Consumer Alert — Overcharged for a Lock

Locksmith showed me a website to justify the price — and charged hundreds of pounds for a £10 lock

If a locksmith showed you a website on their phone — usually astra-security.co.uk — to explain why your lock cost £189, £268, £362, £466, or £630 — you have been deliberately overcharged.

The lock was worth £8 to £40. The website is a prop. Here is exactly what happened and how to get your money back.

How to get your money back → 📞 Trading Standards 0808 223 1133

£8–£40

Real cost of a euro cylinder at trade

£189–£630

Astra Security website price shown to consumers

£1,477

Highest documented Astra Security charge — 85 year old victim

Section 75

Credit card refund right — use it today

⚠ Astra Security on Trustpilot — 100% one star — 7 reviews — rated Poor 2.3/5

Every single review of astra-security.co.uk on Trustpilot is one star. These are real victims describing exactly what happened to them. Source: uk.trustpilot.com/review/astra-security.co.uk

★☆☆☆☆ — Janet Lake, May 2026

"I've been scammed. Charged £1,477 for Astra Security lock fitting. I'm 85 years old and this has made me feel extremely ill. Police have been informed. Do not have an Astra Lock fitted under any circumstances."

★☆☆☆☆ — Josh Putt, June 2026

"Scammers. Charged us an extortionate price (£750) for a lock replacement we didn't even need. Fraudulent."

★☆☆☆☆ — James E, December 2025

"Astra locks is a scam company selling fake overpriced locks — they are cheap £20–£30 locks sold for approximately £400 by scamming locksmiths."

★☆☆☆☆ — Simon White, March 2026

"This company is a scam, selling poor-quality locks at very inflated prices and working with unscrupulous locksmiths. If anyone tries to sell you an Astra lock do not buy it — go to a mainstream manufacturer, Yale or Ultion."

★☆☆☆☆ — Ryan, April 2026

"Total scam. Rogue locksmiths using a fake website to show overpriced locks. Stay away."

★☆☆☆☆ — Indra Ramasamy, April 2026

"Fake locksmiths selling overpriced locks with false security. Stay away from locksmiths selling Astra locks."

Source: Trustpilot reviews at uk.trustpilot.com/review/astra-security.co.uk — all reviews are unprompted one-star ratings. Reproduced for public interest consumer protection purposes.

Are you searching for any of these?

"locksmith charged too much for a lock" — "locksmith rip off lock price" — "locksmith showed me website on phone" — "locksmith extortionate price for cylinder" — "locksmith showed me astra security" — "why did locksmith charge £400 for a lock" — "locksmith dear price" — "locksmith vastly overcharged" — "locksmith showed branded lock prices" — "locksmith inflated price for cylinder" — "lock replacement too expensive" — "locksmith ridiculous price" — "locksmith massively overcharged"

If any of those describe what happened to you — you are in the right place. Read on.

What is the Astra Security website and why do rogue locksmiths use it?

Astra Security — at astra-security.co.uk — is a website used by rogue locksmith networks to justify vastly inflated lock prices at the point of sale. The operative arrives at your door carrying locks branded with the Astra Security name. When you question the price — which can be hundreds of pounds — they open astra-security.co.uk on their phone and show you the product listings.

The website shows prices of £189, £268, £362, £436, £466, £486, and £630 for different cylinder types. Seeing these figures on what appears to be a professional website — at a moment when you are stressed, often cold, and just want to get into your home — makes the charge feel legitimate. That is exactly what the website is designed to do.

The locks are not worth these prices. They never were. A standard euro cylinder — the most common type — costs £8 to £20 at trade. An anti-snap cylinder costs £15 to £40. A high security cylinder costs £25 to £70. The Astra Security website prices are between three and fifteen times the actual market value of the product.

How the overcharging works — step by step

1

You call from Google and get a bait price

You search for a locksmith and call the first result. A low price is quoted on the phone — typically £39 to £79 — to get the operative to your door. This price is false. It is never the price you will pay.

2

They arrive and announce the lock needs replacing

Often without attempting non-destructive entry first — they drill or declare the lock irreparable. A genuine locksmith always tries to pick the lock before drilling. The declaration that the lock needs replacing sets up the next stage.

3

They show you astra-security.co.uk on their phone

The operative opens the Astra Security website and shows you the price list. You see £189, £268, £362, £466, or more for the cylinder type they say your lock requires. This is presented as the market price. It is not. It is a website created to justify an inflated charge.

4

You are charged hundreds of pounds for a £10 to £40 lock

The website legitimises the charge in the consumer's mind. You pay. The invoice comes from a company name you have never heard of — different from the listing you called. You have been comprehensively defrauded.

The Astra Security price list versus real market prices

The Astra Security website states that prices include all service charges — meaning labour is included in the price shown. Even accepting this, the prices are between three and fifteen times what a genuine local locksmith would charge for the same job all in.

Lock Type

Astra Price

Genuine Market Price

Overcharge

Basic euro profile cylinder

From £189

£50–£80 all in

2–4x

Anti-snap euro profile cylinder

From £268

£70–£120 all in

2–4x

Anti-snap plus cylinder

From £362

£90–£150 all in

2–4x

High security euro cylinder

From £436–£466

£100–£180 all in

2–5x

Nightlatch auto-locking

From £386

£80–£140 all in

3–5x

Banham replacement cylinder

From £630

£120–£200 all in

3–5x

Ingersoll RIM compatible

From £622

£100–£180 all in

3–6x

Every phrase someone uses to describe this — and why they all describe the same scam

People describe this experience in many different ways when they search for help. All of these describe exactly the same thing — the Astra Security price justification tactic:

Locksmith charged too much for lock

Locksmith ripped me off for a cylinder

Locksmith extortionate price

Locksmith dear price for lock

Locksmith inflated price

Locksmith showed me website on phone

Locksmith showed me prices on phone

Locksmith overcharged massively

Locksmith vastly overcharged

Locksmith ridiculous price

Locksmith showed Astra Security

Lock replacement way too expensive

Locksmith charged £300 for a lock

Locksmith charged £400 for a lock

Locksmith charged £500 for a lock

Locksmith charged £600 for a lock

Why did locksmith charge so much

Locksmith price gouging

Locksmith used branded lock to overcharge

Locksmith showed branded lock website

What a fair price actually looks like in 2026

These are the realistic prices a genuine qualified locksmith charges for the same jobs — including labour, parts, and VAT:

Standard lockout

£80–£150

Cylinder replacement

£80–£160

Anti-snap upgrade

£100–£180

High security cylinder

£120–£200

Late night emergency

£120–£220

Banham / Ingersoll

£150–£250

Any charge significantly above these figures — particularly if justified by showing you a branded website — is not a legitimate market price. It is an inflated charge designed to extract maximum payment from a consumer who is in a vulnerable position and does not know the real cost.

This is a criminal offence — not just poor value

Showing a consumer a website to justify a price that bears no relation to the genuine market value of the product or service is a misleading commercial practice under Regulation 5 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. It is a criminal offence — not merely poor value for money.

Astra Security Ltd is a registered UK company — Companies House number 02720811. The existence of a registered company and a professional-looking website does not legitimise the pricing model. The Astra Security website was created for the purpose of justifying inflated charges at the point of sale.

The fact that the Astra Security website exists and shows these prices does not make the charge legitimate. The website was created for the purpose of justifying inflated charges. Its existence as a prop to overcharge consumers is itself a misleading commercial practice. Trading Standards can prosecute under the CPRs 2008. Action Fraud can refer to the National Crime Agency under the Fraud Act 2006.

How to get your money back — do this today

1

Call your bank immediately — Section 75 or chargeback

Credit card over £100 — Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Say "I wish to make a Section 75 claim — a website was used to misrepresent the price of a lock and I was charged significantly more than the genuine market value." Debit card — chargeback. Same explanation. Do this today — the sooner the better.

2

Report to Trading Standards — 0808 223 1133

Tell them the locksmith showed you the Astra Security website to justify the price. Mention the specific website URL — astra-security.co.uk. Mention the amount quoted on the phone versus the amount charged. Give the company name on your invoice — it will differ from the listing you called.

3

Check the VAT number — report to HMRC if invalid

Check any VAT number on your invoice at gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number. If invalid — call HMRC on 0800 788 887. Free. Anonymous. HMRC can freeze accounts and pursue directors personally.

4

Report to Action Fraud

Report at reportfraud.police.uk. Include the phone number you called, the astra-security.co.uk URL, and the company name on your invoice. The more reports that reference the same website — the faster enforcement agencies act.

Frequently asked questions — Astra Security locks

These are the questions people most commonly search when they have experienced the Astra Security price justification tactic. Every answer is based on documented consumer evidence and independently verified pricing data.

What is Astra Security and why do rogue locksmiths use the website?

Astra Security (astra-security.co.uk) is used as a price justification prop. The operative shows you the website on their phone displaying prices of £189 to £630. It is designed to make the inflated charge appear to be the market rate. Trustpilot reviewers describe it as a scam company selling cheap £20–£30 locks for approximately £400 through scamming locksmiths. The website itself states prices include all service charges — yet even all-in prices of £189 to £630 are two to eight times the genuine market rate.

Is it legal to charge £400, £750 or £1,477 for a lock?

Using a website to misrepresent the market price of a lock is a misleading commercial practice under Regulation 5 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 — a criminal offence. An 85 year old was charged £1,477 for an Astra Security lock fitting and reported the matter to police. A charge of £750 has been documented for a lock that was not even needed. These charges are not legitimate market prices regardless of what any website shows.

The Astra Security website says prices include all service charges — does that make it fair?

No. Even accepting that labour is included — a combined supply and fit price of £189 to £630 is two to eight times what a genuine local locksmith charges all in. A genuine locksmith charges £80 to £160 for a standard cylinder replacement including a quality cylinder from a recognised manufacturer such as Ultion, Yale, or ERA. The Astra Security all-in price claim does not make the charge legitimate.

Are Astra Security locks good quality?

Trustpilot reviewers describe them as poor quality and fake overpriced locks — cheap £20–£30 locks sold for £400. One victim noted the fitted lock did not fit as well as the old one. Astra Security locks do not appear on the Sold Secure database — the independent security testing standard used by mainstream manufacturers such as Ultion, Yale Platinum, and ERA Fortis. The website states components come from TELSAL Technique GmbH — an independently unknown supplier in the security industry.

What should I do if a locksmith shows me the Astra Security website on their phone?

Ask them to leave. You are not obliged to proceed at any price you have not agreed to. If they become aggressive or refuse to leave — call 999. If you have already paid — call your bank immediately for Section 75 or chargeback. Report to Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133. Report to Action Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk. Check the VAT number on your invoice at gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number — if invalid call HMRC on 0800 788 887.

Can I get my money back if I was overcharged using the Astra Security website?

Yes — call your bank today. Credit card over £100 — Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Say the price was misrepresented using a website that does not reflect genuine market prices. Debit card — chargeback. Do not wait. Banks have time limits on these claims. The sooner you call the better your chances of a full refund.

How much should a locksmith actually charge to replace a cylinder lock?

A genuine qualified locksmith charges £80 to £160 all in for a standard euro cylinder replacement including labour, a quality cylinder, and VAT in 2026. High security anti-snap cylinder — £100 to £180. Banham or Ingersoll replacement — £150 to £250. Any charge significantly above these figures — particularly one justified by showing you a branded website — is not a legitimate market price.

What genuine locks should a locksmith fit instead?

Sold Secure tested cylinders from recognised manufacturers provide independently verified security ratings. Ultion — the highest rated anti-snap cylinder — costs £25 to £50 at trade. Yale Platinum — £20 to £40 at trade. ERA Fortis — £15 to £35 at trade. Union — £15 to £30 at trade. A genuine locksmith will fit whichever of these suits your lock and will show you the packaging with the brand name clearly visible. If a locksmith fits a lock in unbranded Astra Security packaging — that is a significant red flag.

Also check the bad actors database

Search the company name from your invoice at locksmithscams.co.uk/bad-actors. You may find your specific company documented with other victims' experiences — which strengthens your bank claim and your Trading Standards report.

Search the database →

locksmithscams.co.uk — independent public interest resource — not affiliated with any organisation. All information drawn from publicly available sources. Full reporting guide →