Nationwide Locksmith
It’s a feeling of panic. You’ve just locked yourself out of your home. Now what?
You try every window and door in the hopes you may have slipped up on your home security check before leaving.
Being the security-conscious person you are, you didn’t hide a key under the doormat.
Your relatives live out of town, so leaving a spare key with a family member was not an option.
After exhausting all avenues, what’s left? Breaking a window would set off the alarm. Destroying the locks could be costly, especially if you have to replace the door frame as well.
So the only option is to call a locksmith. But although the majority of locksmiths are legit, there are many locksmith impersonators out there. These unscrupulous scam artists are posing as the real deal and ripping people off.
You often find these crooks listed between reputable locksmith companies in your local phone book or online. Many of them operate from out-of-country call centres and dispatch unlicensed, unqualified people to your home.
A distressed customer is quoted a reasonable rate over the phone, but when the scam artist arrives, he or she quotes the anxiety-ridden consumer an inflated price. These crooks possess very little lock knowledge and usually end up drilling out the hardware so they can charge for replacement locks.
Once trapped, the panicked customer tends to pay the high price. A sure sign you’re dealing with an impostor? He asks you to make the cheque out in his name, not the company’s.
Remember, these low-lifes are not local. They are sent from call centres outside of the country, often Florida or New York. They usually arrive in unmarked vehicles. They don’t carry proper locksmith equipment and often produce just a basic tool kit.
They don’t wear uniforms or have any type of company advertising on their clothes. These scammers also are known for using names very similar to reputable local locksmith companies, to confuse and trick consumers.
But here where it goes from bad to worse - when homeowners allow these crooked companies to change the locks to their homes.
So what are you to do in an emergency situation?
First, avoid picking a locksmith you’ve never heard of from the Internet or phone book. Go with a known name or get a recommendation. If you have to use a company you don’t know, try to learn more about their credentials by checking with the Better Business Bureau.
Once you have selected a company, tell the dispatcher you would like to have a van marked with the company logo come to your home. Also mention that you will be asking for proper identification from the attending locksmith $- both company ID and a proper locksmith license.
A legitimate company will be able to produce proof of insurance and bonding - this is needed in the event your property is damaged by the locksmith. If he or she refuses to produce this crucial information, don’t let them do the work.
And finally, always have a friend or some other person with you when the locksmith arrives.
Frank Fourchalk is a security expert with 20 years in the business. Visit his website at www.yourhomesecurity.ca.
