Or maybe the job didn't go to plan, you're now past the point of no return and in for the long haul. In hindsight maybe calling a professional might have been a good idea but hey you've saved some cash and the result is OK (ish)!!
Perhaps the worst has happened, you're in way over your depth and that seemingly simple job has now gone from bad to worse. Any cash you saved by not getting a third party to do the job has now been spent on extras parts needed, the weekend is over and you're still there repeating the same process over and over again, maybe this time it'll work?
We've all been there, mine most recently was snubbing the offer of a fitting service when buying a new bathroom floor. I surfed the web a few youtube videos, yeah there's a few odd shapes to cut around (pipes, toilet bowl etc) but why not save a few ££££'s and hey it looks easy!
Several hours later, with most areas either undercut, or even worse the overcut parts (no coming back from those!) I was left with a floor which probably looked better before I started, I'd wasted a load of cash on flooring and what now? Hide the mistakes and swallow my pride, spend more and risk trying again? or call the professionals?
Don't get me wrong I've been lucky and had many successes along my DIY career but it's always the disasters that stick in the mind - I chose to cover the mistakes with new bathroom cabinets (more expense and I still no the mistakes lurk beneath!)
I see the same mindset with some customers when it comes to calling a locksmith.
- Maybe you've heard the stories of the rip-offs - Parting with £100's for work that wasn't needed
- Perhaps you're locked out of your home but you've seen someone on the internet or TV open doors with a credit card or picked the lock
- Or you just need a simple lock changed - Screwfix and B&Q sell them how hard can it be to DIY?
- Had a locksmith out before and decided you don't want to part with the cash for a 5 minute job
As a Colchester locksmith I'm going to answer all of the above to the best of my ability. I think this is important info as yes I find myself doing the same when dealing with other trades
Rip-Offs
Without doubt there are some "rip-off" locksmiths some of which have become infamous due to Watchdog and similar TV programmes. I'm not surprised, every trade has it's rogues, some get caught, but sadly a lot more still trade and manage to evade prosecution by staying just on the right side of the law or by using small print on their paperwork to legitimise what they are doing.
Let's say today you're on Google and searching for a "locksmith in Colchester"
Loads of local locksmith companies right?
This one's got an 01206 number so it's definitely local?
Really good price - Cheaper than I thought I'm going to call this one?
Police Approved Locksmith - I want a company the Police approve
Sadly the reality is most of these companies aren't based locally. The addresses they show (if they exist at all) are likely not legitimate addresses from which these companies trade. Most will be central Colchester and this is done to give the impression that they are local, but also to spoof Google into thinking they're local so they appear higher in your Google search
Picking the locksmith with a local landline is no longer a guarantee they're a local locksmith. Ghost numbers can be purchased for any area code, giving you the customer the impression they're local, in most instances these numbers are either diverted to a callcentre or rerouted to a locksmith who may, or may not be in the same county.
Prices really are a grey area when it comes to dealing with some locksmiths. Some charge an hourly or half-hourly rate, some have a call out fee, some quote a fixed price but it excludes parts and the price varies if it's outside normal working hours the list goes on and on.
And finally Police Approved Locksmith - Put plainly it doesn't exist. The police do not have a preferred list of locksmiths they will pass on to you as "approved" good guys. The police callcentre will be doing the same as you and start googling. I know this as a fact as I receive random calls from them asking for me to assist. Word of caution - Before you make the Police your first call when searching for a locksmith I can assure you they will in most instances reject your call and if you've decided to call 999 will likely tell you you're wasting police time. The only calls they've ever forwarded to me have involved vulnerable people.
So check, check, check....call the local locksmith listings, don't tell them where you are just ask where they're based (if they're using multiple addresses they won't want to answer this), ask for a fixed price quote (for them to do this they will need basic information so they should be asking questions - this will give you an idea whether you're dealing with a locksmith or a call centre). Try and use a website that has verified the location, background and customer feedback of this locksmith company - Checkatrade.com are recommended
As a little bit of background Pro-Lock Locksmiths are based in West Bergholt near Colchester. We operate a 24hr locksmith service for Colchester and surrounding area with an average 30 minute response day and night. We don't have a callout fee. We don't charge hourly or half hourly rates. We only provide fixed price quotes that include any parts required. We will always quote over the phone where possible but if the situation is difficult for you to explain clearly or if it needs further investigation we will attend, free of charge, assess the fault and provide a written quote before ANY chargeable work begins. That quote is valid for 14 days so if you want to have a think or make comparisons - no problem. Background and feedback from 100's of previous customers can be found at www.checkatrade.com/prolock If any parts are supplied they will be guaranteed for 24 months (no other locksmiths provide this level of confidence in their products)
If you're locked out of your home we will respond promptly and after a few basic questions be able to provide a quote over the phone. As NDE (Non Destructive Entry) specialists we will aim to get you back into your home without any damage to the door or lock. This is especially important if you're locked out and your keys are inside, you'll be amazed how many so called locksmiths arrive and reach for a drill (then they get to sell you a new lock at an exorbitant rate as well!!). One of the most common issues we see is a uPVC door with a key on the inside preventing you from getting back in (even if you have a key). We carry the specialist equipment to get you back in quickly with minimal fuss in this scenario and we have the correct experience and equipment to deal with all scenarios where a locksmith is needed
Youtube videos can show me how to open any door / lock
I have no doubt that occasionally people get lucky and do find a way back into their home when they've been locked out.
- Maybe an upstairs window is open and if I stack two wheelie bins on top of each other I can climb up?
- Seen a video where you can pick a lock with a paperclip or a tennis ball (yes this video does actually exist) or open a door with a credit card
I'll answer these all below to hopefully give you some insight on how it is from a locksmiths point of view
So you've spied an upstairs window open? We get calls from people who are locked out and yes that tempting upstairs window is open
Maybe other people spot an open window, manage to get climb up and get through and never call at all - I'll never know but is it really worth the risk?
Maybe you've been out for the evening, had a few drinks and realised your keys are missing?
Your confidence is high so why not?
My opinion - It's your call - You know the situation but if you're not sure call Pro-Lock you may be surprised by just how reasonable our prices are PS if you're going through a window head first don't forget the big drop from the sill to the floor that's if you don't get stuck climbing through
Youtube is amazing - Want to pick a lock? There are 1000's of videos showing you how to do just that - Who'd have thought locks would be so easy to pick?
Sadly no - Way too many videos of lock picking on youtube are spoofed - Notice how they brag about picking the latest high security lock normally from a recognisable, high profile brand? There's a reason for that they want you to view it, maybe you'll click on an ad while your there and earn them some revenue, either way another view added to the pot
In many instances these locks have been tampered with (pins or security features removed) to make it look easy. You will find occasional gems where there appears to be some genuine lock-picking involved but these will normally involve specific lock picking tools and a lot of experience. Another point to be made is that even these "lock picking gurus" are likely to have had practice runs with these locks. If you put two identical locks side by side they will pick in slightly different ways. These practice runs (sometimes over a considerable amount of time) means they know how this lock reacts to picking and what will and won't work. So realistically, without the tools how do you think this'll work out for you?
But they open doors with credit cards in the movies? There actually is some logic in the principle of this type of door opening. But any door from the 1960's onwards a credit card is likely to just end up with a destroyed credit card and a locked door. Ask yourself this - If it was that easy to open a door surely every burglar would just carry his wallet around with him - so technically if you go out with your wallet or purse tonight are you going "equipped to steal"
Thankfully the answer is no. Reality is modern doors are designed to deflect this type of attack. Yes locksmiths do use a tool which looks like a giant credit card on certain occasions (perhaps this is where the rumours started) but it is only used in certain scenarios is a specific grade/thickness and needs a locksmiths experience to use correctly and not cause any damage.
Before you ignore all of this info and reach for youtube and your wallet / purse I'd like to tell you about a recent callout in Colchester. I arrived to find a couple freezing cold outside their home at 3am. Apparently they'd been outside 2 hours before finally calling a locksmith. Yes they'd looked at youtube and given it a try (for the record hammering your lock with a screwdriver borrowed from a neighbour doesn't work) then as this was a multipoint door they'd forced the handle down destroying the mechanism gearbox so now the lock is damaged and the handle just spins and spins. Refusing to give up they'd then broken two credit cards and finally a wiper blade from their car was also attempted (the broken cards and wiper blade were discovered when the door was opened - they forgot to mention these attempts on arrival!!)
So instead of a straightforward "gain entry" charge with no damage and a 30 minute average response they were now borderline hyperthermic with a door that needed a new mechanism gearbox (we carry all common ones in stock) along with a new lock (all sizes always stocked on our vehicles). Yes it was more expensive, a waste of two hours when they could have been back in the warm, and I hope it didn't rain on their trip to Halfords the following day as the wiper blade was beyond repair.
Living the DIY dream - DIY Stores (Screwfix, B&Q etc)
DIY stores are great - whether needing something for the garden, decorating, the latest tool, whatever you need they seem to have it - so why not buy a lock from them?
Changing a lock on a uPVC or composite door? They're pretty straightforward to change over right?
Maybe you've got an old mortice lock that needs changing?
Want to update your home with the latest in security?
Insurance company asking for British Standard BS3621 locks to be fitted
To us, as locksmiths, changing locks is part of our everyday working life. But to the homeowner this can be a daunting task. The reality is most locks are fairly simple to replace like for like but the key (excuse the pun) is to make sure you're buying the right lock - right size, right security level etc
First I'll deal with the euro cylinder lock - this is the lock thats fitted to millions of uPVC and composite doors in the UK
Yes your DIY store has this type of lock on the shelves and you can expect to see well known brands including Yale. Unfortunately one size does not fit all and the chances are a DIY store will only have a few sizes in stock. With over 40 different sizes you may get lucky and find one that fits, maybe it sticks out a bit but it does the job? Stop!! Heard of lock snapping? If you have a standard lock your property it at risk of a lock snapping attack and if the cylinder sticks out it's almost encouraging an opportunist burglar to have a go. Demonstration videos of this type of attack can be found at www.ultion-lock.co.uk
So you got lucky, you've found the right size, you've figured out how to fit it and it looks great!
Lets talk security ratings - Is your lock insurance compliant - Will it protect your home? Again visit the web link above to find out more what the markings on a lock actually mean
To give you a small overview about how Pro-Lock operate here's a brief introduction. We carry all euro cylinder lock sizes in stock. Our standard locks are 6 pin anti-pick/drill and are supplied with 3 keys and a 24 month warranty. Any price we quote is for supply AND fitting. On arrival we take all relevant measurements and check the security rating of the existing lock. We provide a quote for a standard lock and also a high security alternative (again all sizes carried in stock). We show you both lock types and clearly explain the differences and answer any questions you may have. If you're happy with the quote we can complete all work for you immediately. Often with multipoint doors when we get the initial enquiry asking about a lock change we will ask a few basic questions. It can be common for alignment issues or mechanism faults to be preventing the door locking even though it seems to just be a key that doesn't turn. Imagine if you've spent your Saturday afternoon in a DIY store, changed the lock and your door still won't lock!? We attend free of charge to assess the fault. This allows us to make a few checks and ensure it is the lock that needs changing. Once the lock is changed we will also make any corrections to the door frame alignment and perform a basic service to the mechanism ensuring your door is working correctly. All of this for a very reasonable price and backed up by the best warranty in the industry.
This type of attention to detail and just as importantly the knowledge experience allowing us to properly identify the fault (and any underlying cause) is what separates us from a DIY repair.
We carry all lock types in stock including BS3621 locks and if a lock does need ordering they are couriered to us on a next day basis. Importantly if your door is not locking and parts do need ordering we will always fit a temporary lock to ensure your home is secure.
You can also talk to us about the latest security products. We regularly fit more recent arrivals in the home security market including the latest range of Yale electronic handles which can be operated with a key tag or even your mobile phone. We have the ability to talk through the pros and cons of all security products and provide a competitive quote for the supply and fit of these
If you're considering fitting an extra lock to your door, maybe a british standard deadlock we have the equipment to accurately cut and install a mortice lock to your existing door with an excellent standard of finish.
I'm locked out but I'm not going to pay a locksmith for 5 minutes work
So you're locked out of your home, had a ring around the local locksmiths, agreed a price, they arrive and have your door open in less than a couple of minutes. Now it's time to pay the agreed price but suddenly the price seems exceptionally high for just a few minutes work surely?
I'm going to answer this as best as I can from my perspective as a locksmith. I can't comment on an experience you've had with any other locksmith company or if you've had the pleasure of dealing with a rogue locksmith (we've dealt with those earlier in this blog post).
From my perspective I am not looking to put myself in a situation where you feel you've been overcharged. I have some areas that I concentrate on when I receive your initial call :
- A few basic questions so I can give you an accurate quote - I'll want to know exactly what situation you're in. Questions may sound strange but I need to identify whether a door has closed behind you or if you've lost keys, the type of door/lock, do you have spare keys inside etc - this info allows me to provide an accurate quote and gives me an idea what type of issue you have and what equipment will be needed on arrival
- Secondly I'll need your location - this allows me to give you an expected time of arrival. Our average response time is 30 minutes. Any delays along the way I'll give you a call to keep you updated (delays are very rare but will always keep you informed)
- On arrival (unlike some locksmiths) I won't make a job look more complex than it actually is. My aim is to get you back in your property quickly and with minimal fuss. The reason it can sometimes appear quick is because we use the latest, high quality equipment and have likely done similar jobs 100's if not 1000's of times before.
Still feel it's a lot of money for very little work? Mind in overdrive thinking locksmiths must earn £1000's per day? Fancy a change in career?
The facts are we already know our quotes are more than competitive compared to the competition. Put aside those few minutes "work" and recall that a locksmith dropped everything and was at your door in less than 30 minutes. Had all the latest equipment (£1000's invested) to ensure he didn't have to damage your door or drill your lock, then most importantly many years experience all meaning your back in your home quickly. Fact is the reason the job was quick is because we've done our job well - our charge is a for a combination of quick response, the right equipment, travel time and years of experience not the few minutes you observe.
Be assured as well we also attend the "not so straightforward" callouts where the door doesn't open quickly - failed nightlatches or jammed mortice locks are prime examples. It's at times like these that we reach for more equipment (more £1000's) and delve deep into our experience to get these doors open in the fastest possible time. Funnily enough it's these longer, more technical jobs where people tell us they think we quoted an amazing price.
Until we arrive we don't know what we're going to face. Even with the best intentions faults can be mis-described but when we provide a quote we work to that - some just take longer than others
PS We regularly complete work that other "locksmiths" have walked away from. Imagine waiting for an hour plus only to find the company you called take one look and decide they can't help or worst scenario damage your door then do a disappearing act.
And this brings me nicely to my final thoughts on price :
“If you think its expensive to hire a professional to do a job, wait until you hire an amateur!”
I hope this blog post has answered some of your questions and please feel free to add any comments
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