Door won't lock
Door won't lock? Three things to try in 30 seconds, before you phone anyone.
Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. Honest diagnosis: gearbox, cylinder, or alignment.
If your uPVC or composite front door has stopped locking, the answer is almost always one of four things: the gearbox inside the door, the cylinder, the door has dropped on its hinges, or the keep plates on the frame have worked loose. The good news is the alignment problem (the most common cause) is a 10-minute doorstep fix with no new lock. The honest reason national locksmith numbers default to "you need a full gearbox replacement" is that it is the highest-margin call-out. Read the three checks below before you ring anyone, then if you still need a locksmith, ring me direct and the all-in price is quoted on the phone before I leave the van.
- No Call-Out Fee
- No VAT Added
- Standard DBS Checked
- £1M Insured
- 12 months Guarantee
uPVC door won't lock? Three things to try in the first 30 seconds
Before you phone anyone, run these three checks on the doorstep. The first one alone resolves about a quarter of the calls I get rung about. The other two tell me on the phone exactly what to bring in the van, which means the price I quote is the price you pay.
-
Shoulder the door in and lift the handle hard
uPVC doors expand a few millimetres in heat and contract again in cold. The points are still working, they are just hitting the keep plates at the wrong angle. Lean your shoulder into the door so the door slab presses fully into the frame, then lift the handle firmly while you push. About one call in four resolves on the doorstep with this single move and costs the customer nothing.
-
Take the key out, try the handle alone
If the handle still will not lift with the key out, the gearbox itself is the problem (the spring, the cam, or the lever). If the handle lifts fine with no key in but you cannot turn the key once it is in, the cylinder is the problem. This 10-second test tells me on the phone whether I am bringing a replacement gearbox or a replacement cylinder, and lets me quote the right price before I set off.
-
Look at the door slab edges, top and bottom
Open the door and look at the gap between the door slab and the frame, top edge and bottom edge. If the top is touching and the bottom has a visible gap, the door has dropped on the hinges. Most uPVC butt hinges have a 3D adjustment screw that a long hex key can reset in 10 minutes. If you cannot do it, I can on the doorstep, and the alignment fix is often the entire job (no new lock needed).
Is it the gearbox, the cylinder, or the alignment?
Match your symptom to one of the four branches below. The branch number tells you what is almost certainly wrong, what fixing it costs, and how long it takes. The honest answer is that two of the four branches do not need a new lock at all: alignment fixes are 10-minute doorstep jobs and a national locksmith will quietly upsell a gearbox replacement that you do not need.
-
If the handle will not lift up at all (flops at the bottom, or stops dead at horizontal)...
The gearbox spring has snapped. This is the single most common uPVC failure mode I get called to, especially after the first cold snap of autumn. A like-for-like gearbox replacement is from £145, takes 40 minutes to an hour, and the door is back to normal with the same keys. Do not force the handle: a snapped spring is a £145 fix, a sheared cam from forcing it is closer to £250 because the strip and the actuator both have to come out.
-
If the handle lifts up fine but the key will not turn after the handle is up...
The cylinder is the problem, not the gearbox. A pin has dropped, a wafer has worn, or there is a key tip broken off inside. Like-for-like cylinder change is from £90, labour and a basic cylinder included, fitted in 20 minutes. While I am there I will check whether a TS007 3-star anti-snap upgrade is worth the £40 to £80 part on your door (depends on whether the existing cylinder is snap-resistant or not).
-
If the handle lifts and the key turns, but the points will not throw fully into the frame...
Alignment. The door has dropped on its hinges, or the keep plates on the frame have worked loose, so the points hit metal instead of slotting in. Two doorstep fixes: one, a long hex key turning the 3D adjustment screw in the butt hinge to bring the door slab back into line; two, a Phillips screwdriver to re-tighten the keep plate screws. Often a 10-minute job and no new lock. Per the Master Locksmiths Association, alignment is "easy to fix" without replacing the lock.
-
If the door visibly sags at the latch corner, scrapes the threshold, or the lower hinge has rust runs...
A dropped sash plus alignment. The hinges are working but the door has tilted enough that the multi-point hooks miss their keeps entirely. 3D hinge adjustment usually brings it back, but if the lower hinge has corroded or the screws have torn the frame the hinge itself sometimes has to be replaced. I carry a small stock of common uPVC butt hinge profiles on the van. Hinge work plus alignment usually lands in the £85 to £130 bracket on a standard door.
What national locksmith numbers will not tell you
Per the Master Locksmiths Association's own consumer advice on uPVC doors that will not lock, alignment is the most common cause and is "easy to fix" without replacing the lock. About a third of the door-won't-lock calls I take resolve with hinge adjustment or keep plate re-tightening, no new gearbox, no new cylinder. That is the call I would rather make, because the customer phones me back the next time and tells their family. A £90 honest fix that leads to four word-of-mouth jobs beats a £300 panic sale every time.
How to spot (and roughly fix) a dropped uPVC door
A "dropped" door is one where the slab has tilted a few millimetres on its hinges, usually because the lower hinge has worked loose over time or the door has been slammed too many times. The slab still opens and closes fine, but the multi-point hooks and bolts now miss the keeps in the frame by a few millimetres, so the points hit metal and the handle will not lift fully.
The two visual cues: one, look at the gap between the door slab and the frame at the top compared to the bottom. If the top is touching and the bottom has a visible gap (or vice versa), the door has dropped. Two, look at the latch corner of the door for any sag at all. Most uPVC butt hinges have a 3D-adjustment screw hidden behind a plastic cap on the hinge body. A long Allen key turning that screw a quarter-turn at a time can usually bring the door back into line in 10 minutes.
What a gearbox is, what it costs, how long it takes
The gearbox is the single internal unit on the long edge of the door that converts the upward movement of your handle into the lateral throw of the locking points. It sits inside a steel strip (the faceplate) and contains a brass cam, a steel lever, and a return spring. When the spring snaps (after roughly five to ten years of daily use), the handle stops engaging the cam and the points stop throwing. This is by far the most common uPVC failure mode I get called to, and it happens disproportionately on the first cold snap of autumn as the door contracts and the already-fatigued spring finally lets go.
Replacement is a like-for-like swap. I carry the four common UK gearbox brands (Fullex, GU/Ferco, Mila, Lockmaster) in the van so the job is one trip. From £145 all in, parts plus labour. 40 minutes to an hour from the doorstep to a working door. Same keys still work afterwards because the cylinder is untouched. I test the door 10 times closed and locked from both inside and outside with the keys you actually use before I take payment.
Recent door-won't-lock call-outs
Three recent calls across Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. One gearbox failure, one alignment fix, one out-of-hours composite gearbox. Real-pattern situations, real prices on the receipt, sat next to what a national locksmith number would have quoted for the same job. Customer details lightly anonymised at their request.
-
Thursday 28 May 2026 at 9.30am · Wolverhampton
Mr David T., Wolverhampton
Front door handle would not lift at all. Standard white composite door, six years old, Fullex gearbox inside. A cold snap had come through the night before. Customer had been forcing the handle up with both hands until the cam sheared inside the strip.
A national number quoted the customer £295Paid to me £165Strip out, snapped spring confirmed, plus minor cam damage from the forced lift. Like-for-like Fullex replacement from the van, refitted in 45 minutes. Showed him on the phone first thing in the morning what to look for so he could phone me with the right diagnosis. Saved him a national-locksmith £295 panic quote.
-
Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 2.30pm · Stafford
Mrs Linda P., Stafford
Back door points would not throw fully. Handle lifted fine, key turned fine, but the door would not close-and-lock without lifting the bottom of the slab manually. Six-year-old door, no obvious damage.
A national number quoted the customer £185 + partsPaid to me £90Door had dropped about 4mm at the latch corner. Long hex key into the lower hinge 3D screw, brought the slab back into line, points slotted in cleanly. 15 minutes on the doorstep, no new parts, no new lock. The kind of "alignment, not a lock change" job a national would have sold as a full gearbox swap.
-
Sunday 24 May 2026 at 7.45pm · Cannock
Mr Wojciech S., Cannock
Whole family stood in the porch in the rain. Front door would not lock, handle lifted maybe halfway then stopped dead. Door was a 12-year-old composite with a Lockmaster gearbox. Customer had a dinner party guest waiting in the kitchen.
A national number quoted the customer £450 OOHPaid to me £235Out-of-hours rate, replacement Lockmaster gearbox from the van, 55 minutes from doorstep to a working door. Tested 10 times closed and locked with the family's keys. Made the kettle on for me before I left.
uPVC gearbox failure and door alignment problems are covered in the Master Locksmiths Association's consumer advice on uPVC doors that will not lock, which notes that "a uPVC door not locking in cold or hot weather is a very common problem that locksmiths often get called out to fix". My from-prices for the work above start at £145 for a like-for-like gearbox replacement and £90 for a doorstep alignment visit.
What customers say about uPVC door-won't-lock call-outs
Verified Google reviews from real customers across Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock and the surrounding villages.
Sean came out for an emergency call out at 2am due to a lock malfunction on the front door. He was responsive from the first point of the phone call and was clear with what he was able to do and provided an accurate timescale and live location When sean arrived he felt like someone who was a safe person and as a lone female that felt important when I couldn’t get in my home in the early hours. He’s was patient and thoughtful with my dogs who were trapped inside. He was friendly, calming and reliable. Would highly recommend him
Thankyou for your review, it means so much. I'm so glad I could help you this morning in Stafford with the emergency call out. Have a great day to you and the doggies 🐕. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
I run a letting agency in Wolverhampton and unfortunately had a tenant whose UPVC locking system had collapsed locking them into the flat unfortunately during the football match between England and Croatia in the 2026 World Cup. As you can imagine, I was having a bit of trouble getting a locksmith! At least until Sean contacted me. He went out very quickly, opened the door and replaced the gearbox working from 11 pm until 2 am so not very sociable hours. Given that I thought the cost was very reasonable and the service was excellent. I will certainly be using Sean again and I cannot recommend him highly enough. The world of emergency locksmiths can be a murky one at times so it is really nice to have someone you can trust to call on.
Thankyou so much Andy. It wss my absolute pleasure. 😊
Phoned this lovely man this morning before 8am , it's now 11.28 am and my lock is fixed , thank you Sean , as I live alone i was feeling vulnerable, thank you so much , fir your prompt response
Thankyou so much for your review Maureen. Real pleasure assisting you today in Walsall to replace your Euro Cylinder and Door handles. Sean ☺️
Absolutely brilliant service from Lockerfella Locksmiths. We left Sean a whatsapp message at 2.30am as we had stupidly left our front door keys inside when leaving the house. He answered pretty much immediately. Sean arrived with us in Stafford within 30 minutes and had us back in within 5 minutes and fitted us with some upgraded anti snap locks. Thankyou!
You're more than welcome Matt 😊
I had a great experience with Lockerfella Locksmith, especially with Mr Sean. He was professional, patient, respectful, and took the time to make sure everything was done properly. My door lock turned out to be much more difficult than expected, but Sean stayed calm and worked hard until the job was completed perfectly. I really appreciated his honesty, kindness, and excellent workmanship. I highly recommend Sean and Lockerfella Locksmith to anyone looking for a reliable locksmith. Thank you again, Sean, and I wish you continued success in your business!
It was an absolute pleasure helping you today Saeideh in Wolverhampton. Thankyou so much for the kind words. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7.
I was locked out of the house so gave Lockerfella a message. Sean was incredibly swift in his initial response, giving an ETA and an estimate cost at the same time. I immediately booked in with Sean and he came as arranged, tried his best to pick the lock, however it wasn’t to be so he changed the lock and was all done and dusted in a reasonable time. He was polite, prompt and professional. I would recommend anyone needing a locksmith to contact Lockerfella
Thankyou so much James. It was a pleasure to assist you in cannock that day with your emergency locksmith call-out.
I contacted Sean in a panic after our back door wouldn’t lock at 21:15 on a Sunday night. Sean came back with a price almost immediately and offered to come and look at it straightaway. At my request, I asked him to come Monday morning and he sent me an ETA and turned up bang on time. Sean quickly diagnosed the problem, he had to go off to get a a part and when he was on his way back to me, he even shared his location via WhatsApp so I knew when he would be back. Part fitted, worksite cleaned up and he was on his way. Reasonably priced, fantastic communication from start to finish and a great bloke to speak too as well. Thanks Sean, you’re an absolute star!
Absolute pleasure meeting you and your wife today in Codsall / Wolverhampton. I'm really pleased I was able to repair your faulty upvc door mechanism. Thankyou for the glowing review....it's really appreciated. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
I locked myself out my house and phoned Sean at 1.32am. He arrived at my house in Bilston 35 minutes later. He lives 30 minutes away. He was very professional and tidy. I would recommend him to anyone. Within 1 hr and 15 minutes of calling him he had come out, sorted my lock and on his way home. You can call him anytime and he will get to you asap. Worthy of the 5 star rating
Thankyou for your review Shell. Real pleasure to assist you both with your emergency call-out. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Prices
From-prices for door-won't-lock work
The figures below are the floor prices for the jobs I am called to most on uPVC and composite doors that have stopped locking. They include attendance, diagnosis and labour, with no separate call-out fee. Where a new part is needed, a standard part is included in the from-price and any upgrade is itemised so you can see exactly what each one cost. I quote the all-in figure on the phone before I leave the van. The full price list with covers and affects sits on the dedicated pricing page.
- uPVC multi-point gearbox replacement (like-for-like) from £145
- Standard cylinder change (uPVC euro cylinder) from £90
- Doorstep alignment / hinge adjustment (no new parts) from £90
- Out-of-hours emergency (6pm to 8am, weekends, bank holidays) from £170
No VAT added on top. No call-out fee on any of these. Where a new part is needed, a standard part is included in the from-price and any upgrade is itemised on top. See the full price list and what each one covers →
About the locksmith
The locksmith answering your call
I'm Sean Hamilton. I run Lockerfella as a one-man-band. If you ring me with a door that will not lock, the phone rings on me, I work out from your symptoms on the phone whether it is gearbox, cylinder or alignment, I quote the all-in price before I leave the van, and I will tell you honestly when a doorstep alignment fix is all you need. No call-out fee. No upsell from a £90 hinge adjustment to a £300 gearbox swap.
- 30+ years fascinated by locks. I've been picking, stripping and studying locks for the love of it for over 30 years. Lockerfella is what happens when a lifelong interest in how locks work becomes the day job.
- Trained and certified. Certificate of Locksmith Skills from A'Jam Locksmiths covering cylinder, mortice, padlock, wafer and euro lock picking, plus re-keying and mortice bypassing.
- Standard DBS checked, £1M insured, 12 months workmanship guarantee. Redacted DBS and insurance certificates are published on the About page, with originals available to view in person before work starts.
- One man, one van, one phone number. The phone rings on me directly. No call centre. No third-party fitter. If I quote you a price, that's the price you pay.
Common questions about doors that won't lock
Straight answers about gearbox vs cylinder vs alignment, what each fix costs, how long they take, and which ones you can safely sort yourself.
Why won't my uPVC door lock?
In my experience, four causes account for almost every uPVC door that has stopped locking. One: the multi-point gearbox inside the door has failed (the spring has snapped, the brass cam has worn, or the lever has sheared). Two: the door has dropped on its hinges so the multi-point hooks and bolts no longer line up with the keeps in the frame. Three: the cylinder is fine but the keep plates on the frame have worked loose, so the points hit metal instead of slotting in. Four (the easy one): the door has expanded slightly in heat or cold and just needs the handle pressed harder while the door is shouldered toward the frame. Per the Master Locksmiths Association, alignment is the most common cause and is "easy to fix" without a new lock.
Is it the gearbox or the cylinder that's broken?
The fastest test is to take the cylinder out and try the door without it. If the handle still won't lift and the points still won't throw, the gearbox is broken and the cylinder is fine. If the handle lifts and the points throw fine without the cylinder in place, the cylinder is the problem (snapped pin, dropped wafer, the key tip broken off inside). Most uPVC door problems people assume are "the lock" turn out to be the gearbox, because the gearbox is the part that actually moves the points and the cylinder is only the on/off switch. I bring both a replacement gearbox and a replacement cylinder to every uPVC call-out so I can swap whichever one is at fault without a second trip.
How much does it cost to replace a uPVC gearbox?
From £145 standard hours, parts plus labour included for a basic gearbox strip. The four common UK gearbox brands (Fullex, GU/Ferco, Mila, Lockmaster) sit at slightly different price points depending on the strip dimensions and the throw distance, and I keep all four in the van. Diagnosis on the doorstep is free: I quote the all-in figure on the phone before I leave the van based on the door measurements you give me, and the figure on the receipt matches the figure I quoted. No call-out fee, no VAT on top, no deposit.
How long does a gearbox replacement take?
On a standard uPVC door, 40 minutes to an hour from the doorstep to a working door. The strip comes out by unscrewing the faceplate, the gearbox lifts out as a single unit, the replacement gearbox slots in, the faceplate goes back on, the handle and cylinder reattach, and I test the door 10 times running before I leave. Composite doors with a Lockmaster or a Yale gearbox add maybe 15 minutes because the throw mechanism is more complex. I never leave a door that has not been tested closing and locking from both inside and outside with the keys you actually use.
Can I fix a uPVC door that won't lock myself?
Sometimes, yes, and I will tell you on the phone if I think you can. Two genuine DIY fixes: one, if the door has dropped on its hinges, a long Allen key turning the 3D-adjustment screw inside the butt hinge can usually bring it back into line in 10 minutes. Two, if the keep plates on the frame have worked loose, a Phillips screwdriver and a couple of minutes can re-tighten them. What I would not advise DIY on is the gearbox itself: the strip is under spring tension, the brass cam can drop out and be lost, and a botched re-fit can damage the door slab. If you think it is the gearbox, that one is worth phoning me for.
What is a multi-point lock?
It's the locking mechanism on the long edge of almost every UK uPVC and composite front door. When you lift the handle up, the gearbox (the centre case inside the door) throws three to five locking points along the door's edge: typically two roller cams in the middle, one or two hooks above and below, and a deadbolt that the key activates. The cylinder you turn the key in is only the on/off switch for the deadbolt: the points themselves are mechanical and throw whenever the handle is lifted. When people say "the lock has gone" on a uPVC door, they almost always mean the gearbox.
My handle won't lift up to lock. What's wrong?
Almost always the gearbox return spring has snapped. The handle still moves but it does not engage the cam properly, the points do not throw, and the handle either flops at the bottom or refuses to come up past horizontal. Per the MLA, this is one of the most common uPVC call-outs locksmiths get. The good news is a like-for-like gearbox replacement is from £145, takes 40 minutes to an hour, and the door is back to working condition with the same keys. Do not force the handle: a snapped spring is a £145 fix, a sheared cam from forcing the handle is closer to £250 because the strip and the actuator have to come out together.
Ready when you are
Door still won't lock? Send me the symptoms on WhatsApp.
Tell me what the handle does, whether the key turns, and what the door slab looks like in the frame. I will tell you on the phone whether it is gearbox, cylinder or alignment, and what the all-in price will be. No call-out fee. No deposit. No surprises.
Page last reviewed: . Reviewed by Sean Hamilton, the locksmith behind Lockerfella, under our editorial standards.