With every other person starting their own locksmith business, claiming to be the best locksmith service in town, it is no easy feat to find the one who is an actual professional! And after all, it is the question of your security, so it cannot be any Tom, Dick, and Harry entering your home or fiddling with your car.
Hence, when it comes to a locksmith, make sure your research on the person and the company is airtight. One simply cannot afford to make a wrong decision here. A good locksmith knows what he is doing and caters to every situation like a professional.
However, even with all the checks and balances, scam-artists still exist and slither their way out of the loopholes. How to recognize the scams? Keep reading.
How to stay safe from scam-artists disguised as locksmiths?
Verify the person’s legitimacy
Prior to placing the call or hiring a locksmith, do some homework and check whether he is who he claims to be? Shady professionals do not pin down an actual work address and provide mobile services.
So, if you fail to find a company location on the locksmith’s business card, it is a huge red alert, and you must keep your eyes open.
Read their past client reviews
The quickest and the most convenient way to verify a locksmith’s legitimacy is by going through their online reviews. If a webpage or a business directory has many 1-star reviews or bad comments, you are better off looking elsewhere.
Schedule an introductory interview: Preferably one-on-one
Ever heard of the phrase “Trust God but lock your car”?
Do not wait for the burglary to happen before you phone a locksmith. Be prepared right from the get-go. Talk to different locksmiths in your area, assess their credibility, and simply save the emergency contact of the one you find the most reliable.
Get quotations and pricing details in the first meeting
Many scam-artists will lure you to hire them by placing low quotations in front of you and then suddenly increase their rates when you phone them in an emergency. After all, one call a locksmith mostly in emergencies. So, make sure you get the quotations and the price packages right in the first meeting.
Match your invoice with the initial estimates
Do not. We repeat, do not pay a penny extra to your locksmith above the estimated price. That is why we just advised you to get the pricing right from the start.
Don’t fall for “daring” claims
Let’s say your locksmith is asking to break the main door to access the lock inside? Or weld the window’s grill to enter the home? Do not fall for such claims. These may just be to gain access inside your premises.
Make sure you get it all in written form
Cost estimates. Quotations. Claims. Certifications. Make sure you get it all in writing before you hire someone to play with your locks! There is no such thing as too much trust.
