Are you interested in hiring a professional locksmith to help with your home, commercial, or vehicle lock and key needs? Are you worried about finding the right service so you don’t get scammed or charged more than is necessary for the services you require? Most individuals in need of locksmithing services will share these common concerns, especially with how many locksmith scams are out there today.
If you want to avoid being charged extra or receiving faulty installations or repairs, there are several steps you can take. Read the following recommendations below and keep them in mind while you search for the right locksmithing service in your area.
Ask for a Recommendation from a Friend or Family Member
One of the best ways to avoid a locksmith scam is to hire a service that one of your friends or family members has already used.
If you cannot find a recommendation through a friend, you will want to turn to the internet to find a local service in your area. Luckily, you should have no problem with one search finding several locksmiths in your area to choose from. However, you will need to dig a little deeper before deciding on a specific locksmith to make sure you hire the best service in your area that can offer you the best deals. Make sure to visit the company websites and call and speak to an actual representative of a given locksmith company to learn more about them before you hire them.
While you are searching online for the right local locksmith, be sure to keep in mind that not all company review sites are built the same. Companies can pay review sites to take down negative reviews and may even pay individuals to write positive reviews, even if they have never used their services before. These shady practices are all too common, so it is important to cross-reference multiple review sites and get the most realistic overview possible about how a certain locksmith actually operates.
It is best to avoid using private ad services and other posting sites to find a locksmith. This is probably the easiest way to end up getting scammed. A legitimate locksmithing service is unlikely to use these types of online services. It is impossible to verify whether or not a Craigslist posting is legitimate and you may end up wasting your time by trying to hire a locksmith through sites like these.
It is important to do your research on the average cost of the services you are seeking for any given locksmithing task you require. You can even call around and get price quotes from several different locksmiths before determining the average price of services and which locksmith will give you the best deal. A professional locksmith will be transparent upfront about the costs of installations, repairs, labor, and other fees. If a price quote seems too low, you may potentially get scammed if you work with that particular service. They may tack on hidden fees at the end of your requested services, skyrocketing your final bill past the initial quote. Just because a locksmith is offering an enticingly low price initially, this does not mean you should automatically choose their services.
All professional locksmiths must carry insurance. Most locksmiths will have multiple forms of insurance that cover potential injuries to oneself and the locksmith themselves while they are working on your property, as well as warranties for their services and part installations. It can be detrimental to hire a locksmith if they do not carry any kind of insurance. Do not hesitate to ask the locksmithing service you plan to hire what their insurance policies are and how you will be protected as a customer.
Lock drilling is a particular locksmithing procedure that is rarely necessary. One of the most common locksmith scams that you will encounter will involve a locksmith claiming that your locks need to be drilled. This can take a project from an affordable rate to one that may cost you upwards of $1,000. Locksmith scammers will claim that lock drilling is necessary simply to scam homeowners and receive more money at the end of the installation.
If you hire a locksmith that claims your locks need to be drilled for any reason, you will want to halt the services temporarily and receive a second opinion before allowing them to proceed. Remember, as the individual that hires the locksmith, you have the right to cut off services at any time and hire another locksmith to finish the job if you are ever uncomfortable or feel you might be getting taken advantage of.
For More Info.
Main Street Locksmith, LLC is proud to provide services for those looking for automotive, residential, emergency and commercial solutions in Alpharetta.