FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We serve Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, London and Suffolk.
Our Locksmiths are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
In emergency situations, we can usually arrange for a locksmith to arrive within an hour.
Our locksmiths carry a comprehensive range of locks and associated security parts on well stocked vans by normal industry standards.
If we do not carry your lock, we never charge to leave site to go and purchase it, unlike most of our competitors.
Times vary depending on the task. As an example, a mortice deadlock replacement would take around 45 minutes on average, or a Yale lock or cylinder could be repaired or replaced within 20 minutes.
We can open most locks non-destructively, and aim to repair rather than replace locks, to reduce your costs.
Yes, there are various locks to choose from in different styles and finishes.
The difference between a 3 lever lock and a 5 lever lock is that a 3 lever lock is less secure because it has fewer levers which increases the risk of key duplication. Also, a 3 lever lock will NOT be BS3621 approved due to the poor security of the lock.
A 5 lever mortice deadlock is commonly fitted to wooden doors and is locked from both the inside and outside with a key, they are fitted within the material of the door, rather than on the surface.
Any five-lever mortice deadlock that is NOT BS3621 approved will usually have a Nightlatch fitted as additional security. We recommend any Nightlatch fitted as a 2nd lock is a British Standard Approved Nightlatch.
We always will try and repair all locks and will only replace if necessary.
All parts are guaranteed for 12 months.
Credit and debit cards, Cash or BACS.
We always provide a receipt on completion of work.
Yes, we can arrange a convenient time to suit.
No, we can only gain entry with the owner’s express permission.
Yes, our Locksmith can advise what security would be necessary.
We do fit locks that do conform to British Standard. Please stipulate this with the Locksmith on site, or on the phone, prior to commencement of lock installation.
In a word no, attempting to remove a broken key yourself is probably the worse thing you can do as can could cause damage to the internal components of the lock, which could require a replacement lock.
Trying to remove a snapped key yourself could push the broken part of the key further into the lock, and make the job of extraction that bit more time-consuming & costing you more too.
Do you have problem with your uPVC door lock? Are you trying to shut or lock your uPVC door but cannot close the door properly? uPVC doors not locking or closing in cold or hot weather is a very common problem that locksmiths often get called out to fix.
Lock snapping is a burglary method which has received much publicity recently. Without going into detail, this method involves literally snapping a cylinder lock in order to gain entry to a property. This can be prevented by making sure your lock is correctly fitted, and by fitting an anti-snap cylinder. We advise that you seek professional advice from a locksmith if you are concerned that your lock is vulnerable.