A key snapped in the lock as my son and his young babysitter tried to open my front door. The babysitter searched online and called a locksmith quoting a £49 call-out charge.
The locksmith claimed the key could not be extracted and insisted the entire locking mechanism had failed and would need to be repaired at his workshop, at a cost of around £400.
He later returned with a mate to refit the mechanism, and presented a bill of £1,406. The two refused to leave until it had been paid.
Trustpilot reviews, dating back 18 months, report the same thing, ie claiming the mechanism had failed.
EA, London
This was intimidating for a young woman and a child. Locksmith fraud is on the rise – figures from the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) show a 20% increase over 12 months last year.
It’s unsurprising the racket is appealing to fraudsters. Anyone can set up as a locksmith without training or regulation, the job allows access to a householder’s keys, and they can refuse people entry to their own home until they’ve paid up.
Most reputable locksmiths do not charge call-out fees, according to the MLA, and the average hourly charge for an emergency is around £80 to £100 depending on the time of day.
To avoid being scammed, beware of cheap advertised prices lower than £60, or vagueness about costs. It’s a red flag if a locksmith starts by drilling the lock. This should be a last resort and is always expensive. Make sure the trader has the MLA logo, which vets and certifies members and has information on scams.
The bill was paid by your babysitter’s mother and you refunded her. Despite evidence of a scam, her bank has refused to refund her under the Consumer Credit Act and I suggest she appeal to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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