Warning signs include a very low advertised price, such as £39, £49 or £59, no business name or locksmith's name you can check, vagueness about the total price, and a push to drill the lock first. Claims of police approval or accreditation you cannot verify are another sign.
One of the most common tricks is bait and switch. A paid advert near the top of the search results shows a low price, and the bill at the end is far higher. The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) says the prices it sees in these adverts are usually £39, £49 or £59, and that the adverts are switched on in different areas at different times of day.
On the phone, listen for what is missing. A rogue firm may ask for your address straight away but ask nothing about your door or lock. It may refuse to give a total and only repeat the low number. It may not know who is coming, because the job is passed to a subcontractor. A genuine locksmith can price a job you have described before setting off.
Check any claim you cannot verify. The MLA says the police do not approve locksmiths and are highly unlikely to recommend a particular company, so 'police approved' is a red flag. Claims of trade body approval or background checks can be checked with the body named. There is no government licence for locksmiths in the UK, so a title or a logo proves nothing on its own.
At the door, be wary of anyone who reaches for a drill first. The MLA says skilled locksmiths normally try non destructive methods before drilling, which is usually a last resort. Other signs it lists are promises that your insurer will refund the bill, and card payments set up so that more money can be taken later as a recurring payment.
Reports are rising. The Guardian reported that scam reports to the MLA rose 147% in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. BBC News analysed 129 responses from people who said a rogue locksmith had affected them, a self selected group rather than a random sample, and found an average first quote of £91 and an average final bill of £773.
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Related questions
- How can I avoid being scammed by a locksmith?
- What to do if scammed by a locksmith?
- Why do locksmiths charge so much?
