Locksmiths provide one of the most valuable services during what is often one of the most vulnerable positions individuals find themselves in. Unfortunately due to this fact there are a number of unscrupulous locksmiths out there waiting to prey on individuals. Locksmith scams are nothing new but these scams have become more sophisticated over time. While a reasonable and rational mind can often spot these types of scams persons locked out of their home, vehicle, and those who have other types of lock or key emergencies almost always have a more difficult time spotting them. In order to help you the consumer avoid locksmith scams you'll want to watch out for these things.
When you contact a locksmith be very wary and skeptical of any single locksmith or company that answers their calls with phrases like "locksmith here" or "locksmith services". Unless the aforementioned are the actual names of the locksmith company no legitimate locksmith will ever answer the phone with those types of phrases. They will almost always answer calls with the name of their company and then their own name. Any locksmith that doesn't have an official company name or refuses to give one should leave you feeling disconcerted and should be avoided at all costs.
We you need a locksmith for an emergency situation it can be very tempting and easy to move forward with their hiring simply because you're in a rush and you're anxious. When a legitimate locksmith arrives they will generally show you their identification and in states where it's mandated their licensing information. Locksmiths running a scam will often try to force the issue without showing either types of documentation/identification. They will often attempt to rush you into making a decision which should the first and only red flag you need to send them on their way.
Illegitimate locksmiths often rush out to a job and try to begin working immediately. They try to avoid discussing costs and any additional fees that might be tacked onto a bill as a result of the job being part of emergency service. Any locksmith worth their salt will be more than happy to discuss cost with you before doing any work. In fact it's not uncommon to get a quote over the phone and then a second quote after they arrive. If a locksmith arrives to help you and does not broach the subject or refuses to discuss cost watch out!
Continuing on with the subject of cost, any locksmith who's on-site price doesn't match their phone estimates should immediately cause you to raise an eyebrow. Under no circumstances should you ever let this type of locksmith begin working. There are times where the cost of a locksmith service may go on or down slightly due to unforeseen issues however this is rare and legitimate locksmiths will usually stick to their original quote even when a job is more difficult or complex than they were originally told.
While there are most certainly some very dependable and honest individuals working as locksmiths the vast majority of locksmiths will arrive in a clearly marked company vehicle. Even those independent contractors that aren't under a large corporate umbrella often have some sort of magnets, stickers, or painting on their vehicle to help you identify them. It's very common for scam artists to arrive not only ununiformed but in very common looking vehicles as well.
Many scam artists, especially those that pose as locksmiths, often prey upon ignorance and fear. Any locksmith that arrives to help you and insists on drilling into a lock or replacing it right out of the gate should give you pause and reason to have trepidations about their legitimacy. Before destroying or replacing any lock, even in an emergency, legitimate locksmiths will do everything they can to help you gain entry into your home or vehicle without damaging or replacing a lock.
Falling prey to locksmith scams can be easy when you are in an unfamiliar neighborhood, are having an emergency, or generally don't know much about locks. Following the aforementioned advice however should help you not only avoid locksmith scams but see them coming a mile away as well. Remember the general rule when it comes to locksmiths, when in doubt about a locksmith or any of their services or pricing, call someone else.
Astrolocks specializes in 24/7 locksmith services in Boston and Newton MA locksmith services.
