Not transparent and rude owner.
Interesting experience with this locksmith. What I wanted was a replacement lock for the entrance and a lock for the outbuilding.
The chap turned up and initially quoted £375. I eventually got him down to £240. The lock for the property entrance was done and seems to a secure standard (£140). My problem here was damaged walls and the mess left behind due to the work carried out. The door frame now looks very unsightly. I was told nothing of the damage or the impact on the frame if a different latch is fitted.
The outbuilding was eventually fitted with a deadbolt. I provided the padlock and the technician drilled out the screw holes at my request. (£100). This is a lot of money to fit a bolt.
It was only while I was cleaning up after the technician left and surveying the repair/repainting required for the walls adjacent to the door did I start to realise that I had made a mistake and not checked the background of this company, despite leaving a half decent review that only goes direct to the owner, Sam (he doesn't give his surname) which on reflection, I should not have done. (Sam was not the technician on this job).
The following day I spoke to Sam about how I felt. This man is not a listener and is rude. I asked for an email address (not supplied on the website and the messaging link on the site did not work). He insisted on wanting to know who I was first; quite aggressively. He saw that the technician had completed the job and the most interesting thing he said was "you have not been overcharged". I never said I was at this stage. I got the email address and wrote to him my complaint with a suggestion that £80 was knocked off the bill for the damage done to the walls and the cleaning required. The response was equally as rude and did not offer to make good the work required. Instead, he called me a blackmailer.
I looked further into business and saw information that is not listed on the website, such as the accounts address and other pertinent information.
Another really interesting thing about Sam's business is the different websites below. Now here's the thing, Sam told me that there is no address in London Road in Tonbridge, the technicians park there for dispatch (the dispatch point). This may give the impression they have a business there. They don't. In fact if you look at Yell.com and Business Yab they use the address '107 London Road, Tonbridge' which turns out to be the Premier Inn.
To conclude, Sam is running a business and faking addresses. There is no actual email address (I will not give the one he gave me out but it does exist) and they have clearly had complaints of overcharging before judging by his initial response.
Don't expect friendly aftercare and where the website shows "Our Locksmiths are clean cut, well uniformed, well trained, insured and properly equipped". That wasn't entirely true.
They also state
Experienced & Qualified, No call out charge, No hidden charges, Up to 30 minutes response, Affordable locksmith prices, Fast friendly reliable service.
Exercise caution as I have also found out this industry is unregulated and anyone can do it without any vetting or qualification at all. It has been pointed out that they can charge what they like.
These are the four sites Sam has running, there may be more. He obviously has locksmiths on the books running off the numbers listed which go direct to mobile phones, despite them looking local.
On the plus side, the main entrance has made the door more secure.
Check out www locksmiths co uk to be better informed.
Here are 4 of Sam's sites. Put the relevant dots in.
locksmiths-tonbridge co uk
locksmith-kenley co uk
samlocksmithcambridge co uk
locksmithblackheath co uk