Emergency locksmith quotes: what to check before you agree

Before the call-out: understand which charges you are committing to

Describe the facts: the door is shut, you do or do not know whether it is locked, or a key has broken. Give your address and explain the access arrangements.

Ask for the company's identity and pricing terms. A call-out charge is not the price of the repair. A verbal estimate does not replace a written quote.

What to check before confirming the visit

• Are there charges for the call-out and diagnosis?
• Is the quote free or chargeable, and how much does it cost?
• What out-of-hours surcharges may apply?
• What charges remain payable if I decline the work once the locksmith is on site?
• What can be priced now, and what requires an inspection?

A quote may be chargeable if you have been told beforehand that there is a charge and what it costs. A free quote, a free call-out and no charges if you decline the work are separate conditions: do not confuse them.

Before work starts: read the quote as a list of permissions

The French Service Public guidance on emergency repairs at home states that a quote must be provided before work begins, including locksmith work. An emergency is no reason to discover the price only after the work is finished.

Keep a legible copy before agreeing. On your phone, read the entire document, not just the message accompanying it. Do not approve items left to be completed later without an explanation.

Details to look for

• The professional's identity and contact details, your details and the address where the work will take place.
• The exact nature of the work and an itemised description of the services.
• The call-out charge, labour and how it is charged, and the proposed parts.
• Quantities, prices, taxes and the total including all taxes.
• Payment terms, the planned schedule and any qualifications that need clarifying.

Ask about exclusions too: does a fixed-price door-opening service include any parts? Is fitting the part included? A technical qualification should explain what is still unknown, not authorise any expense in advance.

An illustrative example: separate opening the door from replacing parts

This is an educational example, not a real customer or job: these items illustrate how to read a quote, not which solution is right for your door.

• Call-out: travelling to the premises and the applicable conditions.
• Door opening: the service needed to restore access, with its limitations explained.
• Possible replacement cylinder: the model reference and compatible specifications to be confirmed.
• Fitting and checks: the operations included in the proposed replacement.

An item for ‘door opening’ does not automatically authorise replacement of the cylinder. Likewise, a new cylinder does not mean the whole lock needs replacing. If the quote simply says ‘lock replacement’, ask which part is involved and why.

Compare proposals covering the same scope: a lower total may exclude a part or an operation included in another quote.

If the diagnosis changes: pause the decision, not the discussion

If the diagnosis changes, ask what has been found, why the original work is not enough and what options are available. An agreed additional charge is not inherently improper.

However, every additional charge must be explained and approved by you before the relevant work begins. Have the revised scope, the additional amount and the new total set out in writing in a supplementary or revised quote. Keep the original version too.

You can ask for only the immediate need to be addressed and consider non-essential improvements separately. Ask whether that separation is technically possible and what limitations it involves. A proposal to improve security must not be confused with the access-restoration work you originally requested.

Do not rely on an automatic cooling-off period to withdraw your agreement afterwards. Under French law, the rules depend in particular on how the contract was concluded and the urgent nature of the work; additional services should not be treated as part of the original emergency without examining the circumstances. If there is a dispute, seek advice appropriate to your case.

When the invoice arrives: compare what was agreed with what was done

Ask for an itemised invoice before paying. Compare it with the accepted quote and the changes you approved. If an item is new or unclear, ask for an explanation and, if necessary, a correction.

Checks at the end of the job

• Do the invoiced services match the work carried out?
• Does the model reference of the fitted part match the one you accepted?
• Does the total include only the additional charges you approved?
• Are the company's details, the date and the location correct?
• Have you kept the quote, invoice and relevant correspondence?

You can ask to keep the parts that were replaced. If you disagree with a charge, describe the disputed item in writing and attach the documents. Service Public explains the options for an amicable resolution and further remedies in France; a precise complaint is more useful than a general accusation.

Insurance and TFK commitments: two separate checks

If you have home assistance cover, contact the assistance provider before booking work whenever possible. Check the cover, any prior approval required, any designated contractor, limits and excesses. A reference to ‘locksmith services’ does not guarantee that every item will be reimbursed.

At TFK, the price is explained before work begins and the quote is confirmed in writing before you agree. If further diagnosis changes the work required, the new quote must be accepted before the relevant work starts. No additional charge is added without prior information and explicit agreement.

At TFK, declining or cancelling before the call-out is free of charge. This does not mean that the call-out itself or declining work on site is free: those terms must be clarified before the visit. Find the scope of services on the prices and commitments page.

You can prepare your request on WhatsApp or call TFK. Photos and video calls are not required to make contact.

Your checklist before the next step

These boxes help you prepare the conversation. They are neither sent nor saved.

CHECK THE ORIGINAL SOURCES

Useful resources

French-language sources about French procedures. Check your own policy and circumstances.

• Service Public — Emergency repairs at home ↗
  Information on prices, quotes before work starts, invoices and steps to take in a dispute in France. Source page consulted on 17 October 2026; in French.
• French National Consumer Institute — Emergency home repairs and routine repairs ↗
  Details the items in a quote and the distinction between urgent repairs and additional services. Source page consulted on 17 October 2026; in French.
• Service Public — Tenants' insurance: optional additional cover ↗
  Any assistance and legal protection depend on the cover purchased and its terms. Source page consulted on 17 October 2026; in French.

Where to go next

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