How To Avoid Locksmith Scams

Being locked out of your home or car can be quite a stressful and frustrating situation. It’s is especially true if the situation occurs during inclement weather or when you are in a hurry to get to some place. This is when you need the services of an emergency locksmith. If you do not have the number of a good local locksmith handy, you will automatically start to look on the Internet for operators that provide these services.

Most locksmith companies state on their websites that they provide 24/7 emergency services, but very few actually stand up to their promise. Aside from this, you also need to be aware that there are a number of scammers that cheat people who are caught in a lockout situation.

Desperation and urgency can drive you to hire the first locksmith you can find, without checking whether the company is credible and well-established. This can eventually burn a hole in your pocket. While it may be difficult to determine whether a company is on the level, there are certain ways in which you can avoid locksmith scams and here we take a look at some of them

Be Aware Of The Methods Scammers Use

Most scammers follow a certain method when they are scamming people in need of emergency services. The scammers know that people are desperate and that they don’t have the time to validate any of the information that is provided to them. They go about the scam in a methodical manner. They act very knowledgeable and have a detailed discussion with you and also look at the lock that needs to be opened.

They will then provide you all very low quote for the job which will seem irresistible to you. Once you have approved the quote, they start working on the lock and will continue doing so for a short while. But it won’t take them long to tell you that the job is far more complex than what they had initially estimated. They will also tell you that now the only solution would be to replace the lock, which of course would cost you significantly more than what a regular repair or spare key would cost.

When you are in a desperate situation, you eventually agreed to that quote and get the job done because you feel it’s the only solution. However, it is important to understand that in most situations, these unscrupulous operators are only taking advantage of the situation and making you pay far more than what you need to.

Signs That You Are Dealing With a Scammer

Aside from this, there are some other indicators that you might be faced with a locksmith scam:

• The locksmiths do not have a valid ID
• They do not arrive in a marked vehicle with their numbers and name distinctly mentioned on it.
• They do not have licensing and insurance

Some Preventive Measures to Take

If you keep these few aspects in mind while looking for a locksmith, it will help ensure that you do not get scammed by these operators. One of the best ways to make sure that you stay away from people such as these is to conduct some amount of research well in advance about locksmiths in your area.

Keeping these aspects in view will help you avoid locksmith scams. For information about our reliable and certified services, call South West Locksmiths today or contact us via this Online Form.

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