The £49 ‘driller killer’: steps to avoid locksmith scams

Late on a Sunday you put a key in the door and it snaps. You search for an emergency locksmith online, call one offering the job for about £69, and when the person arrives they drill through the lock within minutes and replace it. A bill then arrives for more than £700, with a breakdown showing charges far above the original quote—a common bait-and-switch where advertised £49 or similar figures lure customers and invoices end up around ten times that amount.

The Master Locksmith Association says such scams have grown steadily over five years, with 66% more overcharging complaints in 2025 than in 2021, and 402 complaints received last year. Cases include readers initially quoted £49 then billed £1,406, and another charged £729.60 for a lock whose cylinder had been quoted at £375 but could be bought online for about £20.

Rogue operators often appear in their own car, without a uniform and carrying little equipment, then drill the lock rather than ask questions or check ID.

United Kingdom

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