Protect Yourself: How to Spot Genuine Locksmiths and Avoid Scams

Finding yourself locked out of your home or vehicle is an experience you'd rather avoid. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that most people are likely to encounter the frustration and anxiety associated with such situations at least twice in their lifetime. When faced with this situation, your initial instinct will naturally be to regain access as quickly as possible. However, there are some aspects you need to consider if you don’t want to make a bad situation worse. For example, in your hurry to get a professional on the spot, you might fall victim to locksmith scams.

While we hope you never find yourself in such circumstances, we've compiled a set of guidelines to assist you in steering clear of locksmith scams. It's a case of 'hoping for the best while preparing for the worst,' being prepared is always a wise approach.

Research Your Emergency Locksmith Contact in Advance

In an emergency situation like being locked out of your car or home, it can be challenging to find a professional local locksmith. When you are under pressure, it is difficult to pay attention to the important details that can differentiate professional locksmiths from potential scammers. Therefore, it's wise to conduct research when you have the time and are in the right frame of mind. This allows you to review their ratings and gather feedback from past clients.

Additionally, ensure they have a physical location, as legitimate locksmiths typically operate from such premises for key cutting and other related services. Locksmiths lacking a physical address may raise suspicion, potentially seeking to evade unhappy or previously deceived customers. Take the time to call their contact number, verify their fees, and save their information to safeguard against scammers.

Agree on the Price with Your Locksmith Before Starting

Even with thorough research, you can't be entirely sure about your locksmith until an emergency arises. Therefore, when seeking locksmith services, always establish a clear cost agreement before they begin work. A common scam tactic is luring you in with low initial prices that suddenly increase once they're on the job. Scammers may employ various deceptive tactics or intentionally cause damage to inflate costs.

It's advisable to have the price agreement documented to avoid any disputes later. While unforeseen circumstances can arise, such as a lock breaking during the process, these should not result in significantly different final costs.

Inspect the Locksmith's Vehicle for Reliability

Even if you haven't preplanned and saved the contact of a reputable locksmith service, you can still protect yourself from scams. In addition to the previously discussed factors to be vigilant about, such as a physical address, toll-free phone number, and suspiciously low prices, there's one more detail to consider when the locksmith arrives at your location.
The vehicle they arrive in can serve as a significant indicator of the locksmith's professionalism. Established locksmith companies typically dispatch professionals in marked vehicles bearing the company logo and pertinent information. If you encounter a locksmith arriving in an unmarked vehicle, it's advisable to request identification with the service's addresses and names for verification."

Avoid Paying in Cash

Even if the locksmith has successfully met all previous criteria and it's time to settle the bill, there's an additional consideration to bear in mind. Most scammers will try to persuade you to pay cash because there’s no way to get your money back if they do a poor job.

The locksmith can provide only a temporary solution, potentially resulting in another lockout shortly afterward. Therefore, it's advisable to utilize a credit or debit card for payment. This ensures you have a payment record and the option to request a refund if the job is not satisfactorily completed.

Speak Out Even if You Fall Victim to a Scam

While this advice may not prevent you from falling prey to scammers, it is a valuable way to spare others from a similar ordeal. Scammers thrive in silence and benefit when victims refrain from exposing their deceit. Take proactive steps such as visiting their website to leave a negative review and sharing your experience on social media or local forums to caution others about potential scams.

Final Thoughts

We strongly suggest keeping the contact details of reliable locksmith professionals on hand to avoid making snap judgments in an emergency situation. However, if you do find yourself in a situation that you are unprepared for, taking the advice outlined in this article should help you spot genuine locksmiths and avoid scams.