We are all human, and there can come the occasion where we get locked out of our vehicle, you forget your keys in the house or simply can’t find them, and desperately need to get in. Apart from kicking in your own door, there are few practical options like simply calling a nearby locksmith. The lock of your car guarantees your safety so you want to make sure that your locks are handled by a skilled locksmith professional who won’t cause any damage to your car, and you want to make sure you won’t get any shady locksmiths who will try to hit you with a bill way larger than anticipated. If you are in need of a local locksmith near you, use the search on 247locksmiths.io and read their locksmith reviews. Also always verify that the business is ALOA verfied to ensure professional work ethics from professional locksmith service professionals.
Luckily enough, there are some tips to follow that enable you to identify which locksmiths will be good for you, your car or truck, and your pocket; and which ones won’t.
- Look Out for Licensed Locksmiths
Depending on your location, you may or not have locksmith organizations that license locksmiths.
If you do, however, licensed locksmiths are certified and trained to know what they are doing. The chances of them damaging your locks or pulling any shady tactics are much lower.
Some countries have third-party organizations which can approve a company as meeting their requirements, so if you can also look out for certification by any of these organizations.
- Identities Should Always Be Confirmed
This one goes both ways. Always ask your locksmith for their identification or credentials, such as a business card or in the case of places with locksmith licensing, their locksmith license card.
You need to ensure that the person working on the locks on your property is the correct person, with invoices and a business vehicle all with the same logo and information.
The locksmith should also always ask for your own identification as well and ensure that it is truly your vehicle (or home) you are attempting to gain access to.
If they didn’t, anyone could call a locksmith when they want to break into a house!
- Think Twice About Drilling Locks
A common scam some shady locksmiths pull off is to tell you that your lock is irreparably damaged or it simply cannot be picked and they give you the option of drilling the lockout and replacing it with a new one.
Guess what, in most cases, that new one costs quite a hefty sum. Avoid drilling out your locks and call a new locksmith, because reputable locksmiths can fix almost any lock.
- Find a locksmith prior to needing one
Find a locksmith proir to when you need one. Do not to wait to find a locksmith on the day that you’re stuck out in the rain and you can’t find your keys. Always do your automotive locksmith finding when you have no need for one, because when you do, you might be a bit too desperate to make the best of decisions, and shady locksmiths will feed on your desperation to get as much out of you as they can.
- Get a Complete Estimate of All Costs Before Any Work
Another popular scam technique employed by shady locksmiths is to get you through the door with a supposedly low price, and then hit you with the full price after they’ve done the work. Of course, this isn’t reserved to the locksmith industry. The experts at Batteries Shack confirm, “They will intentionally leave out additional costs such as labor and mileage costs until they’ve finished up. This is why it is always pertinent to ask for an estimate over the phone before using any local service and get a written estimate. Make sure that their estimates include every single additional cost that is incurred!”
- Local Locksmiths Keep Costs Low
Large locksmithing operations may have difficulty in assuring certification of their influx of workers. Local locksmiths tend to be people of the community, which in some cases means that they are better vetted.
Also, they live much closer and not only will they arrive faster, but mileage fees in their estimates will be minimal.
- Get Recommendations and Opinions When Possible
There’s no better way to know whether a locksmith is reliable than getting first-hand recommendation from friends or family members who have made use of their services.
Did they overcharge them at the end? Did they damage their door? Or did they do a splendid, quick, and affordable job? This is the type of information you can glean from friends and family.
You can also use local locksmith finder sites like 247locksmiths.io to check online reviews of the locksmith’s business to see whether there is a trend in complaints or comments from online individuals.
Finding a good locksmith doesn’t have to be an arduous process. Knowing what to look for and taking the right precautions will go a long way in making sure that you are not defrauded or scammed out of your hard-earned money.
And of course, once you find a locksmith you can trust, keep them in mind and note down their phone number. You never know the next time you’ll be locked out.
