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DON’ T LET THE £ 49 LOCKSMITHS KILL OUR TRADE: LONDON LOCKSMITHS LTD
» WE CAUGHT UP WITH ALAN SHARPE, founder of London Locksmiths Ltd and a veteran of more than 35 years in the trade, who is speaking out against the rise of so-called“£ 49 locksmiths”, rogue operators scamming customers and ruining the trade’ s hard-earned reputation. Alan told us that trust and transparency are everything and that’ s exactly that’ s why he’ ll never shut-up shop.
Starting out in the Trade
My first job back in the‘ 80s, during the Brixham riots, was at a shop called Armour Lock & Safe, in Brixton, run by a legend named Terry Evans. I was 18 at the time, just starting out, and all I wanted was a job, I was very grateful that Terry took me under his wing, and I owe everything to that start.
Fast forward nearly four decades, and I’ m still in locksmithing- picking locks, running a shop, and helping people out of all sorts of scrapes across London. But I’ ll be honest: it’ s not the same trade I fell in love with. These days, I spend just as much time undoing the damage of £ 49ers locksmiths as I do unlocking doors.
The £ 49 Trap
You’ ve probably seen the ads:“ Locksmith from £ 49 – 24 / 7 Emergency.” Sounds great, doesn’ t it? Until a customer ends up with someone in a designer tracksuit, no ID, no van, demanding £ 800 at 11 pm to open a front door. Week after week, I get emails and calls from people in tears.“ Was that you who came out? I’ ve just paid £ 300 for a lock!” It’ s not us, but because we’ re called London Locksmiths Ltd, people assume it is. A SEO Tactic Turned into a Nightmare These cheap‘ callout a locksmith’ outfits flood Google with paid ads, fake reviews, and spoofed locations. Meanwhile, traditional locksmiths- the ones who know what a mortice lock is, who carry the tools, who rather pick nondestructively than drill out a cylinder, are being pushed off page one.
London Locksmiths Ltd was such a great SEO friendly name to have for my business until this lot came along, now I wish I could change my business’ s name. The worst thing about it is that those ripped off think it was my business and ring to complain.
It’ s devastating. Not just for business, but for the reputation of our trade. People now assume all locksmiths are cowboys. They won’ t call a locksmith again most probably just try to do the job themselves.
That’ s why I’ ve created a new business name: Vauxhall Locksmiths to be one step ahead as I don’ t see this situation improving any time soon, unfortunately.
Why I Keep My Shop
We’ ve had our shop on Wilcox Road, Vauxhall, for over 20 years. People say,“ Why not go fully mobile like everyone else?” But, having a physical shop matters, not just to me, but for business,
14
JULY 2025
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