That’s because the public at large is not prepared for key and lock crisis situations. Don’t get caught at the cold. Read the following article and you’ll figure out what to do when you need a locksmith for your needs.
Cover all your locks if you’re painting your home. If you get paint in the holes of the locks, it could cause your keys to no longer fit into them. Covering all your locks can eat some time, but it’s a lot faster and cheaper than using a locksmith to change them all.
Locked outside the house? Don’t just replace that lock immediately. A well-qualified locksmith can get the door open without putting on a new lock. Replacing locks will just end up unnecessarily costing you more money.
You need to be sure that you’re not going to hire someone who is trustworthy and reputable. Some scammers and will make duplicates without your permission.
Watch out for a locksmith who quotes one thing and then tells you something else in person. This is a common scam that has been used to get extra money on many unsuspecting consumers. Don’t go with a company who wants more money than the estimate they gave you over the phone. If this happens, hire another company.
Get a receipt for the work is completed. Get some proof that you paid for the service before the locksmith leaves.Keep your receipt safe and stored in case a payment issue comes up later.
You can avoid hefty fees by finding a locksmith during normal business hours. The price a locksmith charges goes up after hours can vary widely. The fee can often be double on services you need.
Even if you’re thinking that locksmiths aren’t something you’ll need, being prepared is important. Do your research ahead of time, and find a reputable individual that you can call on in case of an emergency. Once you find a good locksmith, keep their number in your address book or saved to your cell phone for future use.
Check with the BBB site to see if you can rely on a locksmith is reliable. This will let you know if the locksmith is an established businessperson with an adequate record of customer satisfaction.
Do not use any locksmith who charges more than you expected. There are many locksmiths out there who want to rip you to deal with one that is not upfront and honest with you.
Make sure that once your locksmith is done that he hands you a receipt. The majority of locksmiths are honest individuals, but a few out there do try to scam people. Always make sure that the receipt you get states that the job is complete and everything is paid in full. Keep the receipt inside a secure place in case there are questions about payment in the future.
Look for locksmiths who is active within their communities. It is wise to know that you have a true professional working on the latest industry trends. It will also lets you to know he’s dedicated to what he’s doing.
One of the first questions to ask when calling a new locksmith is how long their business has been around.Make sure they’ve also been operating from the same location.A company that has five years of experience would be a good choice.
When a locksmith raises the quote on arrival, ask them to leave. You have many other options available to you, so don’t put up with unnecessary increases or dishonest locksmiths.
Check that the locksmith is who they claim to be prior to allowing them entry to your house. You can accomplish this by comparing his business address and cross-reference it with their given phone number. Thanks to the Internet, it’s actually pretty simple to make sure you hire someone you can trust.
Find out how long the locksmith has. If it’s been a while, it’s a fair bet that they are worthy of your trust. While most new locksmiths won’t get your trust right away, very little experience is a sign that you should be cautious.
Choose locksmiths who are active members of the professional community. This will ensure that you get quality work done. Also, it will prevent you from getting scammed.
Ask the locksmith for a customer list.Most businesses are happy to provides references, and you should actually call those references.
Never use any locksmith who will charge you for coming to your home or business. This is far from standard practice, so you’re most likely dealing with a scam artist. If you ask them to leave and they want you to pay, call the police.
If you can, try searching online for the locksmith you plan on calling. Review sites like Angie’s List can be a huge help. It’s best that you don’t simply trust the reviews that any locksmith puts on their own website. Additionally, check with your local Better Business Bureau before hiring a locksmith.
Locksmith service calls are more expensive if you have to call them after regular business hours. Some contractors use this practice to their advantage as an excuse to charge very exorbitant fees. You can avoid this if you get a quote from multiple locksmiths.
Some have the knowledge to reconfigure your alarm as well.
Ask about what credentials the locksmith has when you are making the call. The last thing that you want is to get scammed or robbed. Good professionals should appear in uniform, but an I.D. must be present before you hire them.
Ask for an ID and license when a license. Compare the two items so you know who you’re dealing with. A reputable locksmith typically has a license.
Until they need a locksmith, most people don’t think twice about finding someone reputable. The problem is that rushing a decision can cause you to get ripped off. Use this advice to be sure you are properly prepared. You’ll be glad that you did!
Don’t pick the first locksmith you come across. Call a few to get a feel for the options available. You will get a good idea of the costs involved. After you are in the know, you can more intelligently make your decision about what is an acceptable bill.