The idea of 24-7 Keybank came to Managing Director Ian Routledge as a direct result from a personal experience.

After away on business Ian returned home and discovered he had lost his keys. Ian did not worry too much at this point as he, like so many others, had made a spare key arrangement with a next door neighbour. He called next door but could not get an answer. He tried to contact the neighbour by mobile phone only to receive an international dialling tone. His neighbour was out of the country on holiday! Ian had several appointments to attend at work that morning and he was at present unshaven and inappropriately dressed. With no options Ian proceded to work despite being stressed and embarrassed to attend to his first client of the day.

He struggled through the meeting and at the same time had managed to phone several locksmiths with only one of them returning his call. However, things were now running late and Ian’s second client of the day now coincided with a pre arranged meeting with the locksmith (4 hours from the initial call) Ian had to stay with his client which resulted in the locksmith leaving. Ian then had to negotiate with a joiner to meet him at his house later that evening to force entry.

This resulted in Ian’s treasured, hand made, Georgian style door being very badly damaged, the old locks having to be replaced with a more modern fitting and a substantial bill for repairs, replacement and decoration.

It had taken Ian almost 13hrs to gain entry to his house and had a devastating effect on his working day, he was drained mentally and financially.