Whenever we encounter difficulties with locks in Manhattan, our common inclination is to pick up our phones and look for local locksmiths. While there are undoubtedly many local locksmiths who are worth every penny that they charge for their services, there are also many who only pretend to be locksmiths.
The latter kind is the one you need to avoid and before calling for a locksmith in the future, here are some of the most common locksmith scams that you need to be aware of.
#1: Locksmiths Who Refuse to Disclose their Business’ Name
Rarely do professional locksmith work independently. The majority of locksmiths are associated with businesses and the genuine ones will only be too happy to share the names of the businesses they represent. However, scammers disguising as locksmiths will not share any business name with you, because they aren’t locksmiths in the first place and are not associated with any legal entity.
Even if a local locksmith does share the name of a business or company with you, be sure to verify the name on the internet. If you find no mention of the company online, you can be certain that it’s a scam.
#2: Prices Lower than the Standard Locksmith Prices
Standard locksmith services are priced more than $50 and professional locksmith services would, in most circumstances, provide you with the full list of expenses that you would have to incur before they start servicing. However, you can’t ever expect such transparency from scammers.
Most likely, scammers would start the conversation by quoting extremely low prices. Many people fall for these prices as their primary concern is to save money. However, they realize their mistake after they have given the scammers the go-ahead. Once the scammers arrive, the prices go up significantly. So, beware of “locksmiths” who quote prices that are lower than standard prices.
#3: Locksmiths who are Insistent on Drilling
Home locks are prone to wear and tear and one of the most common situations in which people call for a locksmith in Manhattan is when they are locked out. In such situations, scammers often insist on drilling the locks. This is a warning sign as drilling is the last resort and that too when it concerns high-security locks.
Any reliable locksmith should have the tools and skills required to unlock home locks without resorting to drilling. So if a “locksmith” tries really hard to persuade you to drill a lock, you can be sure that it’s a scammer.
#4: Locksmiths who can’t Answer Questions
As a customer seeking locksmith services, you have every right to raise questions to the service provider regarding the services to be delivered. While a dependable locksmith would be able to answer any questions that are relevant to his trade, a scammer will try to dodge questions.
If you ever encounter a locksmith who can’t tell you about his job, would you really want such a person to tamper with your locks?
So the next time you ask yourself, “Who is the best locksmith near me?” remember these tips and hire someone reliable to cater to your requirements.
