How to find a reputable locksmith in Doncaster

When choosing a locksmith it’s really important to do your homework first. The locksmith you choose will be working on and protecting one of your most important assets and all of your belongings in it. It is therefore essential that you can trust them to do a good job.

But how do you know that the locksmith you use is credible and committed to delivering the best possible service? Here’s our guide on how to find a locksmith in Doncaster that you can trust.

CRB / DBS checks and insurance approval

Always look for a CRB (DBS) checked and police approved locksmith so you can be reassured that their background has been checked and you can trust them in your home. Making sure that they are insurance approved is also important as it means any work they carry out won’t invalidate your home insurance.

Expertise, experience and credentials

Be sure to look for someone who is an expert locksmith. There are many companies out there who offer a locksmith service alongside other un-related trades, and who often have only actually taken a short locksmith training course.

An expert locksmith is someone who does the job day in and day out, and therefore has all of the knowledge necessary to be able to do the job right and provide you with expert advice. Experience really matters in this field and you should be able to get a good idea of how much experience a locksmith has by looking at their website to see when they began trading.

Make sure that the locksmith is a member of the Association of Accredited Locksmiths or an equivalent body. If they display the badge on the website check on the association’s website to verify that they are definitely listed as a member.

Testimonials and ratings

Whilst you are researching various locksmiths, look for feedback and reviews from previous customers and evidence of work carried out. Any trustworthy locksmith will be happy to provide evidence of work and testimonials, and many have these readily available along with ratings on their website as we do.

Making sure they really are local

Some national companies buy local telephone numbers so that they can appear to offer a local service. But they actually send a sub-contractor, who is selected on location only and is often not trained or vetted to the high standards that they should be. If you get through to a call centre be sure to ask them where their company is based – if it isn’t local or they avoid the question by saying they always use local engineers, then look elsewhere.

A local independent company really is the best choice as you can be reassured that they aren’t far away if you need them in the future or experience any problems. You are also safe in the knowledge that the person you speak to on the phone will more than likely be the actual locksmith that visits your house.

Quotes and hidden costs

Always try to get quotes together before making a decision. Cheaper isn’t always best of course, but be aware that hourly rates can soon add up and some locksmiths have rather hefty call out charges. It’s not always possible to give an accurate estimate without first seeing the job, but here at SF Locksmith we will always try our best to diagnose your problem on the phone first so that we can give you an idea of costs, including labour and any parts required. And best of all we don’t have a call out charge.