How to spot an honest locksmith (and avoid scams)

Emergency locksmith services generate a large share of consumer complaints in France. A few simple habits are enough to avoid nasty surprises.

Warning signs

1. A sticker or flyer with an "emergency number" imitating the town hall or the building manager.
2. A vague price on the phone, or "from €19" with no further detail.
3. No written quote before the work starts.
4. An offer to drill or replace the lock when the door was simply slammed shut.
5. Cash-only payment, without an invoice.
6. A company with no name, no registration number and no verifiable reviews.

What French law requires

For a home call-out, the professional must inform you of their prices and give you a detailed quote before the work when the price can be determined in advance. You can refuse it. A detailed invoice must be given to you at the end.

If there is a dispute

Keep every document, dispute the bill in writing, report the practice on the government's SignalConso website and contact the consumer mediator named by the company.

How we work

At Secure Locksmith Paris, the price is given on the phone, confirmed by a signed quote, and the invoice is detailed for your insurer. Our reviews are public on our Google Business Profile.