In short:
- Our call-out fee is R250. That's the one price we publish.
- Everything after that is quoted on site, once the technician has seen the lock, and nothing is done until you agree.
- The price of the work depends on the lock, the door, the parts and whether entry can be made without damage.
- South African consumer law generally limits a repairer to the estimate you authorised unless you approve more.
- You pay by EFT, cash or card.
The part of the price you know before we arrive
When you phone Mobile Locksmith Boksburg, two things are fixed and you can hold us to both:
- The call-out is R250. That's the fee for a technician coming out to you, at home, at work or wherever your car is parked.
- The work is quoted on site before it starts. The technician looks at the actual lock, tells you what's wrong and what it will cost to fix, and waits for your yes.
We're open 24/7 and fully mobile, so there's no shop counter and no walk-in price board. Payment is by EFT, cash or card, whichever suits you on the day.
We don't publish other prices, and we'd be wary of anyone who gives a firm figure for a job they haven't seen. Two front doors that look the same from the street can have very different locks behind them.
Why the job itself is quoted at the door
Locksmith work is a mix of time, skill and parts, and all three depend on things nobody can know over the phone. The table shows what typically moves a quote up or down.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Type of lock | A latch that has simply clicked shut is quicker to deal with than a deadlocked mortice, a multipoint lock or a high-security cylinder |
| Non-destructive entry or not | We always try to get in without damage first. If that isn't possible, a part has to be replaced, which adds a part to the job |
| Parts | A cylinder, a lock body, a padlock or a gate lock each comes in different grades and brands |
| Number of locks | Changing every outside lock after lost keys is a bigger job than fixing one |
| Condition of the door | A dropped door or a split frame can stop a new lock working until it's dealt with |
| What's being opened | Houses, offices, cars and safes are different kinds of work |
How the on-site quote works
The quote isn't a formality. It's the point where you decide what happens to your property.
- The technician checks the problem. They look at the lock, the door and the frame, and ask what happened.
- You hear the options. Often there's a repair and a replacement option, or a like-for-like part and a stronger one.
- You get a price for the option you choose. Ask what's included: the part, the fitting, the keys that come with a new lock.
- You agree, or you don't. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree.
This matches what the Consumer Protection Act expects of repair and maintenance work. Under section 15, where the section applies, a supplier may charge only if you were given an estimate and authorised the work, or declined an estimate in writing or another recorded way. They also can't charge more than the estimate unless they've told you about the extra and you've agreed. The section applies above a threshold set by regulation, and that threshold is a token amount of one rand, so in practice it reaches almost any repair job. Either way, it's a fair standard to expect from any locksmith.
Comparing quotes fairly
For planned work, such as changing locks after you move in or upgrading a business's padlocks, you may want to compare. Like-for-like is what matters. A cheaper quote for a low-grade cylinder isn't comparable with a dearer one for a cylinder tested against attack.
- Is the lock being repaired, or replaced?
- Which brand and model of part, and what grade?
- How many keys come with a new lock or cylinder?
- Does the price cover every door you asked about, or only one?
- Will anything need a door or frame repair as well?
If you're weighing up a repair against a new lock, repair or replace a lock? goes through how to decide.
Ways to keep the bill down without cutting corners
You can't control what's inside a lock, but you can make the visit simpler.
- Send photos first. A WhatsApp photo of the lock from both sides and the edge of the door helps us understand the job before the technician arrives.
- Have proof ready. We ask for proof of ownership or residence before opening a door, a car or a safe. Having it at hand saves time at the door.
- Sort out access. At an estate or a business park, phone the guardhouse so the technician isn't waiting at the boom.
- Group jobs. If a second lock is stiff or a padlock is rusting, mention it while the technician is there.
- Don't experiment with a jammed lock. Forcing a key, or spraying whatever is in the garage into a keyhole, can turn an easy job into a replacement.
Warning signs when you're phoning around
Most people only need a locksmith now and then, which makes it hard to know what normal looks like. These are reasons to pause:
| What you hear | Why to be careful |
|---|---|
| A low "from" price on the phone, with no mention of what it covers | The final bill may have little to do with the number you were given |
| Work starts before you've agreed a price | You lose the chance to say no or to compare |
| Drilling the lock is suggested before anything else is tried | Non-destructive entry should come first where it's possible |
| Nobody asks for proof that it's your home, car or safe | Someone who opens doors without asking would do the same for a stranger at yours |
| Pressure to agree on the spot to an expensive upgrade you didn't ask about | Getting back into a locked home is urgent; a full upgrade usually isn't, and you can take time to compare |
Homes, estates, businesses and cars
The call-out and the on-site quote work the same way wherever you are, but the jobs differ.
- Homes and estates: lockouts, stiff or broken locks, and lock changes. Estate gate access is part of the planning; see locked out of a security-estate home.
- Warehouses, factories, shops and offices: several doors, roller shutters and padlocks, often after hours. Our commercial locksmith page explains that service.
- Cars: lockouts and car keys, wherever the car is. See locked out of your car at a shopping centre.
- Safes: opening and repairs are normal services like any other, quoted once the safe has been seen.
For a lockout right now, our emergency locksmith page explains what to expect, and the Boksburg mobile locksmith homepage lists everything else we do.
Questions
Can you give me a price for the job over the phone?
We can confirm the R250 call-out. The work itself is quoted on site, because the price depends on the lock and door, which the technician needs to see. Photos on WhatsApp help us understand the job in advance.
What if the technician finds more wrong once the work starts?
Then they stop and tell you before carrying on. You agree to any extra work and its price first, just as you agreed to the original quote.
How can I pay?
By EFT, cash or card, whichever suits you. The technician confirms the amount with you on site, as part of the quote you agree to.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our emergency lockouts service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Boksburg, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Consumer Protection Act, 2008, section 15: Pre-authorisation of repair or maintenance services — A supplier may charge only after an estimate is given and the work authorised, or an estimate is declined in a recorded way; may not charge more than the estimate without telling the consumer and getting authorisation; applies above a threshold set by the Minister.
- Consumer Protection Act regulations: threshold for pre-authorisation of repair or maintenance services — The section 15 threshold is generally one rand, excluding VAT, unless a regulation or industry code provides otherwise.