If you asked a friend or neighbor for a locksmith referral, they may have no idea. The reason for that is because a lot of people aren’t prepared when it comes to lockouts. Don’t find yourself left out in the rain. Keep reading to learn how to find a professional locksmith to assist you.
When you lock yourself out, you don’t have to replace the lock. A good locksmith will be able to get into most types of doors without needing to get a new lock. If you change the lock, you will spend more money than you need to.
Check up on the reviews for the locksmith that you choose. You need a professional that will help to guard you, not scam you. There are people who will try to take your money.
Be sure you’re able to research the locksmith of your choice before you hire them for any work. It’s important to hire someone that is working for you. Avoid scammers by checking reviews; the last thing you need is someone making a copy of your keys.
Don’t take unexpected price increases lightly from a locksmith. This is scam to take advantage of a person in a desperate situation. If someone tries to tell you the services will cost significantly more than the quote you were given on the phone, cancel the job and call someone else.
It is advisable to be prepared even if you never think you will need a locksmith’s service. Research to find reputable professionals that can be contacted for emergencies. Keep a locksmith’s phone number in a cell phone or written down so you can call then if the worst happens.
Prepare in advance to be as safe as possible. Do your homework before you are in a pinch, and you can have someone you can rely on if you ever have an emergency. Put a locksmith’s contact number into your cell phone for easy access.
Check the BBB to find the claims against your potential locksmiths. Contacting the BBB will help prevent you from being scammed. Additionally, the ALOA.org will verify that the locksmith is certified.
You want to be sure that you get a receipt once you pay a locksmith. Even though the majority of locksmiths are legitimate, there are always people out there looking to scam you. So, get verification that you are paying for the services in full. Store the receipt safely in the event that a question about payment pops up.
If a locksmith quotes you one price by phone, then tries to up the price upon arrival, tell them you will do business with someone else. The locksmith trade is very competitive. You can likely get a better price from someone else.
Business Hours
One of the first questions you ask when calling a new locksmith is how long their business has been around. Also, you should be sure that they’ve been doing work at the same place for a while. A company with more than five years of experience would be a good choice.
Avoid additional fees by not calling a locksmith after regular business hours. Later on, their rates will rise considerably. There are extra fees associated with locksmiths out of business hours.
Be sure that the locksmiths you try to hire will show you an ID prior to you making your appointment. You should let them know this over the phone. A professional that’s good at what they do should be in a uniform as well, but you should at least be sure that they have an ID of some kind.
Use the Better Business Bureau website to determine the reliability of a locksmith. This will give you the information you need for your peace of mind.
It’s understandable that you want to find an affordable locksmith, but this is one area where you should be wary of anyone charging really low fees. Those who charge low prices may not have the qualifications necessary to charge more. Find someone who charges a reasonable price and has good reviews.
If you get a price on the phone and then a locksmith wants you to pay more after they show up, tell them you are no longer interested in the service they offer. It is best to hire a locksmith that is honest and upfront.
Ask the locksmith how long he or she has worked. If it’s been a long time, then they are most likely trustworthy and reliable. You should always be careful about hiring locksmiths lacking much experience as this could indicate that they may not be trustworthy, although that is not always the case.
Get references before you hire a locksmith. Then call all of them! You need the best quality services and a person that you can completely trust.
Beware of a locksmith that tells you they want to replace and drill out the lock when you can’t get in. This is not always needed.
Locate a reliable locksmith before an emergency arises. Waiting until an emergency hits can cause you to make hasty, bad decisions. You may also find that someone that doesn’t have a good reputation will get the keys to where you live.
Do a quick Internet search of the locksmith. This is an extra step of protection for yourself and your home. If your search yields information you’re not happy with, call the company to ask for another worker.
Find out what length of experience your locksmith has. Chances are, if they have been around for a while, they are trustworthy. Although lack of experience does not mean that the locksmith is untrustworthy, you should be careful if you come across one with little experience.
Do not use a locksmith who charges you just for showing up! Most locksmiths only charge for services performed, so this is a red flag that you may be dealing with an unethical locksmith. If you ask them to leave, and won’t go unless you pay them, call the police.
Make sure you speak to many locksmiths before hiring someone. Call at least three locksmiths before settling on one. You can get a better idea of prices by talking to more than one. Once you figure this out, you will be able to select locksmiths that give you a rate that’s fair.
The serivces of a locksmith will cost more when you need to call outside of business hours. Certain people use this to their advantage and charge unreasonable rates. Avoid this scenario by getting a quote from several locksmiths.
Don’t hire a locksmith until they have given you the information of current customers. Many businesses have no problem providing references. Be sure to call these references. Ask about the reliability and trustworthiness of the locksmith, and also the charges if you need to call during off-hours.
When the locksmith arrives at your house, ask for his ID and license. Compare the two items so you can ensure that the person at your house is the one on the license. Even though some states do not require a license, any good locksmith will be licensed whether it is required or not.
When you need a locksmith, check the Internet. You will find that people love going online and sharing their experiences. The types of reviews tell you about the locksmith. Both types of reviews can be a tremendous help when determining who to hire.
Don’t forget that you are allowing the locksmith free entry into your home. If you cannot trust them, hire someone else. This is the reason that you should pay them a visit in their place of business prior to providing them with your address.
Do a quick Internet search of the locksmith. This shouldn’t make you feel embarrassed because it’s part of making sure you’re protecting your home. If you’re able to find something out about the person that’s bad, you should try to contact someone else.
Talk to your police department to see if any locksmith company you wish to hire has complaints against them. The records should be easily accessible. If the police find something, go back to the drawing board and find another locksmith.
A burglar generally tries both the windows and the doors of the home in an attempt to get in. If both kinds of locks have been affected, find a locksmith that can deal with that. Sometimes, they can even fix alarm systems.
It’s common for locksmiths to get tipped after doing a great job, so have some extra money for that work. This is especially valid if you were in an emergency situation. The general rule of thumb is a 15 percent tip during regular business hours and 20 percent for after-hours service.
You are letting in people that can pick locks easily. If you feel they are not entirely honest and trustworthy, find someone else to do the job. That’s why you should meet them at a storefront first before giving them your address.
Identify the type of service you will require prior to calling a locksmith. Did you leave your keys inside? This is a much different situation to when your keys have been stolen. If your keys have been stolen, the locksmith will need to either install new locks or rekey the existing locks. THis is a much bigger issue than simply getting you inside your locked vehicle.
If you are wanting to complain about a service that you got, you should make it a point to let the company know right away. If you delay too long, you might exceed the deadline where the company lets you make changes. Ask the consumer protection agency in your area for help if you are unable to receive what you want.
Locksmith services can cost a lot, so use them only if you have to. You can change a lock yourself without having to call a pro. If you really need to get the help you need to get into something, then a locksmith is someone that you should give a call to.
A good practice is to provide a tip for locksmith services. Late night or difficult calls especially deserve this thank you bonus. For a regular locksmith visit 15% is fine, and for after-hours 20% is recommended.
Call a locksmith before hiring the company and ask if they can quote you a solid price for a car lockout job. If so, you probably want this locksmith. If they do not give you an answer, call someone else.
Avoid hiring a locksmith for frivolous purposes, as their prices can be astronomical. You can often change locks yourself in a standard door. When you are certain you can’t do the job yourself, then call in the professionals.
When thinking of hiring your locksmith, try getting one that has emergency services available. You can’t anticipate an emergency, so have a locksmith ready just in case. Be sure and inquire about the cost for those extreme circumstances as well. There are sure to be extra fees, so you can get past any surprises before they come.
Few folks know which locksmith to call unless they had troubles in the past. The problem with that is that you are overcharged for bad service. Keep yourself safe when you use what you’ve just learned. You will be glad you did!
When asking for a price estimate, make sure that you get the worst-case situation price on top of what they think it will be. Experienced locksmiths know just what can go wrong, and so will know what the maximum potential price is.
