Questions You Need To Ask When Having A Locksmith Perform Work
At one time or another, most of us – if not all – have locked
ourselves out of our car or home. While frustrating, this is remedied
quite easily by calling a reputable locksmith. But how do you know if a
locksmith is reputable or if it is a scam? Professional locksmiths will
have many defining features that a scam, or fake, locksmith would not,
such as:- The ability to deduce the problem and fix it within a reasonable time.
- A clearly marked vehicle with the companies name.
- A license, if required by the state.
- Professional invoices with the company logo
Let’s say your locksmith meets all of these requirements. What’s next? There are still stories that float around about being charged outrageous prices for very little work. For example, in January 2011, a woman came home from work at 2 am in Brooklyn, NY. Though she had her keys, the key refused to open the lock, and having no other options, she called a locksmith. The locksmith arrived, looking and acting professional, and was able to drill out the broken cylinder and get her into her home in about 20 minutes. After a few minutes, he arrived back at her door with an itemized bill totaling $613 dollars. Anyone in their right mind would understand that this was not only outrageously priced, it was almost criminal to charge this much for almost no work at all. So what did she do wrong?
The number one issue people do not seem to grasp is before any contractor – whether it be a locksmith, plumber, or anything else – begins any work, you should have the cost in writing. While it is possible that other issues can arise during service, such as a previous bad lock installation or missing parts – generally a professional locksmith will give you an itemized receipt with an agreed amount prior to performing any work. So what can you do to make sure you won’t be scammed by a locksmith?
- First find their address on their ad or website. Try to find on Google and other directory listings customer reviews.
- Don’t wait till you need them before calling them; call them simply to learn a few things: 1) Where are their technicians based? 2) Are they licensed? 3) What is the registered name of the business? If at this point you don’t get good vibes from them, end the transaction. Otherwise, then ask about their preliminary cost estimate. An unbelievably low quote (like $20) probably means a scam or hidden costs.
- If they answer your phone call with a generic name such as “locksmith services,” be suspicious. If they can’t give a specific business name, move on.
- When it’s time to hire a locksmith, inform the dispatcher you need to see the technician’s certification and ID, and that you would like a written estimate prior to the service.
- Before having them come out, make sure you get information about any extra charges such as for mileage, service call minimums or emergency hours.
- Check the locksmith’s vehicle; it should be marked, and get the license number.
- Ask to see his locksmith license. The following states require locksmiths to be licensed: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
- If the locksmith insists on cash, this may mean a scam.
- If the technician won’t give a written estimate before starting the job, end the transaction.
- If the onsite estimate doesn’t match the phone estimate, do not permit the job to be performed.
- If he says, “The lock needs to be drilled out,” ask why, because a professional locksmith should have the skills and tools to unlock just about any door. Sometimes a cylinder will be broken, or if you have a “Smart Key Lock”, and it will need to be drilled, but generally this is not the case.
- Don’t pay until you’re satisfied with the job.
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