Do your due diligence

Have you ever been left out of your car or home? Either you can’t find your car keys or you locked yourself out of your house. The first thoughts are usually to turn to family and friends for help or a spare set of keys, but this may not work. The next steps are to contact a locksmith in your area. However, before closing the deal with the locksmith business, you should consider the trustworthiness and honesty of the company. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, has found that some locksmith companies may advertise in your local phone book, but they may not be local at all. The worst part is that these ‘technicians’ may not have any qualified professional training and can cause further damage to your property.

Check the location of the locksmith

This has been observed and reported by the FTC in the past: A business that is not in your area has a name for its business that is similar to the name of other local locksmiths in the area. This company advertises in the yellow pages and online directories using a local address and phone number. However, in reality, there is no storefront and the local number is transferred to a place far from your home city. So they may not give you a quote for the locksmith service or a fake quote. When the locksmith arrives, they may want more money and you feel pressured and stuck. If the locksmith only accepts cash, that’s also a sign that the business is not a bona fide local locksmith.

Sometimes you can spot these fake “local locksmiths” as they can have multiple listings, sometimes more than 30 listings in a single phone number. All of these listings have different names, but all the phone numbers are directed to a single central call center. There, the operators, who may not be trained people, are dispatched to your location.

How to better choose a locksmith company

There are trustworthy and honest local locksmith companies out there. The best advice is to do your research and due diligence before finding yourself stuck or in an emergency locksmith situation. You may be thinking of increasing the security of your home by installing deadbolt locks, changing door locks and keys, or even installing a home alarm system. This is a great time to sit down at your computer and research different companies. Be sure to read reviews, verify they have a local address and phone number, and compare quotes over the phone. Also, reach out to coworkers, family, and friends for personal recommendations they may have.

Once you’ve found a reputable locksmith, keep the company’s contact information in a safe place, like your wallet, phone, or address book. This can save you time, anxiety, and money in the future.

Tips for emergency locksmith situations

Of course, if it is a emergency locksmith In a situation like being locked out of your car, home, or office, you don’t have the same luxury of sitting in front of the computer and thoroughly checking the legitimacy of the locksmith companies. Here are some tips for these scenarios:

• If you can’t get out of your car and you have a roadside assistance service, call them before you do a locksmith. Many times these lockout services are included in the membership or even the car dealer or insurance company depending on when you bought the car.
• If a business answers the phone with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than a specific company name, be on your guard. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the customer representative does not give an answer, call another locksmith.
• Get a quote for all work and replacement parts from the locksmith before the job begins.
  • Ask for additional fees before agreeing to have the technician come to your location. Businesses may charge more for answering a call in the middle of the night or for driving long distances. Ask if there is a mileage charge or a minimum fee for a service call.
  • Never sign a blank form authorizing a job.
  • If the price decided over the phone does not match the price of the job when the technician arrives, do not allow any work to be done.
• Ask if the locksmith is insured. If your property is damaged during work, it is important that the locksmith have insurance to cover your losses.
• It’s important to note that 9 states require locksmiths to be licensed: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Technicians in these states should be able to provide your license number.