How to Avoid Locksmith Scams
There are all sorts of scams out there today. One of the popular ones, unfortunately involves locksmiths. It is sad that people will take advantage of others in their time of need. They certainly wouldn’t want someone doing this to them but this doesn’t seem to stop them. Someone who is out to take advantage of unsuspecting victims will do so the minute you let your guard down. You do not have to become their next victim if you perform some research before allowing someone to provide you with services. No matter how desperate you might be, your situation can be far worse if you don’t take the time to make sure your relying on the right person to attend to your lock and key needs. At Avondale Locksmith Stars in Avondale, AZ, we see this happen too many times. We don’t want to see this happen to you. We are here to give you the heads up about what you can look for in order to avoid a locksmith scam.
The first place you can begin your research is via a Google search. A Google search will have list of both reliable and unreliable locksmiths. You can determine this by reading the reviews left by other consumers. A locksmith who is out to scam people will appear to be legit but in actuality, they are dishonest. People generally write about their bad experiences far more often than their good ones. This is why going to the Internet to check the reviews of businesses that you may be considering using, is a good idea. A locksmith scammer may have an out of state operation center. When a call comes into their call center, they will direct your service call to another locksmith in the same area. These may not be reputable or reliable locksmiths with the right qualifications. This is where the problem begins. Without a qualified locksmith to perform the job, you could be putting your safety and security in the hands of someone who is not able to provide you with adequate protection. Again, this is why it is a very important to make sure you rely on someone who has the qualifications and experience to handle our locksmith service needs. Here are some things to consider when you are in the market for a local locksmith.
Finding a Legitimate Locksmith
Find a local locksmith
Local service can provide you with quick service. It also does not allow scammers very much time to reroute your call. Make sure you’re prepared with questions to ask the locksmith services. We recommend that you inquire about the services of more than one local locksmith before choosing the one that you will use. The service provider you choose should be able to answer all of your questions and address any concerns you might have. If there are some questions that you do not feel as though were addressed, feel free to ask for clarification.
Also, pay close attention to the way that the service provider answers the phone. When they do not use their company name but, instead, they use answer with a generic phrase, beware. A legitimate locksmith will be happy to answer the phone with their company name. It assures the person on the other end that they have reached the right place and it provides them with additional brand awareness. A company that is trying to scam you often simply use a generic term and hardly ever the name of a company.
You also want to make sure that the locksmith service you are considering isn’t sharing an address of another business. If they are, chances are that they are not legit. Most legit companies like to differentiate themselves from any other company. Again, this is the only way they are able to achieve brand awareness.
If they only have an 800 number and do not have a local number listed, it is probably a call center that you are calling. BEWARE!
Credibility
If it is necessary for a locksmith to have a license in order to practice, make sure you ask them to show you their license and id. It is important that you make sure they are who they say they are. You also want to make sure they have the right credentials so that the job will be done right.
A reputable and legitimate locksmith service will also ask you to show your id. This serves as protection for them because they are able to verify that they are performing the job for the right person. This is very important if you are a motorists asking for them to open your car door. The locksmith service could be held liable if they were to unlock the door of a car that doesn’t belong to the person who requested the services.
Check their vehicle out to make sure that the company name is prominently displayed on it. If it is unmarked or has another name and address on it, you can tell them thank you but no thank you. This may not be a legitimate locksmith and it isn’t worth chancing.
Getting an Estimate
Many locksmith services will offer you a really low upfront rate. This is what is known as the bait-and-switch scheme. It is intended to get the person to commit to the services and then when they arrive to perform the job, they will find all sorts of problems. Therefore, the initial rate will then escalate to a price far more expensive than you imagined. If this happens, again, decline their services.
Finally, a legitimate locksmith will be happy to provide you with a written price estimate. If they are unwilling to provide you with a written price estimate, it might mean that they have intentions of charging you as much as they see fit. This doesn’t provide you with the opportunity to determine if their services will suit you budget. This may not be a scam but it is unethical and you should look for another service provider.