How to check a UK locksmith is genuine before they arrive
The seven pre-arrival checks
- CHECK 1
Get the company's Companies House number
Ask outright: "What is your Companies House registration number?" A genuine limited-company locksmith will read it out. Look the number up on find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk — the trading name, the registered office and the age of the company all appear. A brand-new company with a mail-forwarding registered office is not necessarily a scam, but it is a signal you should get every other check right.
- CHECK 2
Cross-check reviews on two independent platforms
A rogue operator can seed one review platform in an afternoon. Compare their Google Business Profile against Trustpilot or Checkatrade. Look for consistent review dates, reviewers with photos on their profile, and replies from the trader. A five-star profile on one platform with nothing anywhere else is a warning sign, not a reassurance.
- CHECK 3
Look at the Google Business Profile like a scam-hunter
Open Google Maps and look at the trader's listing. Are there photos of a real van with visible signage, real staff, real premises — or only stock images and a logo? A photo of the van outside a job with the van's number plate visible is very hard to fake. No photos at all, or photos that reverse-image-search back to a stock site, means the presence is manufactured.
- CHECK 4
Insist on a fixed all-in price in writing before they set off
Ask for the total, including call-out, labour, VAT and any standard parts, on WhatsApp, SMS or email. Under section 51 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, if no price is fixed the trader can only charge a reasonable one — but you avoid the whole fight if you have the price in writing before they leave. "From £X" and "we'll see when we get there" are not prices. Written = enforceable.
- CHECK 5
Ask what non-destructive entry methods they will attempt first
Most residential lockouts can be resolved by picking, bumping or slipping the lock with no damage. Drilling the cylinder is a last resort — it destroys the lock and turns a £70 lockout into a £250 replacement. A genuine locksmith will describe the methods they will try in order. An immediate "we'll just drill it" answer is the single strongest red flag on this list.
- CHECK 6
Confirm photo ID and who is actually coming
Ask for the full name of the person who will attend and confirm they will show photo ID on arrival. Ask whether they are on staff or a subcontractor — and if a subcontractor, who you are actually paying. A refusal to name the person, or a "we send whoever is nearest" answer, means you cannot chase anyone if something goes wrong.
- CHECK 7
Search their landline and mobile numbers on Google in quotes
Paste each number into a Google search with quotation marks. Genuine local businesses have that number appearing across their own site, their listings and a handful of directories — same trading name, same address, over years. Scam operators recycle phone numbers behind rotating names; the same number tied to three unrelated "locksmith" websites is a rotating-brand red flag.
Copy this message and send it to the locksmith before they set off
A genuine locksmith will answer all six of these without complaint. A scam operator will refuse, stall, or give a "we'll sort it when we get there" reply — that is the red flag on its own.
Red flags that mean walk away
Any one of these on its own is enough to end the call and try a different trader.
- ×Advertised "from £39 / £49 / £59" headlines that only cover the first minute on site.
- ×A trading name that does not match the name on the payment link, invoice or bank details.
- ×A hard refusal to give a fixed price before setting off.
- ×"Police approved" or "police recommended" claims — the police do not endorse locksmiths.
- ×Pressure to pay in cash on completion, or by bank transfer to a personal-name account.
- ×"It's a special lock, it'll cost £500" once on site, when the price on the phone was £59.
- ×An unmarked van, no photo ID, no receipt or written invoice offered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a UK locksmith is a real registered business?+
Do UK locksmiths need any licence or accreditation?+
What is a safe UK locksmith call-out fee to agree in advance?+
Is "police approved" a real credential for a UK locksmith?+
What should I do if I have already let a locksmith into my home and they are trying to change the price?+
How can LockSafe help me avoid rogue locksmiths?+
Sources and useful contacts
- Companies House — find and update company information
The government register of UK limited companies. Free to search.
- Citizens Advice — consumer helpline and complaint routing
Helpline: 0808 223 1133 (England and Wales), Mon–Fri 9am–5pm.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 — section 51 (reasonable price)
Where no price is fixed, only a reasonable price is payable.
- Which? — Consumer rights for services you paid for
Plain-English explainer of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 as it applies to services.
Related: see the 8 red flags that mean a locksmith is a scam — each with a 30-second check you can run before you let anyone in.
If a locksmith has already charged you an amount you think is unfair, run our dispute-strength check — it produces a case-strength score and a pre-filled complaint letter in under a minute.
Myth-buster: “Police approved” locksmith — a phrase that is a lie by definition in the UK, and what real vetting looks like.
Or use the verify-a-locksmith-by-name tool — enter a trading name to get one-click check-links to Companies House, the ICO register and LockSafe’s verified list.
If you are locked out RIGHT NOW: the 90-second plan — safety check, free options, verify, book, in the right order.
Skip the whole checklist
LockSafe runs the company checks for you, shows the assessment fee upfront, delivers the itemised quote to your phone before any work starts, and records a timestamped PDF report of the whole job. If the price is ever changed on site, you have proof.