Notice Board
Not an Isolated Incident
That wasn’ t the first time I’ ve had issues with non-payment. On one job, I opened a vehicle and the customer asked for a spare key. As I was working, he jumped into the car( assuming the keys would still be in the ignition) and slammed the door shut, clearly intending to drive off without paying. What he didn’ t realise was that I was still holding his original keys in my hand. He was frantically searching the ignition and footwell while I stood outside.
Another time, a group of four lads surrounded me while I was working on an Audi A5. The owner had lost his keys and, in my opinion, had no intention of paying. I stood my ground and made it clear I wasn’ t leaving without payment. I’ m ex-army you see and I’ m used to high pressure situations, and I don’ t scare easily. But not everyone in this trade has that background. Being surrounded at night, alone, can be intimidating. In the end, I got paid.
On another occasion, I gave a customer until the end of the day to pay. He missed the deadline. I gave him another 30 minutes and told him plainly: pay within half an hour or I’ m seizing the vehicle. Within 10 minutes, the money arrived. Sometimes you have to stand firm.
Trust Nobody & Be Prepared
My advice to other auto locksmiths is that you cannot predict people. Over the phone, they can sound perfectly reasonable, police and grateful. Then you arrive, and the attitude changes completely.
Here’ s my advice:
• Trust nobody. That sounds harsh, but you don’ t know what you’ re walking into.
• Ask detailed questions before attending. Who will be there? Is the vehicle theirs? What’ s the exact situation?
• Don’ t hand over keys until full payment is received. I now routinely retain control of keys until funds clear.
• Consider deposits, especially for expensive keys. If I’ m cutting and programming a key that costs me £ 80 in parts, I’ ll often take a deposit first.
• Have your wits about you. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
Deposits can be tricky. Some customers are wary of paying upfront because they don’ t know you. It’ s a balancing act, but protecting your business has to come first. Remember: you don’ t know what you’ re turning up to. I’ ve dealt with everything from aggressive customers to a baby locked inside a car after pressing the button twice and deadlocking the doors. Every call is different and preparation matters.
The Bigger Picture Non-payment isn’ t just frustrating, it’ s damaging. As a sole trader, one unpaid job can wipe out the profit from several others, especially when fuel and late-night hours are involved.
We work alone, we invest heavily in equipment, we respond at all hours, we solve problems most people can’ t. All we ask in return is to be paid what was agreed. The job that made the headlines wasn’ t about revenge; it was about principle. If we don’ t stand up for ourselves, the problem only gets worse. At the end of the day, professionalism goes both ways.
www. unlockautolocksmith. co. uk Tel: 07872 354130 unlock _ autolocksmith @ hotmail. com
MARCH 2026
7
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk