A Mesa AZ Local Locksmith Company
Lock, Safe & Security Specialist
We Service Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, and Surrounding Phoenix AreasCall Us Today (480) 380-2263
How to Protect Yourself From Deceptive Locksmiths
Stay Away from $$$ "Plus Labor": When you're quotes a very low trip charge "plus labor" it's a red flag. Be 100% certain you know what the labor charges are before you except the bid so that you're not overcharge. Joe Ducey of Channel 15 News, just aired a very good story on Phoenix Locksmith Fraud where the "plus labor" to open a home was over $200.
Use a certified locksmith: Associated Locksmith of America (ALOA) is a professional locksmith association with the highest standards for members. Use only locksmiths that are members. www.findalocksmith.com allows you to search fro ALOA members in your area.
Use a Locksmith with a Shop: A physical location or shop ensures that you always have a way to contact the business in case of a grievance. There are good mobile-only locksmiths out there, and if you got their name through a reference, by all means use them. However, the unscrupulous locksmiths never have a physical location or they list a false physical location because they don't want you to be able to get a hold of them. When in doubt, just ask, "Where are you located?"
Check How They Answer the Phone: If a company answers the phone with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than a company-specific name, be wary. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the person refuses, call another locksmith.
Call a Local Number: Though a local number does not guarantee you will get a local locksmith, it does increase your odds tremendously over toll free numbers. If you see a company advertising many physical locations with dozens of local numbers it is cause for alarm. Each of these numbers may go back to the same central number in a distant city where operators dispatch untrained individuals to do the job. If you ask for their local physical location, and they avoid the question, move on to another locksmit.
Make Sure They're Not Misleading You: Mobile service is a legitimate part of our industry. After all, a locksmith must get to you somehow. It is common and accepted practice to advertise in all cities a locksmith serves. A good locksmith will identify the cities that they don't have a shop in as being served by their mobile service. They will only list themselves once in each area and NOT suggest that they have a physical location someplace they don't. Questionable locksmiths will not identify themselves as a mobile service, and they will list themselves with multiple physical locations in the same city.
If you found a locksmith on the internet check for two things. First, if they don't indicate they're mobile, call them to make sure they are really located where they say they're located. Second, if your search returns many listing for the same locksmith in the same city, call somebody else. The really impious locksmiths have been known to list themselves on nearly every street corner in order to improve their search results. Do you really want to trust this locksmith with the keys to your home?
Use Common Sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We encourage you to shop around, but since competitive pricing is watched closely, you should find that most legitimate companies are within a few percent of each other. If you receive a price over the phone that is substantially less than others you have received, it may be cause for alarm. We frequently get reports of impious companies quoting low prices to get your business and then add charges when the job is done. For example, one crooked Phoenix Locksmith operation is known to quote a very low unlock fee. But when they arrive they tell you that the fee was just for the service charge and it's 2-3 times that much to actually unlock the house/car. If you use this company, you end up paying at least twice the amount a legitimate company. Verify that the quote you receive on the phone is the total price and that there will be no other charges.
Ask for Identification: A legitimate locksmith will ask you for identification and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. A legitimate locksmith should also provide you with identification in the form of a business card or invoice with the company name on it. Identifying information should also match the name on the service vehicle.
Get an Estimate: Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
Demand ID: Insist on some form of company ID before they do any work and make sure that the ID provided matches the name of the company you called?
Just say, "No": If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
Use a certified locksmith: Associated Locksmith of America (ALOA) is a professional locksmith association with the highest standards for members. Use only locksmiths that are members. www.findalocksmith.com allows you to search fro ALOA members in your area.
Use a Locksmith with a Shop: A physical location or shop ensures that you always have a way to contact the business in case of a grievance. There are good mobile-only locksmiths out there, and if you got their name through a reference, by all means use them. However, the unscrupulous locksmiths never have a physical location or they list a false physical location because they don't want you to be able to get a hold of them. When in doubt, just ask, "Where are you located?"
Check How They Answer the Phone: If a company answers the phone with a generic phrase like “locksmith services,” rather than a company-specific name, be wary. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the person refuses, call another locksmith.
Call a Local Number: Though a local number does not guarantee you will get a local locksmith, it does increase your odds tremendously over toll free numbers. If you see a company advertising many physical locations with dozens of local numbers it is cause for alarm. Each of these numbers may go back to the same central number in a distant city where operators dispatch untrained individuals to do the job. If you ask for their local physical location, and they avoid the question, move on to another locksmit.
Make Sure They're Not Misleading You: Mobile service is a legitimate part of our industry. After all, a locksmith must get to you somehow. It is common and accepted practice to advertise in all cities a locksmith serves. A good locksmith will identify the cities that they don't have a shop in as being served by their mobile service. They will only list themselves once in each area and NOT suggest that they have a physical location someplace they don't. Questionable locksmiths will not identify themselves as a mobile service, and they will list themselves with multiple physical locations in the same city.
If you found a locksmith on the internet check for two things. First, if they don't indicate they're mobile, call them to make sure they are really located where they say they're located. Second, if your search returns many listing for the same locksmith in the same city, call somebody else. The really impious locksmiths have been known to list themselves on nearly every street corner in order to improve their search results. Do you really want to trust this locksmith with the keys to your home?
Use Common Sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We encourage you to shop around, but since competitive pricing is watched closely, you should find that most legitimate companies are within a few percent of each other. If you receive a price over the phone that is substantially less than others you have received, it may be cause for alarm. We frequently get reports of impious companies quoting low prices to get your business and then add charges when the job is done. For example, one crooked Phoenix Locksmith operation is known to quote a very low unlock fee. But when they arrive they tell you that the fee was just for the service charge and it's 2-3 times that much to actually unlock the house/car. If you use this company, you end up paying at least twice the amount a legitimate company. Verify that the quote you receive on the phone is the total price and that there will be no other charges.
Ask for Identification: A legitimate locksmith will ask you for identification and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. A legitimate locksmith should also provide you with identification in the form of a business card or invoice with the company name on it. Identifying information should also match the name on the service vehicle.
Get an Estimate: Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
Demand ID: Insist on some form of company ID before they do any work and make sure that the ID provided matches the name of the company you called?
Just say, "No": If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
