TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- It's late at night. You've locked yourself out of your home or car and you're starting to panic. You call the first locksmith you find online or in the phone book. That's when your night could go from bad to worse. In this Angie's List report, five red flags when picking a locksmith.
Caution is key when hiring a locksmith.
"Don't wait for an emergency when it comes to finding a good locksmith because if you do, you might be desperate and fall victim to a locksmith scam," said Angie List of Angie's Hicks.
Red flag number one - be wary of locksmith companies that aren't locally-owned and operated. Ask where their dispatch location is. If it's out of state, that's a problem.
The second red flag -- a locksmith who refuses to give you an estimate or price range over the phone. If a locksmith arrives in an unmarked vehicle, that's red flag number three. And number four? A technician who doesn't care about ID.
"The technician doesn't even ask you for ID and they're going to let anybody into your house? That's a red flag. If they can't provide ID. That's a red flag. They should have the company name listed fairly prominently," said Mary Tinder, the owner of a locksmith company.
And finally, red flag number five. A locksmith who immediately says he or she needs to drill your lock. That should be a last resort, not the first.
"A professional locksmith has the tools that they need. They have the training, the experience. Frankly, they take a lot of pride in being able to get in to your lock without doing damage," said Tinder.
If the locksmith's on-site price doesn't match the phone estimate, don't allow the work to be performed. Several states and some cities require locksmiths be licensed. If you live in an area that does, be sure to ask the locksmith for proof.
Remember you can catch the latest Angie's List report every Tuesday morning on WTXL Sunrise.
