In other words, not every locksmith is created equal. Various companies offer a wide range of quality, price, and service. However, some dishonest people pose as sliding door locksmiths to steal your personal information or even break into your home. If you’ve ever been locked out of your house or worried about intruders, you know how important it is to have a reliable locksmith on call. But how do you identify the experts from the amateurs? Learn how to recognize possible locksmith scams by reading on.
Cash Only Scam
A locksmith who demands payment in cash only should probably be avoided. It’s possible they don’t want to risk having you dispute payment if you discover they did a poor job after it’s already been completed. Most dishonest locksmiths prefer cash payments since it is more difficult to track them. A shady locksmith can say they can’t take your payment because their credit card is broken. Moreover, they may try to upsell you at a larger price than you were quoted.
Identity Theft
Some locksmiths are worth hiring because they show up, do a good job, and leave you happy. However, they may steal your data, which is something you probably wouldn’t expect. They are free to use or share this data as they see fit.
Fake Websites
Some dishonest locksmiths make websites under the guise of established businesses. These websites fool visitors into thinking they are legitimate by ranking highly in search results. The person who answers your message won’t be anywhere near where you are. A locksmith will show up to offer their services and overcharge you or perform subpar work. You end up frustrated, and the honor of genuine locksmiths is damaged.
No Contact After the Service
It’s probably a fraud if you can’t get in touch with a locksmith after hiring them. Such locksmiths may cut off all communication with you once they’ve completed their tasks. If you call the locksmith’s employer, they may tell you they no longer employ the locksmith who worked on your lock.
The Location Of ‘Local Locksmiths’
Mobile locksmith services are available nationwide. Be skeptical of businesses advertising to your area if their headquarters are not in your town or within a reasonable commuting distance unless they are a national organization. See the website for further information, including how to get in touch. Make careful to inquire further if the response is hazy and they don’t have a fixed-line telephone. Our sliding door locksmith is available throughout the Dubai, and our staff comprises seasoned locals who take pride in serving their community.
Check Out Locksmith Reviews
Having an idea of what to expect from a company’s service can be greatly aided by reading customer testimonials. You may read reviews in various places, not only on their site. Start with third-party review aggregators like Google and TrustPilot. LockRite, for instance, has thousands of five-star reviews and a guarantee on our work to give you confidence in our service.
Low Advertised Service
You may find that some locksmiths offer ridiculously cheap rates. However, when the job is complete, they want payment in addition to the original estimate. Some will try to extract more money from you by feigning an unforeseen difficulty unlocking your door. Because of this, you should be wary of locksmiths who promote absurdly low charges for their services; these individuals are likely looking for easy marks.
Replacement Scam
Some locksmiths will tell you that you need a new handle or that another door element is broken. They will try to sell you the replacement component at a very high price. The lock, it is said, is of the high-security variety and can only be broken by drilling. They then try to sell you a replacement lock after suggesting you do so. The new lock is likely both pricey and of poor quality. A professional locksmiths can open any lock without drilling because of their extensive training and experience.
Check for a Google My Business Listing
Many businesses have reputable websites, but this is not always the case. Sadly, the locksmithing industry lacks regulatory rules, allowing organizations to advertise their services even though they may not be qualified to provide them. Many customers reach out to sliding door locksmiths this way, especially in times of necessity. But sometimes they cause more trouble than they solve and cost you more money. Look for a Google My Business page to corroborate the company’s website and other information. Not every trustworthy locksmith will have a website, but knowing where and how to reach them is much easier if you have one. As a bonus, you can often read client feedback and examples of previous work. In most cases, a Google My Business page will appear after the sponsored adverts in a search result, making it easy to spot.
Unprofessional Appearance
It’s unlikely that the bogus locksmith will be in uniform or have identification. Their automobile probably won’t have any blatant advertising for their company on it.
The Locksmith Makes Excuses
Once they get started, they’ll claim it’s a “commercial lock” or “high-security lock” and recommend piercing it. You should do this if you want to replace the lock with a cheaper one. Professional locksmiths can pick locks without damaging them. Only in extremely rare cases would drilling be suggested.
Conclusion
It’s easy to become disoriented and make unwise choices when you’ve misplaced or broken your keys. Employing a locksmith without first taking appropriate safety measures is one option available to you. Too often, victims fall prey to con artists posing as locksmiths. Unfortunately, it is increasingly typical for customers to be out of pocket hundreds of dollars when their locks compromise safety and security due to the usage of mostly unregulated internet platforms and search engines, which have made it much easier for shady locksmiths to defraud customers. Use the advice given above to stay safe from con artists.