You need a locksmith, and you need one right away. But how can you be sure that he or she is trustworthy? Most people don’t think about this until after they’ve gotten ripped off by a shady locksmith. We’ll share with you some ways to find out if the locksmith is legit.
What is a locksmith
A locksmith is a professional who can open locks, install locks, and repair locks. They can also help you with your car keys. Locksmiths have the tools and knowledge to change your locks or fix broken ones. They also know how to install security devices such as deadbolts, alarms, and cameras.
They have experience working with all types of locking systems including deadbolts, door knobs, and lever handles. In most cases, they carry their own tools because they need to get into your home or business quickly when there’s an emergency situation. This is an especially important reason why you need to check if it’s safe for you to let them in your house or anywhere near you. Imagine allowing a criminal disguising themself as a locksmith with all of those tools in tow.
Make sure the locksmith is who he says he is
When you meet a locksmith, he should identify himself and prove his identity. Ask for identification, either by seeing a photo ID or looking at their business card to make sure it matches up with the name they gave. Also, ask them if they have any certificates proving they are certified to work on your car’s lock system.
When you call around for prices and estimates, remember that no two locksmiths will give you an identical price quote (unless they’re in cahoots). If a price sounds too low or too high compared to what others quoted, consider asking for more details before making a decision.
If something about your prospective company doesn’t feel right—for example, if someone is being overly pushy or acting shady—you can always back out of the deal without having done anything wrong yourself. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting yourself from fraudsters who want nothing more than their next paycheck from unsuspecting consumers like yourself.
Ask if the locksmith belongs to any professional organizations
If you want to find out if you can trust a locksmith, first ask if the locksmith belongs to any professional organizations. If he or she does, verify that these are reputable organizations. You should also ask for references from previous customers and contact those people to get their feedback about the quality of work done by the locksmith.
If it’s possible, confirm that the business has been in existence for at least five years or more with high-quality results. The longer they’ve been in business and the better their reputation is with past customers, the more likely it is that you’ll receive quality work from them as well.
Research the company on the internet
This is the most basic and probably the easiest way you can find out if the locksmith is legit. You can look online for information about the company. Check out their website, and look for any reviews or comments from customers.
It’s also important to make sure that you’re comfortable with the company’s social media presence. Do they have customer testimonials on their Facebook page? Are there pictures of happy customers? Or maybe even a video of a locksmith using his tools to fix someone’s door lock while jamming on an electric guitar.
Also be sure that the information on their website matches up with what they’ve told you over the phone: Is there mention of 24-hour availability? A guarantee on parts and labor? Make sure these services are available before making an appointment.
Get a quote from them
If you are getting a quote over the phone, make sure to write down everything they say. If you are getting a quote in person, make sure that you get a copy of the estimate. The quote should include all costs, including parts and labor.
Check with the BBB
The Better Business Bureau is a good starting point for checking on a locksmith. They have a website and phone number that you can use to look at the company’s history with them, including legal issues and customer complaints.
Get all information in writing
A good locksmith will be willing to provide you with all of the following:
- A quote in writing
- An invoice for any work done on your property
- A receipt for any work done on your property. (Some companies will give these two documents together, but if not, ask for both.)
- A contract detailing the services provided and the price agreed upon. (This should include an itemized listing of parts used, labor charges, taxes, and anything else that might factor into the total cost.)
- An estimate outlining what type of service is needed and how much it will cost. If possible ask them to write this estimate down on paper before they get started so that there are no misunderstandings later on about what was said during conversations regarding price or service options available at a time point when first contacted by customer(s).
Do Not Give Out Personal Information
- Do not give out personal information aside from what’s needed to get the job done.
- Never give out your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank account number to anyone who is not a trusted source. A trustworthy locksmith will never need this information in order to complete any work they do for you. If they do ask for this, ask for their reasons for doing so. If they can’t justify this properly or if the reason seems shady then it’s best to politely decline and find another locksmith that respects your privacy and understands the importance of protecting personal data.
- Always ask for a receipt
The receipt should include the name of the business along with their address and phone number so that you can contact them later if something goes wrong while they were working on your lock. It should also have the date when work was completed as well as some type of price quote or estimate if one existed prior to starting repairs (or even better would be having already paid an upfront fee).
There are a lot of locksmith companies out there, but you need to make sure that the one you choose will provide quality service. It’s important to know what questions you should ask when calling a company so that they are trustworthy.
Call Locksmith Knights Raleigh
- We’re your dependable 24/7 Locksmith in Raleigh, NC.
- We offer top-notch Emergency locksmith services, Automotive locksmith services, Commercial locksmith services, and Residential locksmith services.
- We’re available 24/7 and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Give us a call or visit our website to learn more.
- We’re definitely someone you can trust!
