£1,406 Locksmith Warning Issued to Millions of UK Homeowners

UK homes face a £1,406 warning. Locksmith fraud is getting more common. A woman had a key break in her door. Two men demanded £1,406 for the fix and wouldn’t leave until she paid them.

A letter described a similar event. A babysitter called a locksmith online and he quoted £49 for the visit. He then said the lock needed full repair, costing around £400 in his shop.

He returned with someone else later, refitted it, and gave a £1,406 bill. They refused to leave until payment. Reviews mentioned the same problem with the locksmith claiming failure of the mechanism.

Locksmith scams increased by 20% last year, according to the Master Locksmiths Association. Watch out for very cheap prices, below £60, as those can signal a potential scam.

Drilling the lock at the start is a bad sign. One person shared a similar experience, calling a firm advertised as local that used a system to arrange locksmiths.

The locksmith came an hour late and said the cylinder must be replaced at a cost of over £450. The person then called a named local firm that came quickly and fixed it for £75.

The first firm wanted to charge for visiting, but the person refused and asked about working for scammers. This trade should need certification to prove they are not criminals.

People give locksmiths access to homes and items; therefore, they need to trust these workers. It’s wrong that anyone can easily become a locksmith, as there isn’t enough supervision.