What to do if scammed by a locksmith?

If you are in immediate danger, call the police. Once you are safe, collect the evidence: the invoice or receipt, any texts, emails and call logs, the advert or listing you used, and photos of the lock and door. Write down what was said about the price, and when. Your bank, Trading Standards and any claim will rely on it.

If you paid by credit card and the job cost more than £100 and no more than £30,000, write to your card provider asking for a Section 75 claim. If it cost less, or you paid by debit card, ask for a chargeback instead; Citizens Advice says a debit card chargeback can be used however much you paid. If you are refused, you may be able to go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

If you paid by bank transfer, contact your bank straight away. The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) suggests asking whether the payment can be reimbursed under the bank's scam process, explaining why you believe you were misled and sending your evidence. Then check your account for repeat payments: the MLA says some rogue locksmiths set them up, and that your bank must cancel one when you ask.

Report the firm. Citizens Advice runs the consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 and an online form, and passes reports to Trading Standards. If an advert misled you, the MLA suggests reporting it to the Advertising Standards Authority, and it publishes complaint templates for both. Reviews on the sites where the firm advertises can also warn others.

If you were not told the cost before the work, or how the total was worked out, the MLA says you may be able to make a small claim for the difference between what you paid and a reasonable charge. You can make a money claim online through GOV.UK for amounts under £10,000. A written assessment from another locksmith of what the job should have cost can support it.

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