Fly by Night: Avoiding Service Scams

Scammers weasel their way into every facet of life, and sadly, our profession is no exception. Since our company was established back in 1988, our mission has focused on the safety and security of our customers. We are deeply proud to serve our neighbors by providing honest service work with integrity, dedication, and decades of experience. In support of this mission, we are sharing key points of cautionary tales from scam victims to help not only our customers but anyone who is trying to hire a safe service provider. It is our sincere hope that the information we share with you can help further our mission of a safer world far beyond the radius of our service calls.

While some of this information is quite specific to the locksmith trade, a significant portion can be used to safeguard against a much wider range of service scams. We will take you through the process in order, so you will know what to do before, during, and after enlisting a provider. Even in an emergency situation, taking a moment to run a couple of quick checks can be the difference between getting the help you need and facing a nightmare.

Before you Hire:

• What's in a name?

  Make sure the company you enlist has a real company name. Names that refer to generic services, etc., are a big red flag. Ensure the company you choose is registered with your local government.

• Too good to be true?

  Be wary of low quotes both in ads and over the phone. Legitimate businesses have overhead that includes storefronts, proper insurance, certifications, continuing education, experienced staff, and company vehicles. This is the reason there is a service charge to drive to a location. If someone is quoting you under $100 to come out and perform a service, they likely don't have the expenses of an honest service provider.

• Do they exist?

  Where is the contractor located? Service providers should have a location you can visit. This greatly increases accountability. Phantom service providers can be impossible to track, but companies with long-established storefronts are still in business for a reason. It is in their best interest to cultivate good working relationships and establish a strong foundation of trust within the community.

• Who you gonna call?

  Look for a local number tied to a location, not an anonymous 800 number. They often take deposits without providing service, or send unskilled people who perform unnecessary work or damage your property.

• Get it in writing!

  Legitimate companies will provide a quote in writing when asked. While it is important to note that the end cost may vary a bit based on the particulars of your service needs, a legitimate company will be able to provide evidence of why there is a little extra labor time or a miscellaneous hardware charge for an item that needed replacing. A reputable service company will seek your approval for a larger job if they find the issue is not as simple as it appeared at the time of booking.

• Rely on the community.

  Check for reviews on sites other than a company's website. This is helpful in a few ways. First, if you can see the reviewer's location, it can help confirm you are, in fact, contacting a local company. It can also give you a heads-up about problems other customers may have encountered. The more review sites you check, the better. You want to ensure you have as clear a picture as possible of the company you are vetting. Look for positive reviews over a long period of time. Be sure current reviews are positive, as companies can change over time for better or worse.

• Pay first, ask questions later.

  While many legitimate locksmiths now require advanced payment for after-hours emergency calls, only go this route if the company has shown green flags up to this point. This is something that is tough from both sides of the transaction. We can attest to losses when a locksmith wakes up to an emergency call in the middle of the night, gives a quote, gets dressed, and heads to the job only to get canceled en route or upon arrival. We also empathize with the concern a consumer feels when submitting payment for services not yet rendered. Ensuring you are enlisting a reputable and legitimate service provider using all these tools now in your belt can help protect you during this part of the process.

At Time of Service:

• Who is coming?

  Ask the name of the technician who will be performing the service call. When you are dealing with a local company, the dispatcher will typically know who they are sending to your location at the time of booking. Make sure the person who arrives is the person you are expecting.

• Where are they from?

  Unmarked service vehicles are a red flag. Service vehicles and employees themselves should be easily identifiable. The company name and contact information should be clearly displayed in a permanent medium on the vehicle, and the technician should be wearing company clothing.

• License and registration?

  Unfortunately, only 15 states require a license to be a locksmith. In states that do not, reputable companies will often have other certifications in place to attest to their legitimacy. For example, locksmith licenses are not issued in our home state of Rhode Island, so we maintain a current contractor's license. If you are lucky enough to be in a state that does require a license, make sure the company you use has one. According to Locksmith Ledger, locksmith licenses are required in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia.

• What are they doing?

  Real locksmiths pick locks when you lose your keys. Drilling can happen, but that is typically for high-security locks, damaged hardware, visible corrosion, or other clear issues. Whether it is your home, auto, or business, drilling is a last resort. Making a short show of picking before they insist drilling is the only option is a red flag. As mentioned at the top, one of the most common scams is to claim the need to drill a lock that had been working just fine right up until you lost your keys. Knowing that they have you at a situational disadvantage, they claim drilling is the only option, then overcharge to replace your existing hardware.

Lastly, a note on prevention. There's a lot more time to vet companies before an emergency than during one. I am a planner by nature. Planning and researching services is something I started doing back when I first became a homeowner. I spent some time running through services I could potentially need over time with the goal of protecting both my family and my investment. This research has paid off time and again, and really takes a lot of the pressure off during an emergency. Fly-by-night scammers are everywhere, but the peace of mind bought with an ounce of prevention is priceless.