Dosh dilemma: Emily’s '£49' locksmith turns into £700 nightmare

You get home after a long day. You put your key in the door… and snap.

That’s exactly what happened to Emily.

Standing outside her house late in the evening, she quickly searched online for an emergency locksmith. One advert jumped out: ‘Local locksmith, from £49’.

“Perfect”, she thought.

But within an hour, Sarah had paid over £700 to get back into her own home.

So what went wrong?

What happened?

Sarah called the number from the advert and explained her key had broken in the lock.

The person on the phone reassured her it wouldn’t cost much. They repeated the £49 call-out price, so she agreed.

When the locksmith arrived, things moved quickly:

• he didn’t ask many questions
• he drilled the lock almost immediately
• then he fitted a new lock

Finally, he handed Sarah the bill, £704 in total. 

The invoice included charges for drilling, parts, labour and VAT. The locksmith insisted she had to pay immediately by bank transfer.

Feeling stressed and wanting to get inside, Sarah paid.

Later, she discovered the lock he installed sells online for about £20.

Sadly, Sarah’s experience isn’t unusual.

Rogue locksmiths often advertise very low prices online, typically around £39 - £69, then dramatically increase the bill once the work is done.

Experts say these scams target people who are locked out or in a stressful situation, making them more likely to agree quickly.

Red flags to watch for

If you ever need a locksmith, look out for these warning signs:

Suspiciously cheap quotes

If the advert says £49 or similar, it could be bait to get you to call. A typical emergency locksmith job may cost around £200, depending on the work involved.

They drill the lock straight away

Drilling should normally be a last resort. Some scammers do it immediately so they can charge for a new lock.

No questions asked

A legitimate locksmith will often ask about the door, lock type and situation before attending.

No ID checks

Professionals may ask for ID to confirm you live at the property.

Pushy payment requests

If they insist on bank transfer only, it could be because you can’t easily charge it back later.

How to avoid the scam

Here are a few simple steps that could save you hundreds of pounds:

1. Ask if the quote is final

Confirm exactly what’s included and whether the price is an estimate.

2. Check credentials

Look for locksmiths vetted by the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) or other recognised trade bodies.

3. Ask if they will drill the lock

A good locksmith may be able to pick or repair it instead.

4. Pay by card if possible

This can give you extra protection if something goes wrong.

If you’ve already been overcharged

Don’t assume it’s too late.

You can:

• contact your bank and ask if they can recover the payment
• report the trader to Trading Standards
• report misleading adverts to Google

When you’re locked out, it’s easy to rush. But taking a minute to check the price and credentials could stop a £49 fix turning into a £700 bill.