Locks4Less Locksmiths Limited

Emergency Locksmith in Chelmsford

Locks4Less Locksmiths Limited is a family-run locksmith based in the centre of Chelmsford, in the county of Essex. The company presents itself as a local business, not a call centre or a franchise: when you call, you speak directly to the locksmith, Arthur. It serves both domestic and commercial customers in Chelmsford and the surrounding area, and operates an emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Locksmith Services

The company's services include opening doors for people who have been locked out or have left their keys inside, repairing and replacing locks, changing cylinders and installing new locking systems. It works with uPVC double-glazed door and window locks, composite door multipoint locks, anti-snap cylinders and mortice locks. It also cuts keys.

The company states that it specialises in non-destructive entry methods, so that the door and lock remain intact wherever possible. To do this, it uses specialist tools and explains to the customer, before starting, which procedure will be used depending on the type of lock. If a key has been lost, it recommends changing the lock for security reasons.

Pricing and How We Work

Locks4Less states that it does not charge a call-out fee and that the price is fixed in advance, covering labour and parts. The locksmith asks for details and photographs over the phone to provide a quote, which is confirmed on site before work begins. The company accepts cash and credit and debit card payments via a Worldpay chip and PIN terminal; it also accepts card payments over the phone or via a SumUp link for landlords or customers who cannot pay in person. It is VAT registered and applies the standard rate of 20% (registration number 323366418). On completion of the work, it provides a written invoice detailing the work carried out and the parts used.

Guarantees

New locks and parts come with a standard 12-month manufacturer's guarantee. Some APECS cylinders have a 5-year warranty if the customer registers the locks on the manufacturer's website, with details provided at the time of installation. The company also guarantees its own work: if any problem arises within the 12-month guarantee period, it will return to fix it at no additional cost.

Response Times and Availability

The company states a target response time of 30 minutes and says it aims to arrive within one hour for emergency services, with priority given to elderly people and customers with young children. It points out that it does not promise arrival times it cannot meet and that, if it could not attend within an hour, it would rather recommend another locksmith. The emergency service is genuine and handled by the locksmith himself, with no automated calls or answering machines.

Position on Deceptive Practices

The website devotes a section to warning about the practice known as bait-and-switch, which consists of advertising a very low initial price that is then increased with labour and parts. The company cites a BBC report about a locksmith who tried to charge nearly ten times the original £40 quote, and mentions the case of a couple who expected to pay less than £50 and received an invoice for £2,802, 55 times more, as well as having to pay an additional £2,244 to another tradesperson to replace the door and frame. Locks4Less presents itself as a transparent alternative, with no hidden charges, and offers advice to those who have been victims of this type of company.

Experience and Ratings

The company states it has more than 16 years of experience in the sector and puts the number of urgent calls attended at 5,250 and the number of lock problems solved at 3,880. It presents itself as an Essex Trading Standards approved business and states that it has excellent ratings on Google and Trustpilot. It has vans with a large stock of locks and parts to resolve most jobs in a single visit.

Location and Contact

Phone: 0800 542 9995 · Hours: 24 hours, seven days a week