Reputable locksmiths

[AdamWW]

There's been a bit in the media recently about rogue locksmiths who will charge ludicrious amounts of money dealing with emergencies.
I don't currently have a problem but thinking ahead here, does anyone happen to know if membership in the MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) is sufficient to show that a locksmith is reputable?

Obviously one should check them on the MLA web site itself rather than just taking their word for it.

The articles I read didn't seem to be terribly helpful on this point.

 

[styles]

Generally speaking I'd say it's sufficient.

There are three levels of membership though so, similar to Gas Safe, I'd always check the actual register using their membership details and make your mind up from there.

MLA Membership Sectors - Master Locksmiths Association

Master Locksmiths Association comprises the following membership categories that you can join. Find out about our membership categories here.

www.locksmiths.co.uk

The other thing I would do is when you contact them, be very clear in pricing questions. Ask them how much they will charge if they drill the lock, how much they will charge for picking it, and if they need to replace the lock, how much they will charge for the parts and labour for doing so. If the answer to any of these is anything other than a specific figure or acceptable range, go elsewhere.

The classic locksmith scam is effectively a bait and switch. They'll say oh the emergency callout is £50 and the picking is £50 as we charge an hour's labour minimum, or something like that. Then they'll arrive, barely even try and pick the lock, drill it, replace it with a new lock, and then charge something like £300 for a lock which cost £30 from the wholesalers.

 

[AdamWW]

The classic locksmith scam is effectively a bait and switch. They'll say oh the emergency callout is £50 and the picking is £50 as we charge an hour's labour minimum, or something like that. Then they'll arrive, barely even try and pick the lock, drill it, replace it with a new lock, and then charge something like £300 for a lock which cost £30 from the wholesalers.

So I gather.

Hence my interest in someone I can have some belief won't do that...

Anyway - thanks.

 

[cb a1]

Worth a read of the locksmith paradox.

Dan Ariely, a Psychology and Behavior Economics Professor at Duke University, raised a very interesting idea about a locksmith. It is definitely worth a watch, but what he questions is how we perceive value in our lives. He tells of a locksmith who, as he gets better at his job, moving from apprentice to master, ends up upsetting customers because of how quickly he can fix their lock issues. While the locksmith is no doubt saving the customer both time and money (as he no longer has to break the lock and buy a new one), the customer doesn’t feel the value is there for the money they spend due to the shortened time input.

 

[simonw]

Does a locksmith having membership of the MLA give the customer any additional protection when it comes to pricing ?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Worth a read of the locksmith paradox.

I think there's a more general paradox.

When you watch someone very skilled doing their job they do it quickly and apparently effortlessly.

That can make you think that it's very easy with the outcome either as is mentioned, or a do-it-yourself attempt next time.

 

[AdamWW]

Does a locksmith having membership of the MLA give the customer any additional protection when it comes to pricing ?

Well that is indeed what I am curious about.

At the least I'd like to think there is some process by which if they are ripping people off their membership could be revoked.

 

[styles]

Does a locksmith having membership of the MLA give the customer any additional protection when it comes to pricing ?

No. But if an MLA locksmith lands up with a bunch of complaints to the MLA, they'll be struck off the register. So it is a certain level of assurance, but not a guarantee.

 

[najaB]

The classic locksmith scam is effectively a bait and switch. They'll say oh the emergency callout is £50 and the picking is £50 as we charge an hour's labour minimum, or something like that. Then they'll arrive, barely even try and pick the lock, drill it, replace it with a new lock, and then charge something like £300 for a lock which cost £30 from the wholesalers.

I suppose that if you have the opportunity, before calling the locksmith out you could pop to a hardware shop and buy a lock barrel. Or, for that matter, buy one in advance and keep it in the house just in case.

 

[styles]

I suppose that if you have the opportunity, before calling the locksmith out you could pop to a hardware shop and buy a lock barrel. Or, for that matter, buy one in advance and keep it in the house just in case.

Yeah this is probably wise advice. We have a few spare unused locks in the shed.

But a lot of locksmiths callouts are for people who don't have the keys to get into their house. So it either requires picking the lock, or drilling it. The lazy scammers will go straight to drilling, whereas even I, as an autistic teenager, could pick most locks in under an hour even 10 years ago.

Though you're right really, that if a locksmith tried charging you £300 for a new lock you could just hand them one from your kitchen drawer and say fit this one please!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Most modern Eurolocks can be configured so you have to actively lock them rather than them locking when you close the door. Couple this with a spare key with a nearby friend or trusted neighbour (or one buried somewhere in the garden) and you're unlikely to ever need to call one.

 

[styles]

Most modern Eurolocks can be configured so you have to actively lock them rather than them locking when you close the door. Couple this with a spare key with a nearby friend or trusted neighbour (or one buried somewhere in the garden) and you're unlikely to ever need to call one.

I have had to call a locksmith exactly once in my life.

We were renting a property, with not very well-known neighbours, and we lost the mortice lock key.

Guy came out and tried to charge us hundreds of pounds.

I literally said to him, "Get ****ed." I found a way in via some steep ladders, got my lock picking set which I'd ordered from AliExpress a decade before, and within 20 minutes I had the lock open.

 

[najaB]

Though you're right really, that if a locksmith tried charging you £300 for a new lock you could just hand them one from your kitchen drawer and say fit this one please!

Yeah, that's precisely what I had in mind.

 

[barringtoncem]

I have only had to call a locksmith once due to lost keys and that was done through the household insurance at no cost so presumably they invoiced the insurance company direct unless they were under contract to the insurance company

 

[Trackman]

I have had to call a locksmith exactly once in my life.

We were renting a property, with not very well-known neighbours, and we lost the mortice lock key.

Guy came out and tried to charge us hundreds of pounds.

I literally said to him, "Get ****ed." I found a way in via some steep ladders, got my lock picking set which I'd ordered from AliExpress a decade before, and within 20 minutes I had the lock open.

You were going some to pick a mortice lock, well done!
A friend of mine, who I've not seen in a long time is a locksmith in London and showed me how to pick your standard Yale front door lock; mortice locks are different beasts you need different tools. Most of his trade was from people being locked out of cars.

..... Couple this with a spare key with a nearby friend or trusted neighbour (or one buried somewhere in the garden) and you're unlikely to ever need to call one.

This is sound advice; a trusted neighbour has spare keys for my house. It's funny when I went around, she said another one? and put my name on the lanyard. Apparently, she has keys for about six houses some of these are mainly for plant watering/cat feeding duties when they are away or whatever.
@styles I also keep a 'W Rake' and tensioner in the back garden in case said neighbour is out.

 

[styles]

You were going some to pick a mortice lock, well done!

I bought bump keys. Like I say, autisim I can pick locks like a boss.

Most locks can be picked or bumped in under a minute. It's kinda scary when you realise it!

 

[johntea]

We had our back door one replaced the other day as we had a tradesman round for some other work who pointed out the existing lock (from 20+ years ago) could be picked with something as simple as a screwdriver!

Apparently the newer locks have a lot more 'technology' to make it rather more difficult...although not impossible of course...to break into

 

[styles]

We had our back door one replaced the other day as we had a tradesman round for some other work who pointed out the existing lock (from 20+ years ago) could be picked with something as simple as a screwdriver!

Apparently the newer locks have a lot more 'technology' to make it rather more difficult...although not impossible of course...to break into

As a hobvbyist locksmith, I'd say this is garbage.

There are absolutely some types of locks which are more difficult to pick or bump than others, but I'm betting that if you invited me round for a brew I could bypass your lock before the kettle boils.

This is really why CCTV etc is so important in my view.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a hobvbyist locksmith, I'd say this is garbage.

There are absolutely some types of locks which are more difficult to pick or bump than others, but I'm betting that if you invited me round for a brew I could bypass your lock before the kettle boils.

This is really why CCTV etc is so important in my view.

Security is a game of one upmanship. You just need to be more secure than other nearby houses. In the end if someone really wants to get in they'll put a brick through the window.

 

[cb a1]

Security is a game of one upmanship. You just need to be more secure than other nearby houses. In the end if someone really wants to get in they'll put a brick through the window.

I recall reading that house burglaries are now much less common. Very few people have cash in the house. TVs are too big to nick. Other electronic gadgets are typically so cheap to buy there's no market for fencing them. Mobile phones are worth nicking, but they're nearly always with the person.
If someone does break into your house, it's because there's something specific that they know you have and no lock will keep out someone determined to get in and they will not be deterred by CCTV.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I recall reading that house burglaries are now much less common. Very few people have cash in the house. TVs are too big to nick. Other electronic gadgets are typically so cheap to buy there's no market for fencing them. Mobile phones are worth nicking, but they're nearly always with the person.
If someone does break into your house, it's because there's something specific that they know you have and no lock will keep out someone determined to get in and they will not be deterred by CCTV.

Usually it's the keys for valuable cars, stolen to order. It's largely too hard to steal cars the traditional way, you need a low loader and crane/jacks or the keys.

 

[JamesT]

I recall reading that house burglaries are now much less common. Very few people have cash in the house. TVs are too big to nick. Other electronic gadgets are typically so cheap to buy there's no market for fencing them. Mobile phones are worth nicking, but they're nearly always with the person.
If someone does break into your house, it's because there's something specific that they know you have and no lock will keep out someone determined to get in and they will not be deterred by CCTV.

I don’t know how common my experience is, having been burgled three times in the last couple of decades. The first couple were the house being broken into and items such as laptops and games consoles being stolen. The most recent was an outbuilding having the door forced and a bike taken.
I don’t think any of these items were stolen specifically, but they were worthwhile to grab.

 

[WesternLancer]

There's been a bit in the media recently about rogue locksmiths who will charge ludicrious amounts of money dealing with emergencies.
I don't currently have a problem but thinking ahead here, does anyone happen to know if membership in the MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) is sufficient to show that a locksmith is reputable?

Obviously one should check them on the MLA web site itself rather than just taking their word for it.

The articles I read didn't seem to be terribly helpful on this point.

Where are you located?
Someone here might have a recommendation.

 

[The exile]

Security is a game of one upmanship. You just need to be more secure than other nearby houses. In the end if someone really wants to get in they'll put a brick through the window.

But of course, if you look like Fort Knox you might as well put up a neon sign saying “stuff worth nicking is here” (or “cannabis farm” I suppose!)

 

[najaB]

But of course, if you look like Fort Knox you might as well put up a neon sign saying “stuff worth nicking is here” (or “cannabis farm” I suppose!)

The goal isn't to be the most secure house, it's to make sure that you're not the easiest target.

 

[Djgr]

Personally I would look at reviews but analyse them carefully.

I often find my local Facebook community group very useful and certainly for my go-to locksmith.