About AAL

Locksmiths from all over the UK are invited to join the Association of Accredited Locksmiths..

In order to join the Association, locksmiths will have to:

• have a police disclosure report proving that they have no previous convictions
• show a copy of their current public liability insurance cover
• provide two references from previous clients

"The aim is to give potentially vulnerable members of the public peace of mind, because if they deal with a member of the Association of Accredited Locksmiths they are dealing with someone who is bone fide," say founders Steve Duncan and Wayne Arkwright.

In this day and age it's frightening that anyone can simply go on a locksmith course and set themselves up in business without going through any security checks. In short, you don't know who you are letting into your home or business.

Anyone can attend a basic locksmith training course these days and there are no checks done, so anyone could take up the job, including criminals. Membership of the AAL will set the good locksmiths apart and offer the public peace of mind."

The cost to join the AAL is £45 plus £10 per month and members will receive a certificate of membership, identity badge, 3 van stickers showing the Association logo and a disc containing the logo details to enable you to add to advertising, invoices, business cards and also a set of AAL rules. Also we will do some links to your website to help your website rank better with google.

Full details are available by writing to: Dunright Ltd - 7 Somerset Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4BW.

Qualification for membership

Any locksmith that wishes to apply for membership to the Association ("the Applicant") must satisfy all of the following requirements

The Applicant must have no criminal records, must be evidenced by an enhanced disclosure report, shall be carried out with the Criminal Records Bureau by which the Applicant, and shall be updated every two years by the Applicant whilst the Applicant remains a member of the Association;

The Applicant must have in force a valid public liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2 million for the duration of the membership;

• The Application must fill in all of the details set out on the application form;
• The Applicant must pay the Joining Fee and the Monthly Fee on the due date;
• The Applicant must agree to observe the members minimum standards of performance as set out in the rules;
• The applicant must be willing to have work audited as long as they are members

Upon receiving an application for membership, it is at the sole discretion of the Company whether such application shall be granted, and the Company shall be under no obligation to explain any refusal for granting any application.

Rights of members

Every member of the club may, subject to these rules:

• Hold themselves out as being a member of the Association;
• Advertise their name and contact details on the Association website;
• Be entitled to special offers or discounts that the Association may have negotiated with external parties for its members;
• Use the Association logo, van stickers and identity badge

Fees

An Applicant must pay:

• At the time of applying for membership the joining fee of £75 (seventy five pounds) to the Company; and
• Upon becoming a member of the Association, the monthly membership fee of £10 (ten pounds) to the Company, which shall be due on the 15th day of every month
• If two or more locksmiths from the same Company apply for membership, the Company has an absolute discretion to make whatever reduction in the fees as it thinks fit. Membership will however be personal to the individual and each member must satisfy the Requirements.
• The Association reserves the right to vary the fees at any time by written notice to its members. If for any reason the application for membership is refused, the Company shall refund the Joining Fee less £25.00 for administrative expenses. For the avoidance of doubt this clause shall not apply once the Applicant becomes a member and subsequently ceases to be a member of the Association.

Payment of Fees

When the Applicant has paid the fees and satisfied the Requirements, the Company shall decide whether to grant the application and shall inform the Applicant if they have become a member of Association and if so, provide them with a certificate of membership and the member shall be entitled to all the privileges of members and will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these rules.

Minimum standards for Members:

Members agree to strictly observe the following minimum standard of practice:

• to seek the lowest cost of entry where possible, for example, in the case of a night latch, the member should attempt to resolve the situation by use of a mica, letter-box tool, picking etc before resorting to drilling;
• where required all external door/window locks will comply with BS standards and minimum insurance requirements. In the case of mortice locks this will be BS3261 1998 or 2004;
• where possible quotes must be provided in advance of carrying out a job and upon receipt of payment, a fully detailed receipt should be given to customers promptly;
• all members should wear either personalised clothing showing their company name or an identity badge when carrying out a job;
• the members stationery must contain a post office recognised address and a landline telephone number;
• members must use appropriate dust sheets etc and clear up after each job;
• where a customer requests that a member remove their footware members should seek permission on the basis of Health & Safety that over-boot protection is worn;
• if a member receives a letter of complaint, they shall immediately inform the Association and ensure that they respond to the customer promptly by letter; and at all times act in a manner that is in accordance with the interests and objectives of the Association