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First Call Locksmith

First Call Locksmith

First Call Locksmith
4.6

173 reviews

Positive vs Negative
90%10%
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Customer Service
4.7
Rates and Fees
4.6
Timeliness
4.7
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 AI reviews summary 

Recent feedback for First Call Locksmith reveals a starkly divided customer experience, primarily split between high satisfaction with technical performance and severe allegations of predatory pricing. While many users praise the staff for their rapid response times and successful entry during emergencies, a significant number of reports flag extreme overcharging, with some bills exceeding $1,000 for basic tasks. The sentiment is highly polarised, fluctuating between "life-saving" service and "scam" accusations.

Pros
Rapid Response Times: Technicians, particularly Sean and Daniel, are frequently praised for arriving within 15 to 30 minutes, even during late-night or weekend emergencies.
Technical Proficiency: Reviewers consistently report that staff successfully unlock doors, cars, and safes without causing damage to the property or the locks.
Professional Demeanour: Many users describe the individual technicians as friendly, calm under pressure, and helpful when dealing with stressed customers.
Effective Problem Solving: Staff are noted for their ability to handle complex locks that other locksmiths could not open without destructive entry.
Cons
Extreme Price Gouging: Multiple reports highlight final bills ranging from $700 to over $2,200 for simple unlocks, which users claim are vastly disproportionate to market rates.
Lack of Upfront Quoting: A recurring complaint is the refusal to provide clear estimates over the phone, followed by the introduction of high fees (emergency, early hours, or "complex lock" fees) only after arrival.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Several users felt exploited or pressured into paying inflated costs while in vulnerable situations, such as being locked out with young children or late at night.
Poor After-Sales Support: Customers who attempted to dispute charges or report faulty workmanship (e.g., old keys still working on new locks) reported being ignored or refused meaningful refunds.
Verdict

First Call Locksmith appears to be a highly efficient emergency service for those prioritising speed and technical success above all else. However, the consistent pattern of undisclosed high fees and extreme price hikes suggests a significant financial risk. Consumers should insist on a written quote before any work commences or seek a provider with more transparent, fixed pricing.

173 reviews
5 Joanne M.  · Had a call out today that was very prompt. Bruce the locksmith was very professional and quick. Thank you Bruce.
5 Gideon  · Rick was fantastic - punctual, courteous, thorough and effective. We engaged him immediately for other work.
5 Amanda N.  · i had a good service from the Bruce as its was quick and reasonable price
5 Chelsea Tran  · Very fast and good service. Opened the door in no time!
4 Manpreet  · Rick was able to help us with the door. Was punctual and managed to have us in the house in couple of mins.
5 Imrana K.  · He fixed our door very quick I am very impressed
Katie
Katie2 posts
 

Great meeting Rick. He was very proficient and professional. He installed our digital lock even gave some tech support. Was very awesome to find someone so nice! Thanks Rick !!! Show reply

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bhavya h.
bhavya h.VIC
 

They highly overcharge and they quoted $250/each + labour as the price for a cylinder lock change. I believe most of the reviews here have been added by them using pictures they take of the job.

Ask the reviewer

Reviews with attachments

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Sharon Lawrence
Sharon LawrenceVIC
  Verified

Quick and easy service good service will recommend to others opened the door quickly and professionaly

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Matthew
Matthew
 

Sean was very quick , good , helpful and I recommend him

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Blaide dickson
Blaide dickson
 

Daniel was very helpful did a great job, highly recomend

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Harshit S.
Harshit S.
 

Very good service from daniel and very quick but a little expensive

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Joanna
Joanna
 

Daniel did a good job and unlocked the door and it worked

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Geoff E.
Geoff E.
 

Sean. Was on time and fixed the problem quickly and was great. Very recommended

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keir t
keir t
 

daniel did a great job fixing the door tonight in yarraville

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Avi
AviVIC
 

Sean was helpful, did a great hope to help me out. Would recommend

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Shova Dhakal
Shova Dhakal
 

Daniel was professional and did unlock in the affordable price.

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Happy P.
Happy P.
 

sean was very helpful and king fixed my problem very recommended

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alz c.
alz c.
 

Daniel thanks for your help very fast and efficient cheers

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s92684437
s92684437
 

Very quivk arrival. Fantastiv service. Sean to the rescue very recommended

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Specialist A.
Specialist A.VIC
 

A locksmith before Daniel couldn't open the door and suggested to break the lock, so we refused to work with him. Daniel came walked in checked all yhe entry points and picked the one that was workable. Without breaking the lock. He opened the door for us. It was like a breeze and we strongly recommend Daniel as locksmith of choice. Professional, reasonable, accomplished and accommodative. Thanks again Daniel

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Nathan
Nathan
 

Daniel was very professional and fast the best prices all the time

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Naveed Hussain
Naveed Hussain
 

Daniel was super professional, friendly, and clearly knew exactly what he was doing. No damage to the car at all, and he had me back inside in just a few minutes. He even gave me some good advice on how to avoid this happening again.

Latest follow-ups

Prashant
PrashantVIC2 posts
 

I wish I had reviews before placing a call with this company. I told them it is not an Urgent job but I was told that it's okay and the technician can come in 30 minutes as he is available. Now, I am also one of the many that have been scammed by… Read more

this company (see other reviews - where people have been charged $1000 or more) . I was also overcharged excessively for a basic lock and all I was wanting a room door to be unlocked in next few days. They arrive and mislead on price during payment - classic 'Bait-and-Switch' Pricing and inflated costs under duress - exploiting the situation. The way technician explained the price, I was hoping to pay $299 for a door unlocked but to my surprise, the price turned out to be $1,150.

After arguing with the manager, I managed to get the price down to $850, but this job should have not bene more than $200 - $300.

I really hope people read reviews of this company before scheduling a call with them.

 Follow-up  · It was a standard door room handle. I don't know if the Brand as we only moved into this house recently. They explained the charge, but the way he explained was, that from $199, it goes up to $299. In the end, he added all the charges.

Positive reviews

Maria
Maria
 

Daniel is very good and professional and friendly. Able to fix our doorknob urgently with a reasonable price. So happy with the end result, he even did an extra job with no cost at all. Highly recommended

Harshit W.
Harshit W.
 

Daniel did an amazing job. The response time was quick and the lock turned out to be a bit complex, but he handled it quickly. Professional and clear throughout.

Maria
MariaVIC2 posts
 

Rick is very efficient and meticulous with his work. He is patient . He knows exactly what he is doing. I am very pleased with the outcome and his performance. Thank you.

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Negative reviews

Christine
ChristineVIC
 

They charged my son 850.00 odd dollars to unlock the boot of his car. They are a bunch of thieves. Tried calling and have sent several emails, but still awaiting on there so called review process. DO NOT USE THEM.

prince p.
prince p.
 

I wanted to explain what happened during the locksmith visit. I accidentally locked my keys inside the house and called a locksmith for help.technician arrived and initially told me that opening the door would be difficult and could cost more than $400. At the same time, we found that a sliding window was easy to open. We used that to get… Read more

inside, and my son was able to open the door from within. After that, Technician said there would be only service charge $29.

He then asked me to fill out a review form, which made me believe the job was complete. However, afterward, he asked me to pay $250, which I felt I had no choice but to do.

This was very disappointing.

Thanh D.
Thanh D.Victoria
 

If I could give zero stars, I would. My partner was locked out of our home on the morning of 7th of April, and in a moment of stress and vulnerability, they called First Call Locksmith and it was a massive mistake. The technician arrived, gained entry, and changed the lock and charged us $1,216.60. Here’s what First Call Locksmith didn’t do:… Read more

provide a clear, upfront quote or any reasonable price disclosure before starting the work. They took advantage of a distressed person in an urgent situation, knowing full well she had few options at that moment, clearly exploitation to the highest degree.

For context, a fair market rate for this type of job is a fraction of what we were charged. This isn’t a premium service, it’s price gouging dressed up as an emergency call-out.

When we questioned the charge, there was no meaningful explanation or remedy. This company clearly prioritizes squeezing customers over helping them. I’ve since filed complaints with Consumer Affairs Victoria and the ACCC, and I strongly urge anyone reading this to avoid First Call Locksmith at all costs. Find a local locksmith who publishes their rates and operates with basic honesty.

Do not trust these people with your money or your home.

Recent reviews

Molly M.
Molly M.
  Fair Incentive Verified

Had a great experience with this locksmith. They arrived quickly, were really friendly and got the job done without any hassle. Everything was explained clearly, the price was reasonable, and the whole process was much easier than I expected. It’s hard to find reliable tradespeople these days, so I really appreciated the professional service. Would definitely use them again and happily recommend them to others.

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kishore p.
kishore p.
 

Daniel is very helpful with my door look at night time where everyone is busy and can’t make he is the one who came and help with my problem and very helpful ,great service and thanks Daniel

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Abhi M.
Abhi M.
 

Shaun was excellent—he opened the lock quickly and efficiently with no hassle. Super easy to deal with, friendly, and professional. Highly recommend his services if you need a reliable locksmith.

Vaishnavi S.
Vaishnavi S.VIC
  Verified

I had a very poor experience with this service. The only pricing indicated on the website was a $29 callout fee, and no clear or accurate estimate was provided over the phone before the work was carried out. After the job was completed, I was charged approximately $1,120 for a simple lock opening. The invoice included multiple separate charges… Read more

(unlocking fee, emergency fee, and early hours fee), which all appear to relate to the same service and resulted in a total cost that is completely disproportionate to the work performed.

The job itself was straightforward, required no replacement parts, and was completed very quickly. The lock was already almost opened prior to the locksmith's arrival. Based on what I observed, the process raised concerns about whether the charges applied were reasonable for the level of work required.

I raised these concerns with the business, but they only offered a 20% refund and refused to provide any further adjustment.

I have since escalated this matter to Consumer Affairs Victoria, the ACCC, and my bank.

I strongly recommend that anyone considering this service request a clear and final quote upfront before agreeing to any work.

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Monique N.
Monique N.
 

Sean was incredible. Arrived within 10 minutes and fixed our almost non fixable door. Stressful situation made very easy with Sean. 10/10 would recommend. The lock had to be replaced and it was easy and stress free.

Extra Information

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