Long before an emergency arises, track down a reliable
locksmith. Find a dependable
locksmith in your area before you ever
need one. Do you have a desire to augment your home security, or to enhance the
security of your business? Perhaps you want to upgrade your regular locks to
deadbolts, install bump-proof locks, or install a keypad. Do you need to change
out your locks? Maybe you’d like to heighten your security with an intercom
system, an anchored safe, video surveillance, or a smart key system. Whatever you
may be seeking, do your research, so you’ll avoid getting scammed or overcharged.
Ask your friends, relatives, and colleagues for a
recommendation. Word of mouth
from a satisfied customer is always your best source of information.
Choose a locksmith that’s local. Call
directory assistance, check the telephone book, and search the Internet. If you
see a locksmith’s street address, be sure to verify that the address given really
belongs to that locksmith
company. Sometimes, a disreputable company will claim to be local when it’s
actually not. Use the Web to match each phone number to its street address. Beware
if someone answers the phone with a generic salutation ~ such as “locksmith services”
~ instead of the company name. Ask for the legal name of the business, and if
the person hems and haws, cross that locksmith off the list.
Be
sure to ask the right questions. Some wholly legitimate locksmith companies may
not include a street address because they operate a mobile business, which
dispatches a professional locksmith who is local to each customer. Accordingly,
if you contact a locksmith without an address listed, find out why there’s no
address given.
For
future reference, write down the name of the potential good locksmith companies
you find, each with its address and telephone number. Keep track of the ones that
specialize in the specific locksmith services you need.
You
can consult the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have ever been filed
regarding a particular company. Also, you can check with your state’s attorney
general’s office as well as your local consumer protection agency.
Confirm the locksmith’s credentials. When your locksmith arrives, ask for a business
card, locksmith license number, and identification. Make sure the invoice
includes the company name, and verify that the locksmith’s vehicle displays the
same name as the business card and the invoice. For security purposes, your locksmith
must also ask for your identification,
too. A legitimate locksmith will authenticate your identity, and make sure that
you’re the actual property owner ~ whether of your home, business, or automobile
~ before carrying out any job.
Make
sure your locksmith is thoroughly background-checked, suitably bonded, properly
insured, officially certified, and fully licensed. Moreover, depending upon the
locksmith service, the work done should be backed by a warranty. If the worst
happens, and, heaven forbid, your property is damaged during the course of a service
call, or if the locksmith does faulty work, the locksmith must be insured to
cover such a loss.
If you ever are locked out, be doubtful of any locksmith’s claim that drilling
or replacing the lock is necessary. An experienced locksmith professional will bring
the right tools, and will know that such drastic notions would be overkill. The
fact is, an accomplished locksmith
can unlock just about anything.
If you’re locked out of your car, then if you’re a member of a roadside assistance organization,
call them first. A roadside assistance company maintains its own list of
pre-approved subcontractors that regularly perform standard services, such as unlocking
your vehicle, giving your battery a jump, and so on, so if you’ve used your
service before, then you already know you can rely upon them to do what you
need. Otherwise, call a locksmith company specializing in automotive lockouts
and other automotive challenges such as servicing your ignition cylinder, replacing
car keys, programming your transponder key, and more.
Request a formal quote ahead of time. No matter what the job is ~ emergency or routine
~ before any work begins, get a written estimate that shows the total cost
including all labor, parts, and fees, if any. If you’re locked out ~ of your
home, your business, or your car ~ a professional locksmith will certainly give
you a ballpark estimate on the phone. So ask about possible additional charges.
There might be a minimum fee; an extra charge for responding after hours; a mileage
charge; and so forth. If the price the locksmith gives you upon arrival doesn’t
agree with what you were told over the telephone, then say thanks but no thanks.
Once you’ve located a reputable locksmith, and you have a positive experience, keep that company’s
information on hand for your future reference ~ on the fridge, in your wallet, and
on the bulletin board at work. You always want to be able to get out of a jam
quickly if any problems come up having to do with locks and keys. Whether you require
a locksmith for a one-time problem, or you need an expert you can count on who
will work for you on an ongoing basis, of course you’ll want that individual to
be absolutely trustworthy. Whether it’s a locksmith service for your place of residence,
your place of business, or your vehicle, you definitely don’t want to grant
access to just anybody when it comes to resolving
issues with keys and locks.
If
you’re not in a crisis right this minute with keys and locks, now’s the time to
find a top locksmith! An exceptional locksmith will offer you a FREE
consultation, so it’s a good idea to request one. Bring all your questions to a
locksmith who’s a consummate professional. If you’re situated anywhere in Atlanta,
Georgia, then you’ll be glad to know that 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, the
mobile locksmith technicians on staff at Atlanta
Fast Locksmith are perpetually prepared to carry out residential,
commercial, automotive, and emergency services.
