Hiring a Locksmith: How to Avoid a Scam

For locksmithing projects that require professional assistance around our home, businesses, or for our vehicles, it is important that we find the right expert to help us. Working with an amateur locksmith or inexperienced worker when it comes to your locks and keys could spell disaster for your personal security, as well as your wallet. Just like with any service, when it comes to locksmithing, there is always the possibility that you may unknowingly become caught in a scam.

Since locksmiths only have to be hired on occasion, we may not know what to look for when it comes to hiring the right one. If you are looking for a locksmith to help you with any kind of lock installations, rekeying services, or other lock and key needs, working with a certified expert is imperative. Locksmithing scams exist because customers are often unable to spot or detect a scam while they are in one, especially if they know little about locksmithing. The following article will give you some useful steps to follow that will guide you in your search for the right locksmith, as well as help you avoid getting scammed.

Step 1: Ask Someone You Trust

Hiring a locksmith that has already worked with someone you know is an ideal route to go. Try asking your friends, coworkers, or neighbors who they recommend. Word-of-mouth is often one of the best ways to find a trusted worker that you know has a good reputation. If you ask around, it is likely you will find a locksmith in your area that someone you know can vouch for.

Step 2: Check Out Online Reviews – but Keep a Few Things in Mind

If you are coming up short by asking around, you could always look online. Looking at online reviews can be a good way to get an overview of the top locksmiths in your area, as well as find out a little about what people are saying about them. It is important to check a couple of different websites for reviews. Review websites are not always honest themselves and may accept payments from various companies in order to delete bad reviews and post fake, positive ones. Cross-referencing a few different websites and reviews will help you get the best picture of what a locksmith may actually be like.

Step 3: Call Local Locksmiths Directly

You can find out for yourself how professional a locksmith is just by giving them a call. A locksmith that is serious about customer service will answer your call with confidence, as well as with a professional name or greeting. If you call a number for a locksmith and it sounds more like you are talking to a random person, chances are that it may be a scam. You can also tell a lot about a company by how urgently they respond to your needs. If you call a locksmith and they seem lackluster or apathetic about getting your true security needs taken care of, they may not be the right locksmith to work with or they may be out to scam you. Calling and speaking to someone directly, rather than just going off of online reviews or websites, is a great way to get a feel for a company without having to invest anything.

Step 4: Ask about Insurance and Bonds

Insurance is very important for any locksmith you work with to carry. Insurance helps protect both the locksmith, as well as yourself, during the course of any on-site locksmithing work. If either you, someone in your household, or the worker themselves is hurt while performing work for you, or any of your items are damaged or stolen, insurance helps to cover these costs. Without insurance, you may end up liable for accidents that were not necessarily your fault, or you may be taken advantage of by a scammer. Always ask about insurance policies before hiring a certain locksmith and make sure you are clear about how you are protected as a customer.

Step 5: Ask about Certification and Experience

Professional locksmiths are required to undergo on-the-job trainings and pass a state exam before becoming officially certified as a locksmith. It is important to hire a locksmith that has had the proper training and experience. Locksmiths that attend classes and receive hands-on training are better prepared to help customers in a variety of circumstances. It is better to place your trust in someone who has proven their competence, rather than gamble with a worker who may not be certified.

Step 6: Watch Out for Lock Drilling Procedures

Drilling locks is usually necessary. This is a locksmithing procedure that is very rare and should never be considered as part of a routine lock change or replacement. It is important to know this because locksmithing scams will often try to convince customers that they need to drill their locks right away, sometimes within the first few minutes of the initial appointment. This is a common scam and can end up costing homeowners thousands of dollars without them realizing it until it is too late. Always be sure to communicate with the locksmith you hire beforehand about what procedures they plan to perform, the estimated cost, as well as to alert you before performing any unexpected or added services. If a locksmith insists on drilling your locks with little explanation or without a second opinion, it is likely they are trying to scam you.