A promise that turning up costs nothing. It is not free work: labour, parts and any out-of-hours uplift are still charged. 43 of the 70 UK locksmith websites that publish an emergency price say only no call-out charge.
The number: Emergency locksmith call-out prices.
What it means in practice
The mistake is reading £0 as the price of the job. It is the price of the van arriving. The rate for the work is usually quoted once the tradesperson is at the door, when you are least able to say no.
The move is to treat no call-out charge as the start of the price conversation, not the end. Ask for the labour rate, the billing unit and the VAT position before anyone travels.
Whito stage: Any stage. Read it the same way whether you are hiring a trade or writing your own price page.
The numbers to hold onto
- Of 154 emergency call-out prices published by 453 UK trade websites on 2 October 2026, 89 were £0 for turning up. Combined from the plumber, electrician and locksmith studies.
- 37 of the 38 plumber websites saying no call-out charge published no labour rate alongside it. Emergency plumber call-out prices.
- Only 3 of the 70 price-publishing locksmiths state a fixed figure with its VAT treatment. Emergency locksmith call-out prices.
Where to go next
Related: Call-out charge, Price transparency, The priced-in-print range