Litelok failure

mac9091

Update: 09/05/17: Due to a house move i havenot had the chance to chace them up about ignoring me. That said they have had ample time to respond to me and are clearly ignoring me hoping i will go away. I have had advise from the CAB and Trading Standards on top of that given before and looks like the only option is to go "small claims court".

This is something that i'll need to look into as the costs i think were £75 to get it reviewed, so i won't be getting my money back for the lock (unless a win means the Litelok pay me back plus court costs) but if i do win others will be able to get their money back should they wish and the principle of the matter is addressed.

Update: 17/03/17: Well surprise surprise they have now defaulted back to ignoring me. Nothing to report now since the last update.

Update 09/03/17: Well the latest is, they contacted me on the 02/03/17 to ask for my order number, which was promptly supplied and they have now gone back to ignoring me. I have advise from Trading Standards to follow such as giving them a reasonable time to reply and offer a solution, etc, etc.

Now due to them not having revised the design or production method since launch last year, I can only surmise that all locks have this inherent design flaw and if anyone wishes to return the product as having a design fault and therefore mis-sold shouldn't have any legal issues. Actually getting them to acknowledge the problem exists is another matter.

Original Post:

OK so does anyone else own one of these?

I picked one up on pre-order last year as they looked very good albeit a bit pricey but its rated sold secure gold. Was led to this video that has since been removed and have contacted the owner for a copy of said videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJWh0piHSdc

Liteloks response was a link to their latest video : https://vimeo.com/196548742

Which made me laugh, especially the attempt to drill the lock, but the "twisting" attack which is pertinent in this case was carried out furthest away from the locking mechanism as possible so doesn't show any proof that it can't be twisted open, which is the point in the stolen bikes case.

Garry H

Both links are to the same video.

mac9091

Garry H wrote:

Both links are to the same video.

Naw its no, dunno what your on about :roll: :roll:

Garry H

My mistake

That bloke's not trying very hard! Not done themselves any favours by getting t h e first one removed either.

mac9091

Garry H wrote:

My mistake

That bloke's not trying very hard! Not done themselves any favours by getting t h e first one removed either.

This was my observations:

1st tool: No one would use something that small on a lock of that width.

2nd tool: Large bolt cutters being held half way down the shaft, therefore not exerting pull pressure onto the jaws.

3rd tool: Convenient change to smaller bolt cutters but this time being used at full length.

4th Tool: 18V Makita? drill, never have i seen anyone wiggle a drill when trying to drill through metal, also what drill bit was used? Drilling through any fairly thick metal takes time.

5th tool: No issues but was it a metal blade and new?

6th tool: Hammer and chisel, no issues

7th tool: Breaker bar used as far away from the locking mechanism as possible thus hiding the problem with the lock.

earth

I just got one. The YouTube video has been removed but I gather from this there is an easy way to crack this lock. I'm disappointed.

mac9091

Yes from the video thats been removed the twist is applied at the lock side and not as "tried" in the official litelok vid.

As stated i'm looking to return mine, i stated to litelok that granted not all locks are impenetrable but 17 seconds doesn't fill me with confidence that the gold rating is legitimate now.

davebradswmb

This review is also on YouTube. It shows a Litelok being cut through with an angle grinder in 14 seconds. In the video they reckon a hardened steel chain takes 2 minutes to get through.

mac9091

Cheers for that link, not sure how i didn't see it. I've been looking (obviously not very well) for other examples but was using terms like 'compromised' 'broken' 'damaged'

mac9091

Well it seems like litlok are now just simply ignoring me, via email and facebook.

DeVlaeminck

I see the video is back up on youtube - basically he just seems to stick something in the middle of the lock and twist it until it wrenches the lock apart - looks pretty simple.

earth

DeVlaeminck wrote:

I see the video is back up on youtube - basically he just seems to stick something in the middle of the lock and twist it until it wrenches the lock apart - looks pretty simple.

Can you post a link?

DeVlaeminck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOzV9aTVMDU

mac9091

Yes thats the same video. I posted it to youtube after receiving a copy from the original uploader.

This is the result:

timmyotool

Doesn't surprise me, twisting anything flexible like that is going to put an enormous amount of force on the lock!
Same thing can happen to the folding links locks.
I guess the key is to not leave enough slack to allow a twist (easier said than done!)

mac9091

Well latest is:

Litelok still ignoring my email,
Litelok have blocked me from commenting on their facebook page,
Sold Secure now ignoring me, (and have stated "we don't test all locks")
Litelok have had the videos i uploaded blocked on youtube for "defamatory comments"

So i have contacted trading standards to highlight the inherent defect will all of the litelok locks, as i am unaware of a mk2/version 2 lock and seen as they continue to ignore me i feel that proves they are aware of the issue but would rather ignore the problem and hope it goes away.

My next email to Litelok will be to inform them that trading standards have been involved (and hopefully looking into it) and if they continue to ignore my issue, my next port of call will to be to turn up at their offices in Swansea, as I have a track day booked for the middles of April near Bridgend.

Now i'm a bit confused as if trading standards say that they can't do anything. Do you just write off an £85 purchase as a loss? As the only other option i could see would be the small claims process but that would be more hassle than its worth, so in its self does that say "as long as i sell something under £200 in value, most people will just give up and go away if there is a problem" to the companies?

froze

That's too bad, of all the locks I've seen I had high hopes for it, not anymore.

hsiaolc

Thank you for the updates. I sure won't buy it.

mac9091

froze wrote:

That's too bad, of all the locks I've seen I had high hopes for it, not anymore.

I looked at it with the same high hopes and honesty until January didn't doubt it at all, but then i saw that video and can't beleive that a "gold" rated lock can be broken within 12 seconds (time from when the bar is inserted between the lock till its is snapped.)

Plus they got back to me claiming that they have been on holiday and want to speak to me, i've advised that i'll be dealing with them via written means so that i have a record of whats going on, rather than a he said/he said argument of verbal comms.

timmyotool

Really bad form on the part of litelock to ignore you! Like you say, they seem to be aware of the issue and are trying to cover it up.

Worse almost is Sold Secure - "They don't test all locks"! Sure, I can understand not testing every length of kryptonite chain or variations in U-lock. But for a new product with no history that doesn't seem right!!!

mac9091

timmyotool wrote:

But for a new product with no history that doesn't seem right!!!

They didn't state that they hadn't tested the Litelok specifically, what got me was the easy (and not required) admission.

mac9091

Will just keep updating the original post from now on.

mac9091

Just a wee bump back to the top, as the issue is still on going.

mac9091

Well not good news really.

I've been away with work for a while and had to search through lots and lots and lots of email, none from Litelok though and it appears that the only option would be to go to small claims court which despite the principle being sound i can't justify the costs.

And to be fair to Litelok, no one else had came forward about their bike being nicked in the same manner. Was it a one off? Don't know and can't be sure. Are Litelok at fault? Yes for having rubbish customer service but perhaps not for the lock its-self.

For me its case closed though and the lock is now being used by my wife on her cheap bike