Some do and some do not. The Master Locksmiths Association found most emergency locksmiths do not charge a separate call out fee, and where one is charged it may include the first hour of labour. Ask what any fee covers, and the total price, before anyone sets off.
A call out fee is a charge for coming to you. Where firms charge one, the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) says it can cover only the journey, or the journey plus a first period on site. Neither is wrong if it is stated up front. What matters is the total you will pay to have the job finished, so ask for that figure, not just the fee.
Low call out fees are a common bait. The MLA reports adverts with call out fees as low as £49 that turn into much higher bills once the job begins, and its price checklist warns that an advertised price could be just the call out fee. If a firm keeps repeating a low number but will not give you a total, treat that as a warning.
Ask whether you pay anything if the locksmith arrives and you decide not to go ahead, or if you get in before they reach you. A firm may charge for the visit in that case, and it is better to know before than to argue at the door. Get the answer in writing, by text or email, along with the total price including VAT.
Firms that work to a fixed price tend to build travel into the price of the job rather than list it separately. Our prices include travel and up to one hour on site, so what we quote is the price of the job rather than a fee for turning up, with any parts named and priced before we set off.
