In short:
- There are two parts to the bill: the R250 call-out for the technician to come to you, and the price of the work, which is quoted on site.
- No work starts until you've heard the quote and said yes. If extra work turns up halfway, you're asked again first.
- The quote depends on the lock, the door around it, any parts, how many locks are involved and how the site is accessed.
- Businesses in Isando, Spartan and Chloorkop can keep costs predictable by grouping jobs and having someone with authority on site.
- Payment is by EFT, cash or card. We're open 24/7.
The R250 call-out: what it pays for
We don't have a shop or counter. Every job happens where the lock is: your front door, your warehouse, your car in a parking lot. The call-out is the fixed charge for bringing a technician and the tools for the job to that spot, and it's R250.
That figure is the same whether you phone at lunchtime or in the early hours, because we work 24/7. It covers the trip and the technician's time looking at the problem and working out what's needed. It does not include the work itself or any parts. Those are priced separately, on site, once the technician can see what they're dealing with.
How the on-site quote works
The quote isn't a formality. It's the point where you decide whether the job goes ahead.
Ask the technician to explain the quote in plain terms: what's wrong, what they'll do, which parts (if any) are going in, and whether there's a cheaper option such as adjusting rather than replacing. If you'd like a moment to phone a partner, landlord or manager before agreeing, that's fine.
What shapes the quote at a house or townhouse
We don't publish a price list for the work, because the same complaint ("the key won't turn") can mean a small adjustment or a new lock. These are the things the technician weighs up:
| Factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Type of lock | A nightlatch, a lever deadlock, a cylinder lock and a multipoint door each need different methods and parts. |
| How many layers are locked | A security gate and a front door are two separate openings. |
| Whether non-destructive entry works | It's tried first. If a lock can't be opened cleanly, it may need replacing, which adds a part. |
| Condition of the door and frame | Sagging hinges or a warped door load the lock. Fixing only the lock won't last if the door is the real cause. |
| Parts | A like-for-like cylinder costs less than a higher-security one. You choose. |
| Earlier damage | A frame split by a past break-in or a DIY attempt can mean extra work. |
The door point matters more than people expect. Lock makers say this themselves: ASSA ABLOY's care guide warns that faulty hinges, warped doors and distorted frames put extra load on other components, and Mul-T-Lock notes that a misaligned door causes friction that can damage cylinders. Our article on a key that won't turn or a stiff lock goes into this.
What shapes the quote at a warehouse, factory, shop or office
Kempton Park has a lot of business premises, from the industrial parks in Isando, Spartan and Chloorkop to shops and offices elsewhere. Commercial jobs bring their own cost drivers:
- Number of locks. A warehouse might have a personnel door, several roller shutters, padlocked gates and an office inside. If several need attention, say so up front so it's quoted as one visit.
- Type of hardware. Roller shutter locks, heavy padlocks, panic bars and office locks are all different. Electric locks or access control may also need the company that installed them.
- Getting onto the site. Business parks with a gatehouse may need the visit cleared in advance. Time lost at a gate doesn't help anyone.
- Who can say yes. If the person on site can't approve a quote, the job waits while someone phones the owner or manager. Have the decision-maker on the line.
For a business that's locked out, our guide to a warehouse or factory lockout covers what to prepare. Commercial work in general is on our commercial locksmith page.
Car and safe jobs
Car work depends heavily on the vehicle: the make, model and year, and what kind of key it uses. Tell us those on the phone and we'll say whether it's a job we can do before anyone drives out. Safes depend on the lock (key, dial or electronic), the fault, and how the safe is built. In both cases, proof of ownership is checked before anything is opened.
Costs you can avoid
Some of the most expensive jobs start as cheap ones. You can keep the bill down by:
- Not forcing a key that's stiff. A snapped key adds an extraction to the job.
- Not prising at a door or frame. The lock may survive; the frame often doesn't.
- Getting a lock looked at when it starts to drag, not after it fails shut with you outside.
- Grouping jobs. Three faulty locks on one visit means one call-out, not three.
- Checking for a spare key with family, a neighbour or a colleague before phoning anyone.
- Sending clear photos, so we can tell you up front whether the job is one we do.
Your rights when a repair is quoted
South Africa's Consumer Protection Act backs up the quote-first way of working. Section 15 deals with repair and maintenance services. In summary, where it applies, a supplier must give an estimate and have the consumer's authorisation before charging for the work. A supplier may not charge for preparing the estimate unless that charge was disclosed and approved beforehand, and may not charge more than the estimate unless the consumer was told about the extra and agreed to it.
That's a plain summary, not legal advice. Our own practice doesn't depend on the details: the technician quotes before any work starts, and nothing extra is done without your go-ahead.
Comparing quotes fairly
If you're weighing up locksmiths, make sure you're comparing the same thing. Ask each one:
- Is there a call-out charge, and what is it?
- Will the price be fixed before work starts, or worked out afterwards?
- Is the part a like-for-like replacement, or a different grade? Which brand?
- Is the whole lock being replaced, or just the cylinder or one part?
- How can I pay, and will I get an invoice describing the work?
A low price on the phone that grows once someone is at your door isn't really low. To book us, or to see the other services we offer around the area, go to our mobile locksmith in Kempton Park page, or start with emergency lockouts if you're stuck right now.
Questions
Does it cost more at night or on a public holiday?
The call-out is R250 whenever you phone, and we're open 24/7. The work is quoted on site at the time, and you agree to it before anything starts.
Can you give me a firm price over WhatsApp?
Photos tell us a lot: the lock type, sometimes the brand, and whether it's a job we do. They can't show what's happening inside the lock or how the door hangs, so the firm price comes from the technician on site.
What happens if I don't accept the quote?
Then the work isn't done. The R250 call-out covers the technician coming out and looking at the problem; the quoted work only goes ahead once you agree to it.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our emergency lockouts service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Kempton Park, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, section 15: Pre-authorisation of repair or maintenance services (Acts Online) — Estimates and consumer authorisation before charging, no charge for an estimate unless disclosed and approved, and no charging above the estimate without consent.
- ASSA ABLOY South Africa: Product Care and Maintenance (PDF) — Faulty hinges, warped doors and distorted frames put excessive load on other components, reducing their life.
- Mul-T-Lock: Mechanical product maintenance — A misaligned door or poorly installed lock causes load and friction that can damage cylinders.