When you are locked out or a lock has failed, the phone call is the first part of the job. What you say decides what goes in the van, and how the call goes tells you a lot about who is coming.
Here is what to tell a locksmith, and what should make you hang up and call someone else.
Five things to tell us when you call
- Exactly where you are: the address, or cross streets and a landmark, and which door or which parking spot.
- What it is: a front door, a back door, a storefront, a car (with the make, model and year), a safe.
- What is happening: the key won't turn, the key turns but the door won't open, the key snapped, the key is lost, the lock was damaged.
- What kind of lock, if you can tell: a knob, a deadbolt, a keypad, a smart lock, an older lock set into the edge of the door.
- Whether anyone is at risk. If a child or a pet is locked in a car, call 911 first.
Why "the lock is broken" isn't enough
A lock can be broken in a dozen different ways, and each one needs different parts. A key that won't turn usually points to the cylinder; a key that turns freely points to what is behind it; a lost car key means cutting and programming. The more specific you are, the more likely the right part is already in the van.
How to spot a locksmith scam
Most locksmiths are honest, local businesses. But some companies advertise as local while sending whoever is available. These are the warning signs:
- The phone is answered with a generic "locksmith service" instead of a business name.
- They can't, or won't, tell you where the business is based.
- The listing has no real reviews, or none of the reviews describe an actual job.
- The person who shows up can't explain which company sent them, and nothing on the vehicle says either.
- On a simple lockout, the first thing they suggest is drilling the lock. Drilling is rarely the first thing a good locksmith reaches for.
- They push you to replace a lock that only needs a rekey, or rush you to decide on the spot.
What a real local locksmith does
- Answers with the name of the business, and tells you where it is based.
- Asks the questions above, and explains what the job will likely involve before anyone drives out.
- Asks for photo ID and proof that you own the car or live at the address before opening anything.
- Explains what failed and what they are going to do before starting the work.
We are based in Havertown, and our van carries the Tiger Locksmith name. If anything about a call doesn't feel right, trust that feeling and call someone else.
Check the reviews before you need them
The best time to find a locksmith is before you are locked out. Read the reviews of a local company now, save the number in your phone, and you will not be picking a name from a search page at the worst possible moment.
