26 July 2026

How to spot a reliable locksmith (checklist)

Anyone may call themselves a locksmith — there is no protected title or mandatory quality mark. These seven checks do the work of one.

The honest story first: 'locksmith' is not a protected title and no legally required quality mark exists. Anyone may hang up the sign. The certifications that do exist cover products — SKG stars on locks and hardware — or the home (the Police Quality Mark for Safe Living), not the company ringing your doorbell. Emergencies especially, when you are standing outside in the rain and would pay any price to get in, attract opportunists. The checks below therefore do the work a quality mark should have done.

One: the total price upfront. Ask on the phone for one fixed amount — call-out costs, labour, surcharge and VAT included. A serious company simply states it and sticks to it; 'we'll see on site' is your signal to keep calling. Two: check the company. A Chamber of Commerce number on the site, a findable business address and business liability insurance are the minimum. Three: pay attention to the phone call itself. A professional asks follow-up questions — slammed shut or locked, what type of door — because the situation determines the technique and the price. Someone who is 'right there' without a single question is selling a trip, not a solution.

Four: on the doorstep. Identification works both ways: you may ask who is at your door, and a good locksmith will themselves ask for proof that you live there — the fact that they do is a quality mark in itself. Five: the amount does not change on site, and 'it turned out to be more work' is discussed first, not invoiced afterwards. Six: payment works normally, by card or invoice; pressure to settle in cash right now is a classic warning sign. Seven: a professional works damage-free wherever possible and explains when drilling is unavoidable — including what the new cylinder (€ 65-180) costs.

Did it go wrong anyway — a multiple of the agreed price, pressure or intimidation at the door? Pay under protest, put your objections in writing immediately (an email to the company suffices) and report it to ACM ConsuWijzer, the Dutch consumer authority's information desk. Keep the invoice and any messages: in a dispute, that is your file. And compare the amount charged with the price index — you will see at once whether it falls within the normal range.

The best protection remains: choose your locksmith at a calm moment, not during the emergency. Have your locks checked or replaced as planned work once (€ 95-250 per lock, day rate) and keep the number of the company that did it properly. Then at the next lockout you are not calling a stranger, but someone you know.