Locksmiths and security companies are supposed to protect you; unfortunately, there are disreputable companies out there that pose as legitimate locksmiths and security companies, only to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Read on to see some of the underhanded tactics that these companies use, as well as tips to help you avoid getting ripped off.
Shady companies located far away will often take out ads in phone books and create websites online, posing as local locksmiths; alternately, they may send people to your door posing as home security system representatives from a reputable company. When door-to-door representatives come to your house, the best policy is to simply turn them down–don’t let them get into your house. It’s wise to take time and research any company before you decide to use its services, and any salesperson who doesn’t respect that is probably trying to hide something that research would reveal. These representatives may be scammers, or they may even be thieves looking for valuables and weak points in your house.
Fake locksmith companies are just as insidious, largely because people often don’t call a locksmith until they really need one. Flipping through a phone book or doing a quick online search may provide you with a large number of locksmiths, but not all of them can be trusted. Often, disreputable companies will give you a low quoted price, then arrive in unmarked vehicles, do some work, and quote a much higher price. They’ll often use bullying tactics to make sure you pay, from refusing to return your car keys to not putting together a disassembled lock. Needless to say, this is a huge rip-off.
The best way to avoid getting ripped off by a phony locksmith is to find a good locksmith before you need one. Drop by the listed location to make sure it’s not just a bogus address, and look up online reviews from multiple sources. Another way to be certain that a locksmith or security company is the real deal is to see if they’re part of ALOA–the Associated Locksmiths of America. ALOA is the locksmith industry’s trade association, so when you deal with a genuine ALOA locksmith, you know you’re dealing with people who are professional, and who will be held accountable for everything they do. If you have to call a locksmith as a last-minute resort (though, again, we want to stress that it’s a much, much better idea to find a good locksmith before you need one), and they arrive in an unmarked vehicle, or in any way seem “off” to you, don’t risk it–call another company. It will take more time, but it can help you avoid getting ripped off.
