A reputable locksmith say they are being undercut, impersonated and pushed out of work by rogue operators exploiting people with ‘bait-and-switch scams’.
Mario’s Locksmiths’ Eugene O’Sullivan says customers often believe they are calling a reputable local shop, only to discover later they have been misled.
It comes as a recent BBC investigation revealed rogue operator 24/7 Locksmiths charging thousands of pounds for simple jobs after luring in customers with an initial cheap quote.
O’Sullivan said: “If you rang them and asked: ‘Are you Mario’s Locksmith? Are you Banham?’ They always say yes.”
He says rogue firms ‘flood the search engines with their presence’ and often use generic names to make it easy for people to mistake them for established businesses.
Many scam operators use well-financed websites and paid ads to top search results, often supported by fake or purchased reviews.
Initially, customers are typically quoted £40 or £50 on the phone, only to be charged hundreds – or in some cases thousands – once the work begins.
One solicitor contacted Mario’s Locksmiths after she mistakenly contacted 24/7 Locksmiths who tried to bill her £2,300 for a job worth £350.
O’Sullivan said: “She wasn’t putting up with any intimidation but not everyone can do that.”
He says his team have even arrived at jobs to find rogue locksmiths already on the doorstep with their drill – usually the ‘very last resort for any other locksmith’.
With no government licensing system for locksmiths, the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) operates as one of several voluntary bodies setting standards for the trade.
According to the MLA, complaints about suspected overcharging have risen from 280 in 2023 to 350 in 2024 – reaching 402 last year.
O’Sullivan believes many people feel pressured because the locksmith knows where they live and are ‘preying on people’ frightened after being locked out or following a break-in.
He added: “There’s a certain vulnerability when someone knows where you live.”
Mario’s Locksmiths also often ends up replacing locks that were fitted only the night before because customers no longer trust the rogue operator.
O’Sullivan also warned that some of the locks installed by rogue operators – whilst described as ‘high security’ – cost as little as £5 or £6 wholesale.
The trader says the UK’s lack of regulation makes it easier for rogue firms to operate with the issue often treated as a ‘victimless crime’ even though the impact is real.
“At every level of society, people can’t afford to be throwing money away,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s still theft.”
The locksmith wants greater public awareness on how to find reputable locksmiths approved by the MLA to ensure people avoid the ‘bait-and–switch scams’.
He added: “Have a good locksmith in your phone before you need one.”
Featured image credit: Carmel Hobbs
