Beware! Not all locksmiths are equal!

Hello everyone! Its been awhile since I've blogged. As you see by the title of my blog, not all locksmiths are equal. The reason I say this is in the last few years, the locksmith industry has been flooded by new "locksmiths" advertising in the phone books and especially the internet. These "locksmiths" have a get your foot in the door tactic that they have mastered. Unknowing customers who call these so called "locksmiths" are pleased to find the service call so cheap. (typically between $15-$35) That they schedule these guys out for service. Not realizing that they are about to be fleeced! We true locksmiths call these guys "scammer locksmiths" They are almost always mobile only and show up in personal vehicles. Unlicensed (which you are supposed to be) and give receipts that have no address or call back number yet they show an address on the internet that does not exist. One example of this was last month when I had to rekey the mobile home of an elderly lady who asked for 5 keys and received only 4. Yet was charged for 5. No big deal right? Simple mistake? Maybe? Except that the elderly lady called this "locksmith" only because she was locked out of her mobile home. One lock that had to be picked open. A job that should of taken 5-10 minutes and typically cost $65-$75. But this "locksmith" never even attempted to pick the lock. He told her both locks had to be drilled out and replaced and ended up charging her $270. She was 84 years old and on a fixed income and this guy had no problem ripping her off. She called us out because of the key shortage and thinking they would come back to rip her off again. We rekeyed her door and made her 6 keys. All for $90. Do your due diligence before you ever call a locksmith. Make sure they are licensed and have an actual location you can go to if there is a problem. Protect yourself.  Because sometimes, even your "locksmith" cant be trusted.