Short answer: A call-out fee is a charge for a locksmith turning up — separate from, and on top of, the cost of the actual work. Practice varies across the UK trade. Dee Valley Locksmiths charges no call-out fee for work carried out: you pay the job price, agreed before anyone starts.
The thing that matters is not whether a locksmith charges a call-out fee, but whether you were told before they got in the van. A fee you agreed to is a price. A fee that appears on your doorstep is not.
The three ways UK locksmiths handle it
1. No call-out fee — one price for the job. You are quoted a figure for the work and that is what you pay. This is what Dee Valley does.
2. A call-out fee absorbed if you go ahead. You pay a set amount to get them there, and it comes off the bill if they do the work.
3. A call-out fee on top, regardless. You pay to get them there and the full job price.
None of these is dishonest in itself. All three are defensible when stated upfront. The problem is only ever the one you find out about too late.
Call-out fee, or minimum charge?
Worth separating, because they get used interchangeably. A call-out fee is for attendance. A minimum charge is a floor on the job price — you are not charged for arriving, but a five-minute job is billed as though it took longer. A locksmith can honestly say “no call-out fee” and still have a minimum charge, so it is fair to ask about both.
What Dee Valley charges
No call-out fee for work carried out, and no travel charge across the coverage area — Wrexham, Chester, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and the surrounding towns. The same rates apply at night, at weekends and on bank holidays.
One exception, stated plainly: if you cancel after a technician has already been dispatched, a call-out charge may apply under our Terms. For an emergency call-out, that is the only circumstance in which you would pay without work being carried out — and it exists because someone is already on the road. Planned appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice may also incur a charge; both are set out in our Terms.
Job prices start at:
| Job | From |
|---|---|
| Snapped key extraction | £60 |
| Lock changes & installations (anti-snap) | £90 |
| 24/7 emergency door opening & lockouts | £100 |
| uPVC door & window lock repairs | £120 |
All include VAT, and every job is quoted before work starts. The full list of twelve services is in How Much Do Locksmiths Charge? UK Locksmith Costs Explained, and the out-of-hours question has its own guide: What an Out-of-Hours Locksmith Should Cost.
These are Dee Valley Locksmiths’ own starting prices, last checked 17 September 2026.
The one question that settles it
Before anyone sets off: “Is there a call-out fee or a minimum charge, is either on top of the job price, and what is the total including VAT for a straightforward job?”
A professional will answer all three parts without hesitating. If the answer gets vague, you are allowed to say no and phone someone else — even at 2am. You are never obliged to accept a price you did not agree to.
Frequently asked questions
Do all locksmiths charge a call-out fee?
No. Practice varies — some charge one, some absorb it into the job price if you go ahead, and some, including Dee Valley, do not charge one for work carried out.
Do I have to pay if the locksmith cannot get in?
With Dee Valley, there is no attendance charge for work we were unable to carry out. Where another locksmith charges a call-out fee, it may still apply, because the time and travel were spent — so confirm on the phone rather than assuming.
What if I get in myself before the locksmith arrives?
Phone immediately. Under Dee Valley’s Terms, cancelling after a technician has been dispatched may incur a call-out charge, so the sooner you call, the better for everyone — and if we have not set off, there is nothing to pay.
Want a price before anyone sets off?
Call Dee Valley Locksmiths on 07777 472909 — no call-out fee for work carried out, prices agreed upfront, covering Wrexham, Chester, Oswestry and Shrewsbury.