JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's late at night. You've locked yourself out of your home or car and you're starting to panic. You call the first locksmith you find online or in the phone book. That's when your night could go from bad to worse.
"Don't wait for an emergency when it comes to finding a good locksmith because if you do, you might be desperate and fall victim to a locksmith scam. Because people that haven't planned ahead often overlook extra charges and also don't notice red flags," warned Angie Hicks, the founder of Angie's List.
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Red flag number one – be wary of locksmith companies that aren't locally-owned and operated.
"Ask where their dispatch location is. If it's out of state, that's a problem," said Mary Tinder, who owns a locksmith company.
Red flag number two – a locksmith who refuses to give you an estimate or price range over the phone.
"When interviewing your locksmith make sure you understand any extra fees that might be associated with hiring them," advised Hicks. "For example, do they charge extra for a late night visit? Also, do they charge by the lock or is it a flat fee?"
If a locksmith arrives in an unmarked vehicle, that's red flag number three.
Red flag number four: a technician who doesn't care about ID.
"The technician doesn't even ask you for ID and they're going to let anybody into your house? That's a red flag. If they can't provide ID. That's a red flag. They should have the company name listed fairly prominently," said Tinder.
And finally, red flag number five: a locksmith who immediately says he or she needs to drill your lock. Tinder warns that should be a last resort, not the first.
"A professional locksmith has the tools that they need. They have the training, the experience. Frankly, they take a lot of pride in being able to get in to your lock without doing damage," she added.
Angie's List says if the locksmith's on-site price doesn't match the phone estimate, don't allow the work to be performed.
States that currently require locksmith licensing:
- Alabama
- California
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Texas
Cities/districts that require locksmith licensing:
- Hillsborough County, FL
- Nassau County Long Island
- New York City
- Washington D.C.
Angie's List Guide To locksmiths: http://www.angieslist.com/windows-and-doors/locksmiths.htm