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“Don’t Get Locked into a Scam” — that’s the message we want every UK household to hear loud and clear.

As the Managing Director of Lockforce UK — a national network of locally-based trusted locksmiths — I’ve become increasingly concerned about the rise in rogue operators who exploit people during emergency callouts.

This article shares real experiences from across our network, the red flags you should watch for, and practical advice you can act on today to protect yourself tomorrow.

If there is only thing you take away from this today, it is to save down the phone number of a trusted and reputable locksmith in your area.

A Growing Crisis in the Locksmith Industry

It is disappointing to report that locksmithing in the UK remains unregulated, meaning anyone can advertise themselves as a locksmith without training, qualifications, or criminal background checks.

The consequences of this lack of regulation are serious. In 2024 alone, complaints about rogue locksmiths rose by 25%, with over 350 reports made to the Master Locksmiths Association.

That’s hundreds of cases where people were misled, overcharged, or left insecure in their own homes.

Local Victims. Real Stories.

We’ve seen this happen again and again. Take this example from one of our locksmiths, Peter Luckley (Lockforce Henley) who was called out to help a distressed homeowner. She had been locked out, contacted a locksmith online, and was quoted a modest fee. The person who arrived wasn’t local, demanded hundreds of pounds, and then threatened to leave her property unsecured when she refused to pay more. That night, she pushed a sofa against the door to feel safe.

In another case, a customer was promised a new lock and a spare key — but the spare key never arrived. Peter inspected the work and discovered it was a cheap lock, poorly fitted, and entirely unnecessary. Even worse, the supposed “local locksmith” had travelled over 60 miles to get there — a clear sign of deceptive advertising and a likely lead-generation middleman.

7 Warning Signs You’re Dealing with a Rogue Locksmith

1. Low “Starting Prices” That Skyrocket

You’ve seen the ads — “Emergency Locksmith from £39!”. But these are almost always bait-and-switch tactics. Once on-site, rogue traders inflate costs with mysterious extras. Some charge £300–£500 for basic entry, when the job should be closer to £90–£150.

According to the MLA, this is one of the most common complaints they receive.

2. No Uniform, No Identification

A professional locksmith will arrive in uniform and carry an ID badge. If someone turns up in plain clothes, can't identify themselves, or appears vague about who they work for — it’s a red flag.

3. Unmarked or Questionable Vehicles

Many rogue locksmiths show up in unbranded vans or private cars, often without proper tools. This not only suggests a lack of professionalism but may indicate they’re working under the radar — and may not be insured or DBS-checked.

4. A Suspicious or Fake Online Presence

Just because someone appears in local Google search results doesn’t mean they’re local. Many rogue outfits create fake location-based websites and use call centres to farm out leads to distant, unvetted subcontractors.

In multiple cases, we’ve seen locksmiths travel 50–100 miles to a job, posing as a local expert.

5. Pushy Behaviour or Aggressive Payment Demands

Rogues are known for pressuring customers mid-job to pay more — often refusing to leave without cash or even demanding payment to stop work that hasn’t been done. If a locksmith won’t give a written quote up front or insists on cash, walk away.

6. Unnecessary Drilling and Lock Destruction

Many rogue locksmiths don’t have the skills or tools to use non-destructive techniques. They go straight to drilling out the lock — which can damage the door and lead to excessive costs. A professional locksmith will explore all options available then explain and agree an appropriate action and related costs before commencement of work. There are many occasions where drilling the lock can offer the quickest and most effective action in the circumstances, but non-destructive entry will always be considered.

7. No Receipts, No Spare Keys, No Peace of Mind

If someone fits a new lock and doesn’t hand over a full set of keys or written receipt, your security could be compromised. In a recent incident we handled, the rogue never returned with the spare key — leaving the customer unsure who had access to her home.

A professional locksmith will issue paperwork, a warranty, and ensure you receive all keys before leaving.

How You Can Protect Yourself — Starting Now

You don’t have to wait until something goes wrong to prepare.

Here are five steps you can take today:

1. Save a trustworthy locksmith’s number in your phone now. That way, you won’t be forced to rely on whoever appears first online in an emergency.
2. Avoid locksmiths advertising suspiciously low prices. If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
3. Check reviews across multiple platforms, including Trustist and Google. Look for clear local ties and genuine feedback.
4. Ask questions: Are you local? Are you DBS-checked? Can I see ID?
5. Ask for a recommendation from a friend or family member.

Why Lockforce Cares

This article isn’t about promoting Lockforce — it’s about protecting people. We believe in our mission: Keeping You Safe.

That means calling out rogue behaviour when we see it and helping residents across the UK stay informed and empowered.

We’re proud to work alongside brilliant locksmiths across the country. Real people. Real professionals. Real peace of mind.

Need Help or Want to Save a Trusted Number?

Find your nearest vetted Lockforce locksmith using our postcode search below.

Lockforce UK proudly the most reviewed locksmith company in the UK.

Written by Sean Taylor, Managing Director of Lockforce UK

(18th May 2025)

When picking the lock to have fitted to your home, there are a few things to consider. Such as Type, Security Level and Convince.

So, there are a few type of door lock each having its on positive and negatives we will go though a few of the main ones on this blog.

So as a locksmith in hull the most common lock we see are standard Euro Cylinders. These provide little to no security when it comes to burglary’s these locks are easily, Snapped, Drilled, Picked and even by passed.

These can be upgraded to increase the security of your door options Lockforce Locksmiths in Hull offer are. Anti-Snap 1-star cylinders these provide about 10x the protection when it comes to security these are drill resistant and Snap safe. 

All of our euro cylinders come with a minimum of 3 keys, and we stock all sizes of these on all of our Lockforce Locksmiths in Hull Van for same day fitting if required.

For more information on our locks vist Lockforce Locksmiths in Hull @ https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Hull/

or give us a call on 01482 298002

Lockforce Locksmiths is now CHAS Accredited

CHAS helps clients (buyers) and contractors (suppliers) ensure compliance across the different areas of risk management, and mitigate risks across the supply chain. We offer accreditation schemes that can help businesses achieve compliance, mitigate supply chain risks and support efficient supply chain management. 

With the new Common Assessment Standard, we can review all aspects of your risk management policies in a single annual audit.  And as one of the founders of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP),  CHAS is committed to setting health and safety benchmarks that drive industries forward and make the world of work a safer place

(information taken from chas.co.uk)

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/

 Window Boarding and Lock Changed Following a Burglary

Lockforce Locksmiths in Grimsby not only offer locksmith services such as lock changes we also offer several other security services to make sure you remain safe and secure in your home and business.

We were called to a property on 29/12/2021 to attend a building following a break-in on inspection it was clear to see they had smashed the window to use the keys that were left in the inside of the door to open the door and gain entry.

We set to work cleaning up the broken glass and replacing the Euro cylinder lock with a new one as they took the keys with them and even locked the door as they left. Then the window was boarded up till replacement glass could be delivered to be refitted to the door.

https://www.lockforce.co.uk/locksmith/Grimsby/

Emergency Mobile
07740 003 187

Meet Noel Tierney, Lockforce's latest addition to the family!

Noel had completed Head Office training several months ago, and more recently completed a refresher crash course due to him not being to launch as Bolton was in strict lockdown.

The local situation has now changed thankfully and he is able to resume his business duties in delivering Lockforce's golden standard in locksmithing locally to Bolton, Sale, Swinton and Bury.

Next time you need a locksmith in Bolton, be sure to give Noel a call!