Locked out
Locked out of the house? Here's exactly what to do, in order.
Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. Back in without damage, with the price agreed on the phone.
If you are stood outside your own front door right now, take a breath: being locked out almost never means a broken lock or a new lock. Your keys exist, you just cannot get to them, and a locksmith who knows what they are doing can get you back in without damaging anything. The four steps below are the order I would talk you through on the phone, and the first three cost you nothing. Save this page now in case it ever happens again. If you do need me, the phone rings on me direct, I quote the all-in price before I set off (from £90 for non-destructive entry, never a call-out fee on top), and most people are back inside within minutes of me arriving.
- No Call-Out Fee
- No VAT Added
- Standard DBS Checked
- £1M Insured
- 12 months Guarantee
Locked out? Four things to do before you call anyone
Four steps, in this order. The first three cost you nothing and get a good number of people back in without a locksmith at all. If you have worked through them and you still cannot get in, the fourth step is the one where you phone me. The phone rings on me, not a call centre, and I will quote the all-in price for getting you back inside before I leave the van.
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Walk the whole house before you decide you are locked out
Back door, patio or French doors, the side gate, a downstairs window left on the latch. Most "locked out" turns out to be one door, not the whole house, and a way in you had forgotten about. Thirty seconds checking saves you a call-out entirely.
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Phone whoever holds a spare key
A neighbour, a partner at work, a parent, a friend. If you rent, your letting agent or landlord almost always keeps a set and is obliged to help you get back in. A two-minute phone call is free and beats any locksmith bill. If you genuinely have no spare anywhere, move to step D.
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Do not force the door or break a window
It is the natural instinct and it is the expensive one. A smashed window plus a forced lock and a bent frame costs far more than a clean entry, and most doors open with no damage at all. Putting your shoulder through a uPVC door can also crack the slab, which is a repair on top. Step away from the door and make the call instead.
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Ring me before a national call-centre number
The phone rings on me, not a call centre. I quote the all-in price on the phone before I set off (from £90 for non-destructive entry, £90 standard hours, no call-out fee on top), I get you in without damage wherever I can, and you decide afterwards whether anything actually needs replacing. No upsell, no doorstep surprises.
Which lockout are you in? The four common ones
Nearly every lockout I get called to is one of these four. The branch you are in tells you what is involved, what it should cost, and (importantly) whether you need a new lock at all. The short answer for the first three: you almost certainly do not.
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If a uPVC or composite door has pulled shut behind you and the handle was lifted (auto-locked)...
This is the most common lockout I get. Many modern uPVC doors are "slam locks" or were left handle-up, so the multi-point is engaged and the cylinder is intact. Non-destructive entry from £90 gets you in within minutes, with no damage and the same keys still working afterwards. You will almost never need a new lock for this, whatever a national number tries to tell you.
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If a Yale-style night latch on a wooden door has dropped shut (stepped out for the bins)...
The classic "popped out and the door closed behind me". A rim night latch can usually be slipped or picked non-destructively in a couple of minutes. Quick, clean, no new lock. From £90 for the entry. If the latch is worn or sticking afterwards I will tell you, but the entry itself does not damage it.
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If your keys are locked inside (on the side, in the back of the door, with the car keys)...
Same answer: a non-destructive entry to get you in and back to your keys, from £90. If a key has been left in the inside of the cylinder it can block picking, but there are still non-destructive techniques for that and drilling stays the last resort. Nothing here needs a new lock, because the lock is undamaged. You are just on the wrong side of it.
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If your key snapped off in the lock as you tried to get in...
That is a different job: broken-key extraction, not a straight lockout. The snapped half has to come out before the lock will work again. It is from £90 and the cylinder usually survives, so you are not automatically buying a new lock. The full guide, including when DIY makes it worse, is on the dedicated broken-key extraction page.
How a locksmith gets you in without damage
Non-destructive entry is the whole skill of the job. Instead of drilling the lock out, I use picks, tension tools and slip techniques to work the mechanism open exactly the way your key would, so the lock, the door and the frame all survive and your existing keys still work afterwards. On a standard euro cylinder, a slammed composite door, or a Yale night latch, that is usually a matter of minutes, not a wrestling match.
Drilling is the last resort, not the opening move. There are a few cases where it is unavoidable: a high-security anti-snap cylinder that resists picking, a key snapped and jammed deep in the mechanism, or a lock already damaged before I arrived. Even then I tell you before I start anything that costs you a part, and I carry replacement cylinders so a drilled lock is back to secure and working before I leave. The Master Locksmiths Association describes non-destructive entry as opening the door without damaging the lock, door or frame, and it is what a reputable locksmith reaches for first.
What it should cost, and the lock-out trap to avoid
An honest local lockout is straightforward to price. Non-destructive entry on its own is from £90. A standard daytime call-out is from £90, and out-of-hours (6pm to 8am, weekends and bank holidays), when you need a 24 hour emergency locksmith, is from £170. No call-out fee on top, no VAT, and the figure I quote on the phone is the figure on the receipt.
The trap to watch for is the bait-and-switch quote. A national number advertises a tiny "from" price to win the call, then the locksmith who turns up stacks on a call-out fee, a labour charge, a "security assessment" and parts until you are staring at a £200 to £400 bill on the doorstep, late at night, with a child or a pet inside and very little choice. It is one of the most reported complaints in the trade. The defence is simple: get the all-in price on the phone before anyone sets off, and use someone local who will stand behind it. Citizens Advice publishes practical guidance on finding and checking a trader you can trust before you let them start, which applies to a locksmith as much as any other trade.
What national locksmith numbers will not tell you
Being locked out is the easiest situation in the world to be overcharged in, because you are stressed, often cold, and short on options. That is exactly why I quote the whole price on the phone and never add a call-out fee. A fair price that gets your neighbours and family ringing me next time is worth more to a one-man-band than a single inflated doorstep bill that ends in a chargeback and a one-star review. The honest number is the one I want you to remember.
Recent lockout call-outs
Three recent calls across Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. One slammed composite door, one night latch, one keys-locked-inside. 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.
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Saturday 23 May 2026 at 3.00pm · Wolverhampton
Ms Hayley R., Wolverhampton
Composite front door with an auto-locking multi-point swung shut behind her while she carried shopping in from the car, with her toddler napping inside. She rang in a real panic. Weekend, so out-of-hours rates.
A national number quoted the customer £320 OOHPaid to me £170Treated it as a priority and was with her quickly. Non-destructive entry on the euro cylinder in under five minutes, no damage to the door, toddler still asleep, same keys still working. The kind of call a national number would have used to justify a £300-plus doorstep bill.
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Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 9.20am · Stafford
Mr Brian T., Stafford
Popped out to the recycling bin in his slippers and the Yale night latch on the wooden front door dropped shut behind him. No spare with a neighbour because they were at work. Standard daytime call.
A national number quoted the customer £150Paid to me £90Slipped the night latch non-destructively in about two minutes. No damage, no new lock, latch working exactly as before. Had a brew and a chat about fitting a key safe so it would not happen again, which he sorted himself for a tenner. No upsell from me.
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Thursday 14 May 2026 at 2.40pm · Cannock
The Okafor family, Cannock
Back from a day out to find the only set of keys was sitting on the kitchen worktop inside, the door having locked on the latch. Standard hours. They had been quoted a flat figure by a national number that did not mention a call-out fee on top.
A national number quoted the customer £180Paid to me £90Non-destructive entry in a few minutes, no damage, lock untouched and the keys back in their hands. One all-in price quoted on the phone and honoured on the receipt, no call-out fee added. They have my number saved now for the family.
Lockouts and non-destructive entry are covered in the Master Locksmiths Association's locked-out guidance, which explains that a reputable locksmith opens the door without damaging the lock, door or frame, and typically attempts non-destructive entry first. My from-prices for the work above start at £90 for non-destructive entry and £170 for an out-of-hours call-out.
What customers say about being let back in
Verified Google reviews from real customers across Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock and the surrounding villages.
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
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 ☺️
Sean was extremely professional. He arrived on time. He was clear about the charges & completed the job in good time.
Thankyou Guys. I'm glad I could help you with your emergency call out in Wolverhampton/penn today. Have a great day! 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 😊
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 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 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 getting you back in
The figures below are the floor prices for the lockout jobs I am called to most. They include attendance and the work to get you back inside, with no separate call-out fee. Where a lock genuinely needs replacing, 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.
- Non-destructive entry only (no new lock fitted) from £90
- Standard daytime call-out (Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm) from £90
- Snapped key extraction (if a key broke in the lock) 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. The price I quote on the phone is the price you pay. 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 locked out, the phone rings on me, I quote the all-in price for getting you back in before I set off, and I get you in without damaging the door wherever I possibly can. I treat anyone left outside at night, in the cold, or with a child or pet inside as a priority. No call-out fee. No doorstep surprises.
- 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 being locked out
Straight answers about what to do first, whether you need a new lock, what it should cost, how fast I can get you in, and the lock-out overcharge trap to watch for.
I'm locked out of my house. What should I do first?
Before you ring anyone, two quick things. First, walk the whole house: back door, patio door, a downstairs window left on the latch. Most "locked out" turns out to be one door, not the whole house, and a way in you had forgotten about. Second, think about who holds a spare: a neighbour, a partner at work, a parent, or your letting agent or landlord if you rent. A two-minute phone call is free and beats any call-out. If neither works, do not force the door or break a window, because that costs far more than a clean entry. Ring me and I will get you in without damage. Per the Master Locksmiths Association, a good locksmith opens the door without damaging the lock, door or frame.
Can a locksmith get me in without breaking the lock?
Almost always, yes. Non-destructive entry is the whole craft: picking, slipping or manipulating the lock open so the door, the frame and the lock all survive and your keys still work afterwards. On a standard uPVC euro cylinder, a slammed composite door, or a Yale-style night latch, I can usually be in within minutes with no damage at all. Drilling is the last resort, not the opening move, and I will always tell you on the phone if I expect yours to be a clean entry. The price for non-destructive entry alone starts from £90, and you decide afterwards whether anything actually needs replacing.
How much does it cost to get back into my house?
Non-destructive entry on its own is from £90. A standard daytime call-out (Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm) is from £90, and out-of-hours (6pm to 8am, weekends, bank holidays) is from £170. There is never a separate call-out fee bolted on top, and no VAT. I quote the all-in figure on the phone before I set off, and that is the figure on the receipt. If a key has snapped in the lock as you tried to get in, that is a separate extraction job from £90, covered on the broken-key extraction page.
How long will it take a locksmith to let me in?
Two parts to that: how long to reach you, and how long to open the door. I am a local one-man-band covering Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock and the surrounding villages, so the travel time is honest and I will give you a realistic window on the phone rather than the "15 minutes" a national call-centre promises and never keeps. The opening itself is usually quick: a slammed uPVC door or a night latch is often non-destructive entry in a few minutes once I am there. I treat anyone left outside at night, in the cold, or with a child or pet inside as a priority.
I've locked myself out with my baby or dog inside. Is that an emergency?
If a child or a vulnerable person is at genuine risk (very hot or cold weather, a medical need, or any immediate danger) ring 999 first. The fire service will force entry and a damaged door is worth it for safety. If it is not that urgent but you are anxious because a baby, a toddler or a pet is inside, tell me on the phone and I will treat it as a priority and head straight to you. The vast majority of these are a slammed door I can open non-destructively in minutes, with no damage and no drama, so please do not put a window through unless someone is actually in danger.
Will I need a new lock after being let in?
Usually not. If you were simply locked out (door slammed behind you, keys left inside, night latch dropped), the lock is undamaged and a non-destructive entry leaves it working perfectly with your existing keys. You only need a new cylinder if the lock was already faulty, if a key snapped inside it, or if your keys are genuinely lost rather than just out of reach (that is a different decision, covered on the lost house keys page). I will tell you honestly on the doorstep whether anything needs changing. No upsell from a five-minute entry to a £300 lock change you do not need.
The lock-out price I was quoted on the phone jumped on the doorstep. Is that normal?
No, and it is one of the most common complaints in this trade. The classic trap is a national number advertising a low "from" price (sometimes £49 or even £15), then the locksmith who turns up adds a call-out fee, a labour charge, a "security assessment" and parts until the bill is £200 to £400 on the doorstep when you are stressed and have little choice. A genuine local locksmith quotes the all-in price on the phone and honours it. I do not add a call-out fee, I do not add VAT, and the figure I say on the phone is the figure you pay. If you want to know the warning signs before you ring anyone, the locksmith scams page walks through the seven patterns and the checks to run on the call.
Ready when you are
Stuck outside right now? Call me, I'll talk you through it.
Tell me what door you are locked out of, whether the keys are inside, and roughly where you are. I will give you the all-in price on the phone and a realistic time, then get you back in without damage. No call-out fee. No deposit. No surprises.
Page last reviewed: . Reviewed by Sean Hamilton, the locksmith behind Lockerfella, under our editorial standards.