The call usually comes at the worst hour, and the price follows the hour. A shut door at night is a different job from the same door at ten in the morning, and the bill starts before anyone has touched the lock. Know what moves it, and you can ask the right questions while the phone is still in your hand.
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Start with the call, not the van
Most lockout bills have a charge for showing up, a rate for the work, and sometimes an add-on for the hour. Ask for each piece by name. 'How much to come out' and 'how much to open the door' are two different questions, and a company that answers only one of them has not given you a number yet. Ask whether the drive from their shop is included, and whether a minimum charge applies even if the lock opens in two minutes.
What the hour does to the total
An after-hours surcharge is common, and so is a higher rate on weekends and holidays. Ask the company to tell you the window that triggers the extra. Then ask what time it is now and when the tech would realistically arrive. If the job would cost less at eight in the morning, the choice between waiting and paying more is yours to make, not the dispatcher's. One exception: if someone may be hurt or unwell inside the house, do not wait for a locksmith. Call emergency services first.
How they open it moves the bill
Ask how they plan to get in before they start. Picking a lock is slower than some other methods, and drilling usually means the cylinder has to be replaced afterward. Ask whether the price includes a new cylinder or whether that is a separate line. Ask whether they will rekey the lock or replace it. Rekeying keeps the hardware and changes the key. Replacing swaps the hardware. The quotes for those two jobs will not look the same, and neither is wrong. Pick the one that fits the door you actually have.
What to have ready so the trip is not wasted
A locksmith who arrives and cannot start will still bill for the trip. Before you call, decide who will be standing at the door and who is on the account. Be ready to show that you have the right to be at the address and to let the tech in. Expect to be asked for ID, or for something that shows the house is your father's or that you have his permission to act. If you are not sure what paper a company will want, ask before they roll out, and ask in writing if you can. 'What do you need from me to open this door' is a fair question and a short one.
Read the invoice before you pay
Ask for an itemized invoice that lists the trip, the labor, any surcharge, and any part. Compare it to the number you were given on the phone. If they differ, ask which line changed and why while the tech is still on site. Check that the company name on the invoice matches the name you dialed. Pay by a method that leaves a record.
The next move
Tonight, before you dial anyone, write down three things: the time, the price you were quoted or can get, and whether you want the door opened only or the lock changed as well. Then call one company and ask the four questions in this piece: the total with the trip, the after-hours line, the method of entry, and the itemized invoice. If you need a starting list of places to call in the St. Louis area, the Local Help in St. Louis page has one. If nobody answers the first call, move to the next name on the list right away.