Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions that come up most when people ring. If yours isn't here, call 07749 321303 — Tommy is happy to talk through anything before you commit.
About the Service
Who We Are and How We Work
Are you a real Liverpool locksmith or a national call centre? +
An independent Liverpool-based locksmith — not a call centre, not a franchise. Tommy answers the phone, drives the van, and does every job himself. No dispatcher, no subcontractor. The price quoted on the phone is the price on the receipt.
Are you actually qualified? +
City & Guilds locksmithing qualification, NCFE certification, enhanced DBS certificate, and full public liability insurance. All physically present in the van, shown on request on every job. More detail on the about page.
Which areas do you cover? +
All Liverpool postcodes (L1–L36), St Helens (WA9–WA11), Widnes (WA8), Runcorn (WA7), Warrington (WA1–WA5), and northern/western Cheshire. If you're unsure, ring and ask — honest answer in 30 seconds.
Do you work 24/7 including Christmas and bank holidays? +
Yes. Tommy answers every day of the year. The rate doesn't change on bank holidays, Christmas Day, or at any hour of the night. No out-of-hours surcharge.
Pricing
How the Pricing Actually Works
Is there a call-out fee on top of the quoted price? +
No. The price quoted on the phone is the total — labour, parts, and everything. No call-out fee added on arrival, no 'labour charge' on top, no parts surcharge.
Is the price higher at night or on weekends? +
No. Same rate 24/7, 365 days a year. Christmas Day, 3am Sunday, Bank Holiday Monday — same price as a Tuesday afternoon.
How much will my job cost? +
Ring and describe what you need — you get a fixed total in two or three minutes. Standard jobs (lockouts, lock changes, UPVC repairs) have predictable pricing. Complex jobs (master key systems, commercial work) get quoted in writing after a brief site visit.
Why do some locksmiths advertise much lower prices? +
Some operations quote a low call-out fee (often £49) to get the call, then add 'labour', 'parts', and invented surcharges on arrival. The total ends up being several hundred pounds. The Master Locksmiths Association and Which? have both documented this pattern. The fix: get a firm total before agreeing to any callout.
How do I pay? +
Card, bank transfer, or cash on completion. Full itemised invoice always provided. For landlords and insurance claims, the invoice is formatted to suit.
Response Times
Honest Estimates — Not Optimistic Ones
How quickly can you get to me? +
Liverpool city centre (L1–L3): 15–25 min. Inner suburbs (L4–L8): 20–30 min. Outer Liverpool: 25–40 min. St Helens, Widnes: 30–40 min. Runcorn, Warrington: 35–50 min. Cheshire: 40–60 min. Honest averages — not best-case figures.
Is '30 minutes' guaranteed? +
No. Traffic, weather, and previous job overruns all affect timing. You get the realistic estimate on the call, not the optimistic one.
What if you're already on a job when I ring? +
You'll be told on the call — 'I'm 45 minutes away' or 'It'll be two hours, do you want to wait or would you prefer someone closer?' No fake ETAs.
Lockouts
Emergency Entry — What to Expect
Will you drill my lock? +
Only as a last resort, only after telling you first. Most domestic locks open by non-destructive entry — picking and manipulation. Lock stays intact, same key works after. Drilling happens only when the lock is high-security, already damaged, or in a genuine welfare emergency.
Do I need to prove the property is mine? +
Yes. Driving licence, recent utility bill, or any document showing your name at that address. Locksmiths have a professional duty not to open properties for people who can't show authorisation.
My key snapped in the lock — what should I do? +
Don't use pliers or tweezers — they push the fragment deeper. Leave it exactly where it is. Specialist extraction tools remove it cleanly in most cases with no cylinder damage. See broken key extraction.
Can you change the lock during the same visit as the lockout? +
Yes — anti-snap cylinders and BS3621 mortice locks are on the van. If keys are missing, a same-visit lock change is done immediately after entry. See lock changes.
Not sure what you need? Describe the symptom — diagnosis happens over the phone.
Fixed price confirmed before the van moves. No obligation to proceed from the call.
Lock Changes
When and What to Fit
Should I change locks when moving into a new property? +
Almost always yes. The solicitor hands over keys but can't account for copies given to cleaners, builders, neighbours, or ex-partners over the years. Changing the locks is the only way to know who has access.
What's the difference between BS3621 and TS007? +
BS3621 is the British Standard for mortice locks on wooden doors. TS007 3-star is the equivalent for euro cylinders in UPVC and composite doors — anti-snap tested and required by Secured by Design. Both are what most UK home insurance policies require by name. See lock changes.
Can I have one key for all my external doors? +
Yes — keyed-alike cylinder sets are cut to match at fitting time. One key for front door, back door, garage, outbuildings. Existing keys can't be matched to new cylinders; the cylinders themselves are the matched components.
Does my UPVC door need an anti-snap cylinder? +
If it was fitted before 2015 and never upgraded, almost certainly. Standard euro cylinders can be snapped in under a minute with no skill and no noise. A TS007 3-star cylinder defeats this attack. See security upgrades.
UPVC & Doors
The Most Common Door Problems
My UPVC handle has dropped — what's wrong? +
The gearbox inside the door has failed. Common fault, fixable, not urgent — but worth doing before the door fails completely. In most cases the correct replacement gearbox is on the van. See UPVC lock repairs.
My door is stiff to close but the lock seems fine — why? +
Almost always a hinge problem, not a lock problem. The door has dropped slightly on its hinges so the locking points don't align with the frame keeps. Hinge adjustment takes 15–20 minutes with no parts. See door repairs.
Should I replace the whole door or just repair it? +
Repair in almost every case. A new UPVC door costs £800–£3,000+. A gearbox repair is a fraction of that. Unless the panel is cracked through or the frame is structurally compromised, repair is the right answer.
My UPVC key won't turn to deadlock the door — what is it? +
The cylinder cam has sheared. Straightforward cylinder replacement — and a good time to upgrade to TS007 anti-snap while the door is already open. See lock changes.
Landlord & HMO
Portfolio, Tenancy, and Compliance
Do you work with landlords and letting agents? +
Yes — between-tenancy lock changes, HMO compliance, tenant lockouts, master key systems. Multiple properties on the same day. Invoicing direct to the landlord or agent. See landlord locksmith.
Are you familiar with Liverpool City Council HMO requirements? +
Yes. Key requirements: room doors must have thumb-turn cylinders (key-both-sides doesn't comply), communal access must be controlled, fire door locks must be appropriate to the door rating, escape routes must open without a key from inside. See Liverpool City Council HMO licensing.
Can you handle multiple properties in one day? +
Yes — typically three to five if they're in the same part of the city. Scheduled geographically to minimise travel. Itemised invoices per property.
Do you provide insurance-compatible invoices? +
Yes — itemised invoices formatted for home insurance and landlord insurance. Burglary claims include the crime reference number and specific wording loss adjusters need.
Burglary Response
What to Do After a Break-In
What should I do first after discovering a break-in? +
Ring the police first (999 if anyone might still be inside, 101 otherwise). Get a crime reference number. Don't tidy up — photograph everything in detail. Then ring us. See burglary repairs for the full sequence.
Will you wait for the police before starting work? +
Yes. We won't start repair work until police have attended or confirmed they're not coming. We stay with you while you wait.
What insurance documentation do you provide? +
Full written report before leaving: itemised invoice, crime reference number, specific damage descriptions in the exact wording loss adjusters expect. Sent directly to your insurer if needed.
General
Everything Else
Are smart locks worth fitting? +
Depends on use case. Short-lets, AirBnBs, HMOs with high turnover — yes, strongly. Standard family home with two adult keyholders — usually not worth the added complexity. See smart lock installation.
Do you do commercial work? +
Yes — small to medium commercial. Aluminium shopfronts on the aluminium door repairs page. Full access control systems on the access control page.
Do you do car keys or vehicle lockouts? +
No — automotive locksmithing is a completely separate specialism with different tools and training.
Can I book a non-emergency job for a specific time? +
Yes. Same-day slots usually available if you ring before mid-afternoon. Next-day always available for planned work.
What if I'm not sure what I need? +
Ring and describe the symptom. Diagnosis usually happens in two or three minutes over the phone. Fixed price confirmed before the van moves. No obligation from the call.
Where can I read your reviews? +
Over 315 five-star reviews on Google — see the Google Maps listing or the reviews page.
Question Not Answered?
Ring 07749 321303 — Tommy will talk through your situation honestly, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cobra Locksmith Services Liverpool
This page covers the most common questions about emergency locksmith services, lock changes, UPVC repairs, burglary response, pricing, and landlord work across Liverpool and the North West.
Cobra Locksmith Services is an independent Liverpool-based locksmith. City & Guilds qualified, DBS checked, fully insured. Work follows Master Locksmiths Association standards. All cylinders meet TS007 3-star and BS3621 British Standards.
Related Service Pages
Emergency Locksmith Liverpool
Lock Changes Liverpool
UPVC Lock Repairs Liverpool
Burglary Repairs Liverpool
Home Security Upgrades
Landlord Locksmith Liverpool
Non-Destructive Entry Liverpool
Master Key Systems Liverpool