Ask who will attend, what the job will cost in total, how they expect to get in and what happens if the lock needs replacing. A locksmith who answers those questions clearly, before anyone travels, is easier to trust than one who only repeats a low starting price. Get the answers while you are still free to say no.
Being locked out is one of the few purchases people make under genuine pressure. It may be late, cold or wet, and you want the problem solved quickly. That is exactly when a vague advert or a tempting headline price can cost you the most.
Trading Standards officers report that rogue locksmiths prey on people in this situation, sometimes charging hundreds of pounds for simple work. 1 The questions below take a few minutes to ask and can save a great deal of money and disagreement. Most emergency locksmith work is honest, but the rogues rely on you being in too much of a hurry to ask.
Who am I actually talking to?
Ask who answers the phone and who will attend. Some advertised “local locksmiths” are national booking centres that pass the job to whoever is available, adding their own margin to the price.
A booking centre is not automatically dishonest, but you should know which business is responsible for the work, who takes payment and who you contact if something goes wrong. If the person on the phone cannot tell you the name of the attending locksmith or the business behind the advert, treat that as a warning sign.
Stickers near the entrances of shared buildings deserve particular caution. Trading Standards has noted rogue operators using them, hoping residents will assume a landlord or managing agent recommends the trader. 1
What will the job cost in total?
Ask for the total, not the starting figure. A price that covers “from £39” tells you almost nothing about what you will actually pay. Locksmith prices vary with the time of day, the lock and the door, so the only useful number is the total for your job.
Ask what the price includes: the call-out, the labour, any parts, and VAT where it applies. Ask whether an evening, night or weekend visit costs more, and by how much. AHLP’s own FAQs confirm out-of-hours visits can carry a supplement, so this is a normal question, not an awkward one.
Understand the difference between an estimate and a fixed price. An estimate given on the phone can change once the locksmith sees the door, and honest businesses say so. What matters is that you are told the agreed total before work starts, and given the chance to decline. If someone refuses to discuss the total until they have begun, that tells you something useful. Reputable locksmith services are happy to put that total in writing before they set off.
Who will attend, and can I verify them?
Ask for the name of the person attending. Ask what identification they carry and what qualifications or accreditations the business claims, then verify the claims that matter to you rather than accepting a logo at face value.
The Master Locksmiths Association advises checking a locksmith’s claimed credentials with the organisation that issued them, because any trader can print an association logo on a website. 2
Expect some checks to run in the other direction. A careful locksmith may ask you for proof that you live at the property, such as a driving licence, tenancy agreement or a letter addressed to you there. Being asked is a good sign, not an insult: it shows the business thinks about whose door it is opening. If you cannot prove occupancy, ask what the locksmith will accept before they attend, so nobody wastes a journey. A genuine mobile locksmith will arrive with the tools and common parts to complete most jobs in one visit.
How do you expect to get in?
Ask what approach the locksmith expects to use and why. The MLA expects non-destructive methods to be tried first, with drilling a last resort, while recognising that a failed mechanism can make destructive entry necessary. 2
You do not need a lesson in lock opening, and this guide deliberately describes none. You need a plain-English explanation that relates to your door: what the locksmith expects to find, what they will try first, and what happens to the lock afterwards.
Ask what follows if the lock does need drilling or replacing. Which lock or cylinder will be fitted, what does it cost, and is that included in the total you agreed? Our guide to whether a locksmith will have to drill your lock explains how to weigh that explanation once someone is at the door.
What can I check while I wait?
A few minutes with a phone can confirm a lot. Check the business has a traceable address and a history beyond yesterday. Look at recent reviews on more than one platform, reading the detail rather than the average score. Check whether the website names real people, shows genuine premises and describes real work.
Compare what you find with what you were told on the phone. If the advert promised one business and the reviews describe another, ask why before anyone arrives.
When the locksmith arrives, note the vehicle and the identification. It is reasonable to ask to see ID before work begins, and a professional will not be offended.
When should I not wait for a locksmith?
A lockout is an inconvenience. It is not always the most urgent problem.
If you are locked out somewhere unsafe late at night, your safety comes first: get somewhere lit and populated, and call someone you know. If there is any immediate danger, contact the emergency services rather than waiting for any tradesperson.
If a child or a vulnerable person is locked inside, or there is a risk such as gas left on, tell the locksmith at the outset. The situation changes the priority of the job, and in a genuine emergency the fire service may be the right first call.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to wait until morning to call a locksmith?
Usually, yes. Out-of-hours work reasonably costs more, and Trading Standards notes you are less exposed to a bad experience when the job can wait for normal working hours. 1 If you can stay with a friend or neighbour overnight, that is often the cheaper and calmer option.
Should I try to force a door or window myself when locked out?
No. Forcing a door or window usually causes damage that costs far more to repair than a locksmith’s visit, and it can create problems with your insurance. It can also injure you. Leave entry to someone with the skills and the authority to work on the property.
What if the locksmith demands more money when the job is done?
A surprise bill is the classic complaint in this trade. Your protection is the conversation beforehand: the agreed total, what it included, and what was said about possible changes. If the final demand differs from what you agreed, say so calmly and refer to the agreement. You are not obliged to pay for work or charges that were never mentioned. Demand-and-inflate billing is the hallmark of the locksmith scams Trading Standards warns about, and your agreed total is your defence against it.
Do I need to change the locks if I have lost my keys?
Not always, but it is a sensible question to raise. The answer depends on whether whoever finds the keys could connect them to your address, and on what type of lock and cylinder you have. Our guide to changing locks when you move house covers the related decisions.
What is the next sensible step?
If you are locked out now, call and ask the questions above. Notice how they are answered: clearly and patiently, or vaguely and impatiently. That answer tells you as much as the words.
If you are reading this before you need it, Trading Standards has the best advice of all: identify a trustworthy local locksmith before the emergency, and save the number. 1 An hour of calm research now beats five minutes of hurried searching on a doorstep at midnight.
AHLP answers its own phone around the clock, gives a fixed price before attending and will explain the entry approach and the total before work starts. Call 07700 100146, or request a callback if that is easier.
Sources
[1] London Trading Standards: Locked out? Don’t be caught out, too (2025).
[2] Master Locksmiths Association: guidance on choosing a locksmith and non-destructive entry. Trade-association guidance, not evidence of AHLP membership or endorsement.