Letting people have access to your most important layer of security, your locks, can be worrisome. While most locksmiths will be trustworthy and reliable, you may be worried that someone is trying to scam you by pretending to be a locksmith. Here are a few ways you can know if your locksmith is legit or is scamming you.
- Check ID and Licenses: If a locksmith is unable to produce the documents to prove who they are, and that they are a locksmith, they may not be a locksmith. Only trust real locksmiths who can prove they are licensed to work.
- Low-Balling: A scam locksmith may quote you far lower than you expect, and this may be a relief. However, when they perform the work, they will claim that it is far more difficult and charge you more. Make sure to pay for a reasonable priced locksmith who is clear about their rates, so you do not get scammed.
- Look Local: A local locksmith will have a reputation to uphold, so if they trick you then you can put a serious damper on their business by word of mouth. Local locksmiths will most likely be the best quality, and lower prices because they have the opportunity to care about their area and their customers.
- Drilling: Unless your lock is badly messed up or a high-security lock, your locksmith shouldn’t need to drill it. If they want to drill your lock, they may be looking to get you to spend a lot on new locks that they can install.
Looking for a locksmith does not need to be too difficult. Simply look for a licensed, local locksmith with good reviews online. If they are suspicious about pricing, find a new locksmith. Using these tips, you can avoid scam locksmiths and end up with a great experience.