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The Which? Trusted Traders Scheme

1/24/2017

 
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Back in December 2016, I successfully applied to become a Which? Trusted Trader and have been proud to be endorsed by the scheme since then.  I thought I would write this blog for any customers who were unaware of the scheme to explain how it works. 

Which? Have been testing products on behalf of consumers for nearly 60 years now and have a reputation for being thorough, fair and trustworthy.  When I heard that they were also testing tradesmen and tradeswomen, I knew that this was the brand I wanted to be endorsed by.  I did consider applying to be endorsed by some of the other “trade check” companies but I didn’t feel that any of them would give customers the same peace of mind that the Which? brand would.  Although I do have to admit that some of the other companies do have some very catchy radio jingles!   
   
To become a Which? Trusted Trader, you have to undertake a rigorous assessment procedure.  Background checks are completed on the business before you meet with a trading standards professional.  From this meeting, a list of pre-endorsement and post-endorsement compulsory action points are drawn up and the business must adhere to these action points in order to become endorsed and remain endorsed by Which?.  Although, any type of assessment can be daunting, the fact that I was meeting with a trading standards professional reassured me that any advice given was relevant and necessary. 

After the meeting, a random sample of previous customers are contacted and are asked to review the business.  Although I was confident of my customer reviews, I was still relieved to hear that I had passed the assessment and that Errington Locksmiths and Security would be part of the scheme. 
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Far too often, the reputation of a trade is tarnished by “cowboys” carrying out inadequate work for sky high fees.  Unfortunately this is as true for locksmiths as it is for any other trade.  I hope that the Which? logo and my profile page on the Which? Trusted Traders website helps to reassure my customers and any potential customers that they have found a tradesperson they can trust.  

A Typical Day for a Milton Keynes Locksmith 

1/12/2017

 

Errington Locksmiths and Security - Milton Keynes

We are a family run business based in MK with over 20 years experience in the locksmith and security industry. ​

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Although it seems obvious to me, I am often shocked by the number of people who ask me what I do or assume that a locksmith just lets people back into their houses when they are locked out!  I’m sure lots of locksmiths both in Milton Keynes and outside of MK would agree that our jobs would be a lot simpler if locks outs were all we had to worry about.  I have written this post to give an insight into a typical day for a Milton Keynes locksmith …

My day would usually start around 8:30 but today I was woken up around 6:15 by a London commuter, living in Bletchley, who was unable to secure her front door when leaving for work that morning.  Fortunately, I am a locksmith based in South Milton Keynes so I was able to get over to Bletchley within 30 minutes.  The fault with the door turned out to be a failed UPVC multipoint lock that I was able to replace there and then.  Hopefully, my customer was able to travel down to London from MK and not be too late for work. 

I was hoping to nip home to South Milton Keynes after that for a quick spot of breakfast when I received a phone call from a professional dog walker who had accidentally become locked out after leaving her bunch of keys in a client’s house!  Conscious that a lot of pups in MK would be expecting their early morning walk, I made my way across Milton Keynes to open the door for her.  Fortunately, she had just pulled the door shut behind her so her keys were retrieved within minutes.  After meeting this lady and some of her pups, a career change from locksmith to dog walker was considered before I made my way home for some breakfast.

Next stop for this MK locksmith was a 9AM appointment with a customer in Olney where I spent the morning installing a smart alarm system.  Smart alarm systems are becoming more and more popular in Milton Keynes as people become more aware of their benefits.  See my previous blogs for more information:

Is a smart security system really a smart investment?
The benefits of installing or upgrading an intruder alarm

I had then planned to meet another MK locksmith for lunch but during the alarm installation in Olney, I had received emails from a couple of letting agents based in Milton Keynes asking me to attend properties in MK and carry out lock changes.  Luckily for me, the properties weren’t too far apart as I can often find myself driving from one end of Milton Keynes to the other carrying out locksmith work.

Managed to grab a sandwich and then made my way over to a school in North Milton Keynes that had booked a free site survey with me.  The finance office in the school required a new safe, so I discussed various options with the office manager before measuring up so that I could prepare a quote for them.  Most of my safe work in Milton Keynes still comes from commercial clients but I am finding that safes are also growing in popularity for residential customers in MK.  A recent customer of mine  commented that a safe teamed with a smart alarm system gave her added peace of mind that should an intruder get into her home, she would be alerted and able to act before the would-be thief had a chance to access the safe. 

Planned to then head back to the office and prepare my quote for the school when I was asked to attend a property in Central Milton Keynes with the police.  The owners were away and thieves had broken the handle off of the back door before snapping the cylinder to gain entry.  I replaced the cylinder with a break-secure version and replaced the damaged handles.  Attending break-ins tends to be the worst part of my job and I am always happy to advise customers on measures they can take to make their home more secure.  Please see my previous blog posts for more information:

Keeping your home secure this Christmas
Securing your home
How to secure your garage

If you have any further questions, please contact our Milton Keynes locksmiths.

I then managed to get home to spend some time with the kids before dinner.  Tried to tell them about my day but not sure they were very interested.  Perhaps I should get them to read this blog instead!  

Is a smart security system really a smart investment?

1/10/2017

 

Blog Author: Errington Locksmiths and Security - Milton Keynes

We are a family run business based in MK with over 20 years experience in the locksmith and security industry.   

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Smart alarms and smart security systems are becoming buzz words in the industry at the moment and I have been prompted to write this blog after recent discussions with customers about what smart security systems actually are and whether or not they are worth the investment.

What is a smart security system?

A smart security system is simply a burglar alarm system that allows the user to interact with it from an app on a smartphone or tablet.  Put simply, you control your burglar alarm from your smartphone or tablet! The systems are driven by an internet connected hub which connects with the components of the security system and your smart phone or tablet.   
 
The system can be designed to match your property and security needs but will typically include the following components:

  • Sensors
  • Sirens
  • Motion Detectors
  • Cameras

Once the components have been installed and the corresponding app downloaded on your smartphone or tablet, you are able to control your security system from anywhere provided you have an Internet connection.  So is this ability to check in on your property actually worth the investment?

According to a survey of ex-burglars carried out by the consumer group Which in 2015, an alarm system and owning a dog were the biggest deterrents when it came to selecting a house to break into.  Clearly an alarm system is worth the investment (although a dog may be more fun) but does it have to be smart?  Here’s why I think it should be: 

I am always astounded by the number of alarms in Milton Keynes that are ignored by neighbours and members of the public.  Once a smart alarm is activated, it contacts you directly via your smartphone or tablet.  If you have cameras connected to your smart alarm you will then have the opportunity to immediately establish the cause of the alarm and act accordingly.  My system recently alerted me to an alarm and a quick check on my smartphone allowed me to establish that my wife had forgotten about our system and entered the house via the back door!

Being able to activate and deactivate your alarm from anywhere with an internet connection is also extremely beneficial.  Perhaps you have a dog walker or cleaner that requires access to your property at a particular time of day; or you may have (like I do) particularly forgetful members of your family that will obliviously walk straight past an alarm panel when leaving the house without stopping to set it.  I often use my smartphone to check that my system has been armed when my house is empty.  I find this gives me added peace of mind and security.  I particularly appreciated this feature whilst away on a family holiday. 
 
Can I install it myself?

Many systems can be bought directly “off-the-shelf” and are designed to be installed by the consumer.  Big name brands are available including Panasonic, Yale and Samsung but before buying an “off-the-shelf” solution, take some time to make sure it will provide you with the level of security you require.  You may need to invest in extra parts or take some advice about installing the components correctly – cameras for example will need to be installed where they will give the highest quality images. 

Another option is to have a security expert specify, design and install a more professional system to meet the needs of you and your family.  This option has the added benefit of a security expert being on hand 24/7 a day after installation to resolve any queries you may have.  Our locksmiths and alarm engineers at Errington locksmiths in Milton keynes are highly experienced in the specification, design and installation of bespoke smart security systems to meet your needs.  We offer a FREE site survey where we would be happy to discuss the various options with you.  Please contact our locksmiths and alarm engineers in Milton Keynes for more information.  

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So is a smart security system really a smart investment?

In my opinion, the answer to this question is yes.  I feel that when specified, designed and installed correctly, a smart security system acts as a valuable deterrent to would-be intruders and offers greater peace of mind to users.    

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Copyright and Copy:  Errington Locksmiths and Security Ltd 2018.  All rights reserved.
Errington Locksmiths and Security Ltd (Previously trading as Errington Locksmiths and Security.  Any ongoing work, guarantees and warranties are honored)
​Trading Address: Caldecotte, Milton Keynes, MK7 8AG
VAT Number:  191 3445 09
Registered Company Number:  10999495
Registered Business Office: 2 Manor Farm Court, Old Wolverton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes.  MK12 5NN

Registered in England and Wales 


Phone: 01908 632651 Mobile: 07903953953 

Web:  www.erringtonlocksmiths.co.uk

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