It sounds like a pretty ominous title, and the unfortunate truth is that there are rogue traders in every industry.
The locksmith industry has seen its fair share of scam artists hitting the headlines over the years, and at Tyne Tees Locks we work with our customers to remind everyone to always ask for ID before they let anyone into their home, let alone someone who is going to potentially get them back into their property after being locked out!
In the UK, the locksmith industry is unregulated, allowing us to get on with our work without all the red tape. Still, it also invites anyone to call themselves a locksmith – untrained, unqualified, and unprofessional.
When choosing a locksmith, you must research beforehand, check out all of their credentials, read up on customer reviews, and ensure they have a landline number and a mobile – even in emergencies.
Of course, there are plenty of brilliant, trustworthy locksmiths in Newcastle and throughout the Northeast – we need to be able to identify the good from the bad.
If you’re looking for a locksmith in Newcastle who can change the locks, fit new locks, or someone in an emergency who knows what they’re doing and can help you asap – you need a professional (you need Tyne Tees Locksmiths).
In our last post, we provided some key questions that you could and should ask a locksmith before, during and after they carry out any work for you, helping you to avoid those rogue locksmiths.
We’ve also provided some of our top tips and signs for finding your perfect locksmith.
Are they local?
Yes, anyone can travel, and yes anyone can say they can reach you and that it’s not a problem. But knowing that a company you’re using is local provides you with peace of mind that they have an office near you, so you could potentially check out their premises if needed. And with a local company, you will often find more customer service!
Those companies that only offer a national number are much bigger so they lack the personal touch. Not only this but a lot of the work they get is then subcontracted out to other locksmiths who are not always vetted and don’t have their credentials checked. Oh, and they tend to be much more expensive too!
Working with a local locksmith means you will receive more customer service. The team can genuinely be with you faster and knows the area. Hence, they are more likely to be trusted, and they have a physical location to visit if you need to.
Do they come recommended?
With the increase in social media and our ability to instantly voice our opinions, checking out reviews online about a company you’re looking to use is a must.
Checking out the company’s customer testimonials and their independent reviews will also allow you to form a pretty strong opinion of the team in question, those you should be using and those you should most definitely be staying clear of.
You can also check with friends and family, ask around your local neighbourhood to see if they have any recommendations and have first-hand experience using them.
Sometimes these personal recommendations can be people’s safest bet.
Are they certified or accredited locksmiths?
It might be easy to call yourself a locksmith and hope you can pick a lock, but it is harder to prove that you are certified or accredited without the formal logos and identification to prove it.
To put your mind at ease that you’re using true professionals, look for a locksmith who carries an MLA (Master Locksmith Association) logo or a CRB logo to show that they are approved and safe to work on your property.
You need to feel confident that the person you are letting into your home is a person you can trust 100%.
What services do they offer?
Not every lock situation is the same; in some locking situations, you may require a UPVC specialist locksmith. It’s important to know what you’re looking for and if the locksmith can provide this service.
For example, do they have experience working in residential properties, commercial premises, and vehicles providing an auto-locking service? There are also emergency locksmith call-outs and if this is something that they can not only offer but because it’s an emergency they can provide the highest level of service and reach you quickly with a solution.
As we mentioned, asking questions, such as how much they charge is also important. What is their response time? Do they have IDs?
Quickfire signs you’ve found a lousy locksmith:
- You still don’t know the full price of the job, even though you’ve asked them several times. Watch out for those “hidden charges” and make sure you know right from the start what you’re being billed for.
- They don’t ask you for your ID to prove that the property they’re about to enter and get you back into is yours.
- They use more destructive methods than necessary when trying to repair locks or get you back into a property (a professional locksmith will always try to use the least destructive techniques first and can often do this without damaging your locks).
- They’re messy! They don’t clear up after themselves and leave more mess than what you first started with!
- You don’t get a full itemised invoice let alone a receipt for the work carried out – meaning you have no proof of the work done and no guarantee if anything else should go wrong.
We pride ourselves on being a local family business at Tyne Tees Locksmiths. Operating in Newcastle and throughout the Northeast for over 25 years, all our locksmiths are qualified, fully certified, and CRB-checked. We’re here to support you, whether with new or replacement locks, an emergency call-out service, or as an auto locksmith – we’re on hand to help.
Looking for an expert locksmith in Prudhoe and surrounding areas? Contact Tyne Tees Locks today for a free no-obligation quote.
