A locksmith is typically not someone you turn to unless you’re dealing with an emergency. Maybe you’ve lost your keys; or your key broke in the lock when you went to open the door; or perhaps you need a security door locksmith. Unfortunately, it isn’t unheard of to run into scams and fraudulent people in this industry looking to take advantage of someone in a difficult situation. The following guide will walk you through common locksmith scams while offering tips on how to avoid being victimized yourself.
Are Locksmiths Trustworthy?
There are a number of trustworthy locksmiths out there that you can turn to when in need, but there are also scams you need to be aware of. These fraudulent locksmiths are aware of the panic and desperation you’re feeling and will use this against you. The typical play is to convince the individual in need to pay massive fees for inferior work. They might even go so far as to break your lock and charge you a premium on the new one. That is why it is imperative that you confirm the individual you call is an honest businessperson. Read on to learn of other common locksmith scams while also identifying how to hire the right people to get the job done right.
Common Locksmith Scams
Advertising a company that doesn’t really exist
One common practice is to advertise a locksmith company that doesn’t actually exist. This company won’t be registered and the people you will be dealing with are far from professionals. They create online advertisements and post limited information apart from a phone number. They likely won’t even have a physical address, yet be ‘nearby’.
Destroy your lock and change the price
These folks will use a variety of excuses as to why your lock cannot be picked. They will in turn destroy your lock and inform you that you need to buy a new one. This tactic ensures that the service you hired them for has changed and they will now increase the price tag. They will claim that they have to charge you a lock replacement, lock change, lock install, drilling, picking, key cutting, key duplicating, and rekeying.
How Can You Tell if the Locksmith is Real?
Hiring a professional, trustworthy locksmith is the best way to avoid finding yourself in a locksmith scam. It is recommended that you don’t wait for an emergency to begin searching for a locksmith you can trust. Google or check the Yellowpages for a locksmith near you and visit the operation. Ensure that they are a 24-hour locksmith because emergencies can happen at all hours. It’s a good idea to find a couple different ones that you feel comfortable with and store their numbers in your phone.
Get a recommendation
Try and get in touch with a friend that might be able to recommend a locksmith to hire to solve your problem. Friends, colleagues, family members are just some people to think of. If someone you can trust has hired a locksmith before and they were satisfied with the service they received, then you too will likely not have any issues.
Read online reviews
Should you decide to Google ‘Locksmiths near me’ read the internet reviews of other people that have utilized these company’s services to ascertain if they are a safe hire. Online reviews are a great way to assess the quality of a service to determine if you should hire them. Many upset and unhappy customers and one star ratings are red flags to look out for.
Contact the locksmith association near you
Instead of Google searching a locksmith to hire, consider searching for the locksmith association’s contact information. Contact the association and ask them to recommend a reliable locksmith you can hire.
Check for a physical address
A simple way to confirm if you’re dealing with a credible locksmith is to check if they have a physical address listed. Once you’ve found an address, ensure the location actually exists. You should never hire a company that doesn’t have a legitimate physical address, isn’t researchable, or ones with limited information about the business. You could even call the company and ask for a registered business name and where their technicians are stationed. Many operations that are masquerading as legitimate locksmiths are just call centres. Once you call them, they will sub-contract the job to a locksmith near you. These operations are conglomerates and seek to cover vast geographic areas. Should the company name refer to a large area, you can take this as another red flag.
Check their vehicle
A professional locksmith operation will be registered and will supply their techs with uniforms or name tags, tools, and likely a company vehicle. These vehicles will have an identifiable company name, logo, and address. A technician in a marked vehicle will likely provide better service, and you can also hold this person accountable for any issues that may surface. Look for the company information on the vehicle and even take down the plate number.
Check the locksmith’s credentials
A legitimate locksmith will be licensed, bonded, and insured. When you call the company, make sure you inform the dispatcher that you will need to see the tech’s identification documents and license. Standard locksmith procedures dictate that a legitimate tech should ask you for your identification or other supporting documents to prove that the car or home being unlocked actually belongs to you.
How to Spot a Locksmith Scam
Watch out for excuses
There are instances when it won’t be possible to pick your lock and drilling will be necessary. This only occurs in rare situations. A legitimate locksmith will be equipped with the tools and know-how to unlock any lock without causing damage. Only on the rarest occasions will they recommend drilling. A fraudulent locksmith operation is notorious for lock drilling. This fake locksmith will work on the lock for only a few minutes before making up some line like you have a ‘high-security lock installation’ and that it is not capable of being picked.
Beware of fluctuating prices
A trustworthy operation will not try and change the price that they quoted you. Should the price change, it should only be by a minimal amount. Moreover, you’ll know you’re dealing with a reliable technician when they ask for payment only after confirmation of satisfaction. You should not pay the charge if you are not happy with the work. Should this individual threaten to call the police, you should let them. Or even offer to do so on their behalf. These actions are unethical, and are essentially extortion. You should inquire about available payment methods. Most illegitimate operations will push for cash and only accept debit should you be short. They will avoid a credit card as these are easily traceable and you can dispute the charges.
Look for prices that are much too low
The old saying rings true – if it is too good to be true, it probably is. A lot of fake locksmiths will provide you with a quote far below the industry standard. This is a tactic to get you to hire them. Once you give them the job, they will damage your lock and tell you the job is much more challenging than what you described to them. They will now try to provide you with a new quote that is significantly higher than their initial.
Note if they take too long to arrive.
You’ve selected a locksmith near you on your Google search but it takes an usual amount of time to get to you. If they claim to be around the corner but take an hour to get to your home or if you’re locked out car, you should know right away this is a scam. This individual is likely located far away.
Ask questions
Most complaints towards locksmiths are due to undisclosed charges. Look for reviews of local locksmiths and pay attention to customer reviews that mention hidden charges. This homework will also provide you a ballpark price of the locksmith services provided. Reach out to the company and inquire about any potential service call fees, parts, mileage, and emergency service before you decide to hire them. It is also a good idea to get a written estimate of the price prior to allowing the work to begin. It’s a good idea to avoid any locksmith operation that will not give you an estimate. End the agreement should the technician be unwilling to give you a written estimate before beginning work. A professional locksmith will provide an estimate that is closely accurate to the final price, and remember that a slight difference should be expected. But should the phone estimate differ greatly from the on-location estimate, hire someone else to do the work.
If you follow the above guide you should be able to navigate your way through any emergency lock situation – regardless if it’s a door lockout, key duplication, door lock installation, or anything in between. If you’re dealing with your emergency and require an Ottawa locksmith, or are looking for a key cutting service – reach out to the trustworthy professionals at Rapid Locksmith Ottawa to put your mind at ease.
