highly unlikely to be as little as £39 for example. Some customers have ended up with bills over £500 for a quick locked out job where an extremely low initial price was promoted on a locksmith’s advertising material.
If you need any locksmith assistance please get in touch with us. You can check that we have been vetted, inspected and that we are fully qualified here Master Locksmiths Association – Locksmith Near Me (Fully Vetted)
