Problems with Copy Keys

Problems with copy keys

Problems with Copy keys

Does your lock require a Knack for getting it open? Does one side open better than the other? Does the lock stick sometimes and need be jiggled to work correctly?

All these are signs you have been using badly cut keys. Look at the key you are using in your lock. If it doesn’t have the same brand name on it as the lock, it is a copy. Key cutting shops use generic brands like JMA because one key will cut for several brands. This makes things easier and cheaper for the key cutter, but the copy brands are often made with cheaper materials, as this means less wear and tear on the cutting blades for the machines. If key cutters used genuine branded blanks all the time, they would go through more cutting blades and instead of throwing away a cheap copy if you bring it back, and it becomes a more expensive throw away if they don’t get the cut right first time. For them to use genuine blanks, prices of key cutting would have to double at least, but more likely triple.

For the person cutting the key, they only have your original to work from, and often people bring in copies to copy from. Ideally, you would take the lock so they can test the keys before you take them, but that is very unlikely to happen.

So, when you are thinking of changing locks, think hard about the number of keys you require. Most locks come with two or three keys as standard, so any more will have to be ordered. Ordering additional keys with the lock ensures you get branded keys that have been tested before the lock even goes anywhere near your door and keeps your guarantee sound. A locksmith fitting your lock can easily claim any failure could be down to poorly cut keys should you have more cut elsewhere after he/she has done the work. And they would more than likely be correct. Only today, I changed a lock for a couple who had six copies made from keys of a lock I fitted about 5 years ago. Some worked inside only, two worked outside only and one had to be pulled back slightly to work on either side. Between them, they were wearing the pins away so that even once the original keys were found, those originals were not quite right. The worst of it was, they didn’t even need that many keys. Remember, there were just the two of them. Three original keys and six extra copies. A keysafe would have been a better option than so many extra keys.

Based in Holt, AC Locksmiths covers a large part of North Norfolk, including the north coast towns of Thornam, Brancaster, and the Burnhams. We go to Hunstanton, Snettisham, Dersingham and Heacham. And not forgetting locksmith services in Docking, the Rudhams, North Creake, South Creake, Walsingham, Little Snoring and Great Snoring.

Thanks for reading

admin June 25, 2022

How many keys do you needd / key cutting / Problems with copy keys /

Copy keys, insurance & locks

It’s been a while since my last blog, so there is plenty to update and remind.

Firstly, I hope all my customers and readers are well and that this Covid-19 Pandemic has not disrupted your lives too much. I know we have all been affected one way or another but can only wish that for you, reading this, those affects have been minimal.

That aside, the first lock related problem I want to talk about is copy keys. In emergency situations, your locksmith comes along and either fixes, or replaces your lock for you. You might get two or three new keys with the new lock. You also get a guarantee from the locksmith that the lock he has installed will last a certain amount of time. Now, you might need more keys cut. So, you go along to your local cobbler/engraver/chain key cutting company, etc and have some copies made. While I endorse the cobblers and engravers, as they usually have years of experience, the pride of running their own business and a local reputation to uphold, I am not so keen on the chain key cutting shops. These commonly have a high turnover of inexperienced staff who have no vested interest in getting the keys cut right. And the cost of returning to have the job done again, is barely worth the effort, so usually we let it slide. But 90% of the problems I encounter regarding badly cut keys come from these chain shops.
AC Locksmiths

But all key cutters have one outstanding issue. Cheap blanks. There are hundreds of different brands of lock out there, and even more variants within each brand. But one cheap, unbranded blank might work for several different lock brands, so it makes sense for them to use the cheaper unbranded blank to copy your key. While this is all well and good for them, it is not so good for you. Using a badly copied key technically invalidates any guarantee your locksmith left you when he fitted your lock. I have encountered this very problem just this morning. A customer has called me back to a lock that has started to not work quite so well when being operated from one side of the door. The first key I was given to try was a copy. With the copy, the lock caught almost every time I tried to turn it. With an original, it took me ten tries to repeat the problem. Was the fault there before? Not when I first tested the lock. Would it have happened anyway? We cannot know because a new element has been added that is now a potential problem. And that is where the guarantee becomes invalid. Now I am not an evil locksmith. I have given my customer the benefit of the doubt and am replacing the lock with extra keys that will have been machine precision cut by my supplier and guaranteed with the lock. All the keys will be hard wearing steel rather than the soft brass alloy key cutters use to make their cutting blades last longer.

If you are having locks replaced, ask your locksmith to supply all extra keys at the same time. It will cost more, but your guarantee will remain valid and your locks will last longer. If you must get your keys cut elsewhere, ask for genuine steel blanks. This will cost more and you might have to come back after the genuine blanks have been ordered, but your key cutter will triple check he has made a good copy, because he will not want to throw away expensive blanks. Always use the originals as the most used keys. Don’t give an original to the cleaner if the cleaner only comes in once a week. Don’t give an original as the emergency spare to a neighbour who will hopefully never have need to use it. And if you need more than three additional keys, you will be better off buying a keysafe, putting an original key inside it and giving visitors the safe combination rather than a key they can lose anyway. For people who need carers, holiday lets, even long term tenancy lets, the people who use the door most are the people who should have the original keys. Especially the holiday lets. The very last thing you want is someone leaving a comment on trip advisor saying their holiday was ruined because the cheap key broke in the lock and they had to wait hours for the locksmith.

If you are having locks changed, ask your locksmith about extra keys at the time you are having the work done. You might have to wait an extra couple of days, but it will be worth it.

My next continuing point is to mention insurance requirements again. In your buildings and contents insurance there will be a sentence that says something similar to this:

All final exit doors should be secured by a five lever mortice deadlock or equivalent.

If you have a door where you must lift the handles before turning the key, that is fine with your insurance. While these doors often have approximately 5 different locking points, they are not what your insurance is talking about. These are called multi-point locking mechanisms. Some have just three locking points, while others have as many as nine. But all of those count for nothing if you have a weak locking barrel. While insurance companies are still satisfied with basic barrels (despite much lobbying from the locksmith industry), you should ask your locksmith to fit a BSI3621 kitemarked barrel for you. These can be anti-pick, anti-bump, anti-drill, anti-snap or all of these and more. You can get versions in your local DIY store, but your locksmith will know the very best ones around.

If your lock does not require the lifting of handles before locking, then it will almost certainly be a wooden door and that will require either a five lever mortice lock or equivalent as stated. A mortice lock sits mostly inside the door and many people in the UK still refer to these as ‘Chubb’ locks, which is ironic as the Chubb brand sold this branch of it’s company to Union and no longer manufactures them itself. But mortice locks come in three types. 2 lever, 3 lever and five lever. Technically, there are seven lever variants as well, but these are rare. The 2 lever and 3 lever variants are designed for low level security. Internal doors or locks on sheds, summer houses, etc. They should not be on final exit doors. Here in Norfolk, I find an insane number of inadequate locks on properties. I am about to start a job that is a relatively new self-build where the person who built the house did a lovely neat job of fitting totally inadequate locks. If you look at lock faceplate on the leading edge of your door, it will tell you how many levers the lock has. If it says 5 levers, you are fine. Better still if it has a British Standard Kite mark to show it has been tested against all sorts of attacks. Anything less than 5 levers and you are not up to insurance standards. If the lock is so old all indicators have worn away, then its time for a new lock anyway.
Kite marked lock AC Locksmiths

The other alternative is the night latch, often called a ‘Yale’ lock. These are only acceptable if they have the British Standard kite mark.

Please check your own locks and if you know people who might not know or be able to check for themselves, have a little look for them. If you are unsure, a good local locksmith will do a free security check with no obligations.

Finally, for this blog an update on my services. Covid-19 has forced me to branch out even further. So here is an updated selection of the things I can do for my customers in Norfolk.

Emergency call outs (domestic and commercial)

Free security checks (domestic and commercial)

Lock upgrades (domestic and commercial)

Vehicle key production and programming

Emergency vehicle entry

Wireless smart alarm supply and installation (domestic)

Interior CCTV supply and installation (domestic).

UPVC window valeting service (domestic – please check for details)

Light house clearance (please talk to me before paying others)

UPVC door adjustments (domestic and commercial)

Thanks for reading,
Alan

admin August 27, 2020

Copy keys problems / Extra keys /

Keys

Besides your mobile phone, what is the most important thing you carry around with you every day? Very few people even think about their keys, but without them you cannot function. Be it getting into your home or office, or starting your keys are always needed. So when was the last time you bothered to look at your keys, clean them even, or check that they were not bent or damaged in any other way?

Scandanavian locks 2

A lot of locks fail because the keys being used to operate them are worn, damaged or badly cut copies. I’ve seen people try their best to service their own locks, but then fail to keep the actual keys clean. We know toddlers love to put keys in their mouths and we snatch those keys away because we know they are dirty, but we never even give those grubby, bacteria ridden lumps of metal so much as a quick scrub to remove surface dirt.

The bodies at the top of the locksmithing industry in the UK suggest that we locksmiths should tell you to change your locks every 5 years, one of the main reasons for this is that people just do not maintain their locks, or they use too many copies that are cut poorly. So here are my top tips for keys:

1. Keep your keys clean. I know it is obvious, but I see loads of grubby keys, especially in the work place or where anyone needs a big bunch of keys. Dirt and grime collects in the grooves, which is then transferred into the lock where it builds up, wearing away the internal moving parts. Hot, soapy water and a stiff nail brush should get rid of the worst of it and be sure to dry the key straight away so as to avoid rust.

2. Only take the keys you need. Big bunches of keys just rub against each other and generally wear away. If you have mortice (Chubb) keys with thin prongs, those prongs are likely to get bent far easier when the keys are on a big bunch. Separate your keys into smaller bunches for use when you need them. This will also keep the keys cleaner.

3. Don’t get too many copies made. Any more than four keys is going to be more expensive than a basic keysafe. If you run a business, giving staff members the code to the keysafe that can be changed is a lot better than chasing them to return their key when they leave, and if they leave under nefarious circumstances, you might have to change your locks when they don’t return their key. A keysafe just requires changing the code to the keysafe. It also saves a load of bad copies wearing out the lock quicker.

4. Having said that, do not let your stash of keys run down to just the one, especially if that one is a copy. You should always be in possession of a branded original key for the lock. All locks come with at least two keys. If you only have one, not only are you going to be in trouble when you eventually lose it, but that means there is at least one other key in someone’s possession who can gain access to a door you want to secure, be it your home or workplace.

5. If you need to get copies made, always keep the originals as primary use. Just the other day, I attended a job in Blakeney where the lock wasn’t opening or locking on one side. I asked the customer to fetch me the original keys which worked just fine. Your original branded keys are the most important. Treat them with the utmost care. If you need to change your locks, think about how many keys you might need and get you locksmith to order them with your new lock.

6. If you must keys cut at a later date, shy away from chain outlets. They have a higher turnover of staff who are not always trained to high standards. Your local engraver/cobbler will be running their own business and will more likely have years of experience. But, they will not often have genuine branded blanks. Be prepared to demand genuine branded keys, even if that means coming back a few days later and paying more for the keys. The key cutter will take even more care to cut the key perfectly as they will not want you coming back with a bad cut key. It will cost them more to honour a guarantee of a good cut if the blank is branded.

7. As said above, any more than four keys should be negated by a basic keysafe, but it is worth investing in a high quality keysafe. Dial keysafes are easier to change the codes on, so perfect for holiday lets, etc, but push button keysafes are more secure and so better for the home where you might not need to change the code too often. Keysafes should be positioned near the door the key inside is going to open, but not on general view if avoidable. If you can position in a corner, or make the angles difficult for levers or hammers, then even better, but most burglars ignore keysafes as they can usually find easier ways in.

8. Many new high security locks are coming with special keys. At least one brand uses a magnet in the key. From personal experience, I can tell you not to have these keys anywhere near vehicle keys as the small magnetic field can scramble the signal between car and car key transceiver.

9. If you have a digital safe, hand the override keys to a trusted friend or family member. There is no point keeping the keys in the house where the burglar might find them. But do not keep the keys inside the safe – they will be useless to you if the batteries fail. If you only have a manual key safe, again give one of the keys to a friend or family member and ensure the second key is not left in the home while you are out.

AC locksmiths Auto

10. The glove compartment is not the place for your spare car key. The only person who can possible benefit from the key being there is the car thief.

11. If you drive to your holiday destination and it is more than a hundred miles from home, take the spare key to the car. Leave it in the holiday accommodation, because there is nothing worse than having to call a locksmith knowing you could get in yourself if you had the spare nearby.

12. If you have a special knack for unlocking your door, or you have to hold the key at a certain angle, either the key or your lock is not right. Check the key before any further damage is done. If it’s not the key, then change the lock before it fails completely just before you need to be in and out for an important event.

If you have any questions regarding any of the points raised above or in any of my other blogs, please contact me through any of the channels mentioned on my contacts page. (Text gets fasted response).

Thanks for reading!

admin February 21, 2020

car keys / Looking after your keys / property keys /

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me

What I have learned after 10 years as a Locksmith?

AC Locksmiths Norfolk

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me:

1. The multipoint locking mechanism on a double glazed door (or any door where you lift the handles before locking) is NOT a five lever lock. Five levers refers to the internal levers in a mortice lock which sits inside a wooden door.

2. All of those hooks, bolts, mushrooms, and rollers on a lift handle door mean nothing when burglars can attack the lock barrel easily. Having the correct barrel is vitally important and while you might get the insurance company to reimburse your financial loss, they cannot replace the heirloom given to you by Grandma that has enormous sentimental value. If your locking barrels do not have British Standard kite marks, you are practically inviting burglars into your home.

3. Home security is not necessarily about keeping intruders out. We all know they can smash a window. But they do not want to leave through that window carrying your stuff. You are looking to make it as hard as possible for them to leave with their arms full.

4. Look at your neighbour’s house when thinking about home security. Your aim should always be to make them look like an easier target. Crunchy gravel, CCTV, alarms, sensor lights are instant barriers before they even reach your door. Burglars recognise good locks and will go elsewhere. Your local locksmith knows the best brands you can’t buy on the high street.

5. That sneaky place you hide a spare key in the garden is glaringly obvious to the burglar. You are much better off with a quality keysafe.

6. You do not need multiple keys for carers. A keysafe can be much cheaper and easier for all. No more worries when keys go missing.

7. A home safe is not just about deterring criminals. A good one will protect important documents in the event of a fire. But batteries should be changed annually whether the low battery warning beeps or not, and override keys should be kept with a trusted neighbour or family member. Leaving the keys inside the safe is not a clever idea.

8. Taking your car on holiday? Make sure your partner takes the spare key. Nothing worse than calling a locksmith to open your vehicle when you lock the keys in the boot knowing a spare key is at home. Do not leave the spare key in the glove compartment.

9. Very few smart locks conform to BS3621, meaning they are not covered by your insurance.

10. Most lock failures can be avoided. If you notice your lock is getting harder to operate, or you have a special knack for opening the door, then something is wrong and needs addressing. It will be cheaper to sort now and if you don’t, the chances are it will fail when you are stuck in the pouring rain and are desperate to get in because you need to get ready for that important date/job interview/wedding/etc.

11. Hanging keys on a hook in plain sight of your door, or putting them in a dish/on a saucer near the front door is not good. Most luxury cars are stolen from drives after thieves use tools to hook keys through the letterbox. Seal the letter plate on your door and install a post box at the end of your garden. The postie and those who deliver your paper will love you for it.

12. Burglar alarms are not just about burglars; They now come with optional extras like smoke alarms and panic buttons allowing you to call a family member and talk to them through the system if you take a fall and cannot get back up.

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me

13. Modern CCTV puts you in control. If you post images or film of a crime, the local community might help. A friend knew someone who did this when Christmas decorations were stolen from their garden. The theft was captured by a smart doorcam and posted. Locals soon identified the thief and the stolen items were returned (along with a box of chocolates!).

14. If you need to get copies of keys made, still use the originals as your primary keys. Ask your local key cutter to order genuine branded blanks, even if it costs more and you have to come back. 90% of my recalls for faulty locks end up being poor copies not working properly. When you order a new lock, think about the number of keys you need, and order them at the same time. If you need more than four extra keys, a keysafe can be cheaper.

15. Plastic doors are just as prone to weather conditions as wooden doors. Be aware of direct sunlight and salty sea air. Check regularly for signs of rust. Lubricate your doors every time you change your clocks (spring and autumn). You can find out how by reading my blog on door maintenance.

16. The industry recommends changing your locks every 5 years, especially when keys have been handed to builders, carers, lost by teens, etc. While 5 years might seem a bit too much, adult children might do well to check their older parents’ locks. Many older houses are simply not up to insurance standard. If you cannot find a British standard kite mark on their lock, they are probably paying insurance for nothing as the insurers will not pay out in the event of a burglary.

17. Making a new car key when you have one to copy from is much cheaper than calling out the emergency locksmith when you are stuck in the rain and locked out of your vehicle because you just dropped your car key down a drain. And some cars, like Fords, will require you to make two new keys when all keys are lost as the car will not start without two keys programmed and the process automatically deletes all existing keys.

18. Cloning a car key means any lost/stolen keys will still start your vehicle. Making new keys allows you to ensure only the keys you hold will start the vehicle.

19. Car keys have a huge difference in prices from vehicle to vehicle for many reasons. Some can only be reproduced with genuine branded parts. Others require the removal of the dashboard in order to read a certain computer chip. While most can be done on the day, you might find yourself without the use of your vehicle for some time. Another reason to have a spare key made when convenient rather than leave it to an emergency.

20. Everything comes in all shapes and sizes. Locks are no different. Beware of what you buy in shops or on the internet as they might not be the easy DIY job you were expecting. Always consult a professional locksmith. For example, lots of internet-based car key makers advertise Landrover Discovery keys, but these can only be produced by the manufacturer. In the home, only Chubb branded locks fit exactly into the place where a Chubb lock has been before. Any other brand will need carpentry work and movement of handles (which might expose paintwork that needs touching up that might lead to the painting of the whole door, meaning a quick job becomes a whole day event).

Thanks for reading. Please call us to find out more or ask any questions.
07846643176

admin January 26, 2020

car keys / changing your locks / copy keys / Key cloning / smart locks /

Auto Locksmith FAQ’s

Auto locksmith FAQ’s:

Car locksmith

Do I have to bring my car to you?

No. A car locksmith has all the tools needed to cut your new car key and the computers to do the programming on board his/her van. Recently I made a new Fiat Ducatto key for a customer in Gresham village. I was able to copy his existing key in my van and then plug into his onboard computer via the OBD port and program his new key to the vehicle. This meant he could use his vehicle the same day. Had he taken the key to the dealer or manufacturer, he would have had to leave it with them, possibly waiting weeks without the use of his own vehicle.

Does the locksmith change the locks on my car?

No, if you lose your keys, we will only make new ones, but they will be coded differently, so the old keys will be useless for driving your car away. Unless you leave valuables in your car, this should not be a problem. If you want to change the actual locks on your vehicle, you should, in most cases, go back to the manufacturer. If you have had your locks modified or changed in any way, you must inform the vehicle locksmith if you later require his help. I remember being called out to a Jeep in Brancaster late at night. It was parked in a very quiet beach car park. When I tried, my Jeep lockpick, I found the whole thing felt wrong and asked the customer if anything had been changed, at which point he told me the vehicle locks had been changed for aftermarket products. This meant I was unable to do the job without damaging the vehicle, so alternative arrangements had to be made (they paid me plus an expensive taxi home to get the spare).

How much does a car locksmith cost?

This is like asking how long a ball of string is. Unlike house locks and keys, auto locksmithing has many components. And the cost will be based on how many of those components you need. Will I need to pick the lock? Will I need to work out the key shape from the lock? Will I need to access a database that charges me for certain codes to allow me to program the new key to your car? Can I use aftermarket products or do I have to use genuine branded parts? How far did I have to travel to get to you? Does coding your key require me to a plugin, or do I have to take half of your dashboard apart to get to the chip that I then have to remove, code and return? These and many more factors make up the cost, but in nearly all cases the auto locksmith can sort your problem on the day and will be cheaper than going back to the manufacturer. For example, I produced a key for a customer with a Renault Clio in Fakenham and saved them £300 on the price they were quoted by the dealership. What’s more, it was all done at the customer’s place of work, allowing them to get on with their day.

Will the locksmiths make keys for my old classic car?

To be honest, no. Cobblers and engravers can usually copy the keys of older cars and motorbikes. If not, you may have to change the locks and ignition barrels, in which case scrap dealers are always a good call. But for the auto locksmith, we can only make a profit on keys with computer chips. Travelling to Dereham from my home town of Holt to produce a key for an old Ford Capri is not even going to pay for the cost of the round journey, whereas making and coding a key for a 2015 Ford Mondeo will work for me. A very few auto locksmiths might just be able to produce older keys, but often the cost would be more than the value of the vehicle itself.

Can the auto locksmith make keys for all modern cars?

No. We can make keys for most car brands and models, and there are very few we cannot get into if your keys are locked inside, but there are a few when we have to tell you to go back to the dealer. Land Rover Discoveries and Volvos spring to mind. There just isn’t the data available for us to do our computer work on these vehicles. You might see websites advertising that they can indeed clone your key when the locksmith says he cannot, but these sites include every vehicle in their menus just to drive traffic to their sites. When you actually ring, they are just as powerless as the car locksmith.

What is the most common reason for an auto locksmith call out?

By far it is keys locked in the boot. When you are loading/unloading your vehicle, unlock all the doors. So many people only unlock the boot. They then put the keys down inside the boot, load the shopping, the golf clubs, the tools, etc, and then slam the boot down and swear in the next five seconds when they realise the keys are now in the back and they are locked out. There is no security benefit to only unlocking your boot if you are only going to lock yourself out of your car in a high crime area.

Does my breakdown cover include the cost of an auto locksmith?

No. Some recovery drivers will make a quick attempt for you, but I have been called many times by the biggest recovery service in the UK and I am a registered peripheral of the second largest. In all cases, I charge the customer direct. From Cromer, Fakenham, to Burnham Overy Staithe, call me first and save time. You don’t want to wait hours for the recovery service only to be told you have to wait even longer for me.

Can you make me a new car key if I have lost all the original ones?

Yes, I can read the lock using a special tool or get the information for many vehicles from your registration document, providing I have proof of ownership. Once I have cut the key blade, I can then let my computer talk to your car and program the new key to your vehicle. It is a much faster job copy from an existing key, though.

What is cloning?

Cloning is simply replicating an existing key. As far as the car computer is concerned, it believes there is only one key when you may have two or even more. You can clone some keys without having to plug into the car. This is a cheaper way to replace lost keys, but it does not protect you from those lost keys being used should someone else find them and want to steal your car. Making new keys that are uniquely programmed to your vehicle gives you the option of deleting the old keys, in exactly the same way you would put a stop on a lost credit card.

How do you get into my car if there is no keyhole?

There is always a keyhole. On modern cars, the keyhole is covered and the key is hidden in the key fob. But for safety, there must be mechanical access. A customer of mine in Norwich was astounded when I turned up to get him into his vehicle. His fob battery was flat and he could not get in. So I showed him the hidden key blade and then revealed the hidden keyhole on the vehicle. Had he listened to the dealer (if the dealer had even told him), or read the car paperwork, he could have made his meeting that day because the car will still work when the fob battery is dead. The customer was still happy though as he had expected a very expensive job. It was still expensive for a battery change he could have done himself.

How long does it take to pick the lock?

Seconds – hours depending on the vehicle, age, possible rust/damage inside the lock. I’ve taken two hours to open a car in Hunstanton and one and a half minutes to open a car in Beeston. Conditions like cold and rain might also slow me down. It takes as long as it takes.

How easy is it for thieves to hack the signal and steal my car?

Thieves that do this have bought special equipment. They are stealing cars to order. While not impossible, it is not likely for those of us with standard cars to have our signals stolen. You can, if you wish to, buy signal jamming pouches and I am happy to source them for you. But the biggest growing way for cars to be stolen is via your home letterbox. I see it all the time. People come home and put their keys on a table or other piece of furniture near the door so they can easily pick those keys up as they leave. Thieves are now fishing through the letterbox to get keys which can give them access to your home and they can use your own car as a getaway vehicle. Don’t make it easy for them.

If you would like more information on the above questions or have others to ask, please get in contact via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading!

admin December 16, 2019

auto locksmith / Car locksmith / Car thieves / Cloning car keys /

Landlords and Copied Keys

Just a very brief blog here for landlords, particularly of holiday lets, and about copying keys.

You may get two or three keys with your new lock. If you have any more cut (one for the letting agency, one for the cleaner, etc), then please ensure you personally keep an original and the tenants use an original. Far too often I am seeing locks break because poor cut copies wear the inner levers/pins and suddenly, you are left with new customers having to use back doors because they cannot get in or out via the front.

Customers who jiggle the keys to unlock the door will forget to mention it to the letting agents. Cleaners who know the ‘Knack’ won’t even think about it. Test your doors on a regular basis. If the locks are not running as smooth with the door closed as they do with the door open, then get them looked at before a customer complains and demands money back. And when you are ordering new locks, order extra keys at the same time, insisting on genuinely branded keys. It might cost a little more, but will give you peace of mind, because the extra keys bought with the lock will be covered by the guarantee. Using keys cut elsewhere will invalidate the guarantee.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin March 29, 2019

Copied keys problems / Holiday let lock issues /

Auto Locksmiths in Norfolk

At the time of writing, it’s been 18 months since I added vehicles to my locksmithing abilities, and despite a very intense, thorough training course, I have learned some lessons along the way that might help you when deciding what to do about your lost car key.

AC locksmiths AutoAs a general rule of thumb, if your vehicle is registered before the early 2000’s, then there is a good chance the mobile auto locksmith will not be able to provide you with a new key, and if he can, the cost will be in the same price range as the car value anyway, so you might be better off purchasing another vehicle.

If you own a Freelander and only have one key, get another one right now. You will have to search for this and will probably have to go back to manufacturer which can take a long time so if you don’t want to be without the use of your vehicle, get a spare made sooner rather than later. I went on a website that claimed to do Freelander keys by post, but when you actually talk to them in person, you find they can’t do it.

Never buy a 2nd hand Volvo with only one key. You will have to go back to manufacturer to get a spare and they are not cheap. Let me amend that. Never buy any 2nd hand car with only one key. Sometimes, a new key can mean the locksmith has to strip the entire dash out, locate a small chip on a circuit board and place that chip on a special circuit board in order to code in the new key. On the side of the road, in poor winter light, in the back of a van being buffeted by wind, the locksmith has to perform the most delicate of soldering jobs where one mistake can kill your car.

If you go on holiday, take the spare car key with you and leave it at the hotel/caravan/tent, etc when you go out. You will be thankful you did when you lock your keys in your car boot and know that a cab will be much cheaper than getting a locksmith because you left your keys at home 300 miles away.

And finally, car keys need not be boring! In the same way you get exciting phone cases, you can have coloured key fobs, leather fob cases, shiny chrome edges, or faux styles that put your car key blade in the style of a more exclusive vehicle range. If you are stuck for present ideas for someone, why not bling their car key? A present with a difference that need not break the bank. This idea goes down well with young men and their cars. You have no idea what to buy you’re your newly adult kids. Car key bling is great, and as they will probably change their car often, you can always do the same again next year, which means less time trying to figure out what they want.

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

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admin December 24, 2018

auto locksmith Norfolk / Car locksmith /

Car Keys – To clone or not to clone?

When people ring me for a quote on replacing a lost key for their vehicle, they are sometimes surprised by my cost. They have had a quote from somewhere else that is much cheaper and if I don’t get my reasons in quick enough, I can lose the business.

So why are some much cheaper? It is because they are offering a cloning service as the first option. Cloning is where you take one key, read the information it contains and make an exact duplicate. You now have two keys, but the computer on your car thinks those two keys are the same one. But what about that missing key? Who has it and is there a possibility they could use it to easily steal your vehicle? So yes, cloning is cheaper, but it always leaves an opening for someone else to help themselves to your property.

Car locksmithWhen I produce a second key for you, I plug my equipment into your vehicle and have a chat with your on board computer. I tell that computer that the key you have and the new one I am producing, are the only keys that are allowed to start the vehicle. So while I can’t stop the missing key opening a door, I can stop it being able to drive the vehicle away. My key and the cloned key look exactly alike. But new keys are more secure and therefore, my first option. I can be as cheap as the next guy, but I’m putting your security above my easy quick buck (cloning is significantly faster than new key production). So if you are ring around for quotes, don’t automatically assume the more expensive quote is someone trying to extort money from you. If you ask why they are more expensive, there is usually a good reason.
Here is an example: I had a potential customer with a Ford vehicle and no keys at all. When I quoted, she was shocked at my price. I explained that you cannot just programme one new key into a Ford, but their particular set up wipes all memory of previous keys and starts from scratch requiring you to have two new keys created. I had to quote for two keys in this case. But a cheaper person was quoting for just one key. So while there is a work around of the two key requirement, how likely was it that this other locksmith was quoting low with the knowledge he could ‘spring’ the two key requirement on her once he had the vehicle and was in the middle of the job. Most people will accept the change once the trader is there and working, It’s what is often done to avoid a fuss.
I will always give you a fair price for any work I carry out, backed up with guarantees. I will always stick to my quoted price unless you make additional requirements, at which point I will tell you exactly how much more those additions will cost. I will always explain my pricing in a way you can understand.
If you have any questions regarding the above information, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading

admin April 28, 2018

car key cloning / car key programming / Car keys cut / Lost car keys /

Car Key Replacement FAQs

AC locksmiths Auto

  1. What is the difference between getting my replacement key from the manufacturer and an auto locksmith?

The manufacturer will usually be able to have your key replaced just from knowing your vehicle ID. You usually get your replacement key within the week. You know your manufacturer will have the key type you require.

The auto locksmith will have the ability to generate a new key on the spot. While it might not be a genuine brand replacement, your new key will be just as good (if not better) than the manufacturer key. The auto locksmith can reprogram your vehicle on the spot, so that any lost/stolen keys are unable to start the vehicle. The auto locksmith comes to you, meaning you can still go to work on time. Most of the time, you will pay a lot less for the convenience of an auto locksmith.

  1. What is cut to copy?

This is where the key is cut using the existing key as a template.

  1. What is cut to code?

Some vehicle keys can be cut using codes taken from the vehicle VIN number or from other sources.

  1. What is key cloning?

This is where the key is completely copied including the data on the transponder that talks to the car. While there may be two keys, the car will believe there is only one. This is important to know because some vehicles must have two separate keys programmed.

  1. What is a vehicle PIN?

This is a code that works like the pin number on your cash card. Without your pin, you can’t draw out cash. Without a vehicle PIN, you can’t extract the information needed to program new keys.

  1. Can I buy replacement keys on line?

Yes, and they can be quite cheap. But often, there are hidden extras, like programming the remotes to your car.

  1. Can I call my breakdown service company if I lock my keys in my car?

Yes you can, but they often call an auto locksmith and you then have to pay. As an example, I was called by a breakdown service provider recently. The breakdown engineer took an hour to get to them, spent two hours trying to fish the keys out of the vehicle with the top of the door wedged slightly open and failed. He called me. Within 45 minutes, I had arrived, opened the vehicle and was on my way home.

  1. What are the most common mistakes people make?

In no particular order; shutting keys in the boot without having the main doors unlocked, leaving the spare key 200 miles away at home when going on holiday, letting children play with the car keys, letting the remotes go way past their best condition, treating remotes poorly, letting batteries die, losing keys on the beach, not getting a replacement when the first key is lost, buying a vehicle with only one key (who has the other, and do they know your address?

  1. Why should I get new keys when buying a second hand car?

How well do you know the seller? Most of us buy cars from someone we don’t know. We often give over our address if the vehicle is being delivered, or if we are taking finance, etc. But we don’t know if the seller has already had extra keys made. If you are paying out thousands of pounds to have a car, is it not wise to pay a little more and make sure the vehicle will only drive away from your driveway with keys you possess?

  1. How do I know I am paying the right price?

Get quotes. Two or three at least. A good auto locksmith will advertise prices on their website, but these will be guidance only as the cost of parts and software packages vary a lot between manufacturers. Some work is simple, other work might involve having to get behind your dashboard and removal of computer chips. A difference of just one year can make a particular vehicle much harder to deal with. In rare cases, the auto locksmith might have to walk away unable to do anything. If he is any good, he will not charge you when this happens, unless you have made some prior agreement. If you get three quotes, and one is much less than the other two, investigate further before accepting the cheapest quote. Has he quoted the full job, or been a bit vague? People who quote too little are often not properly trained and are more likely to do something that harms the computer in your vehicle. If that problem takes a while to arise, they will not be around when you go after them for damages.

If you have any questions you would like answered, please contact through any method on the contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin August 31, 2017

Car keys cut / car keys lost / lock replacement / reprogrammed car keys /

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