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With the many scams and fraudsters online today, whose aim is to make a quick buck by targeting unsuspecting consumers, it may be a good idea to educate yourself to spot the differences between a professional locksmith and a fake. Locksmith scams, in particular, are on the rise with many people incurring huge losses from forking out exorbitant amounts of money to phoney locksmith businesses.
Many customers that experience locksmith scams will vouch for the fact they were charged much, much more than what the job required; they experienced unreliable service, and they were most likely left with a faulty lock as a result of inexperienced workmanship. If you want to avoid this from happening to you, then here are a few tips to make sure you don't lose out at the end of the day:
Have a list of credible locksmiths on hand at all times
Preparing for future ‘what-ifs’ by having a credible list of locksmiths on hand at all times will save you time and unnecessary frustration should you happen to accidentally lock yourself in or outdoors as you won’t need to frantically look for just any available locksmith to assist you.
Have a careful look at their credentials
Most credible locksmith companies will have a reputable website but there are also many locksmith scammers that appear to have legitimate websites too. However, if you choose to look a little deeper there might be slight indicators that point to the legitimacy (or illegitimacy) thereof. If you find that you have a niggle in your gut that their promises seem too good to be true then it might be better to trust your instinct and move on.
Check the address listing
Check the locksmith business you're looking up. A big alarm warning that points to the locksmith business being a scam are multiple businesses that are listed at the same address.
Pay special attention to how they answer your call
Most questionable locksmith scamming businesses prefer to fly under the radar and won't readily give out pertinent details about their (fly-by-night) company. If you are speaking to a company that purposely withholds information then you might just be speaking to the wrong people.
Look out for testimonials
Word of mouth can make or break your business and that is why a positive testimonial or review of a locksmith business can increase the perception of the reputability of the locksmith business quite a bit, the reverse of which is also true.
Are they accredited?
A legitimate locksmith business will have the necessary accreditation. Legitimate locksmith companies will be part of the Master Locksmiths Association or MLA. Check for this logo on their uniform or the vehicle.
Query their pricing system
Reputable locksmith providers will usually have a fixed pricing system. The jobs that they quote for will usually be priced at a fixed rate with add-on rates for jobs that require extra time to fix; this is not the case for fraudulent locksmiths whose prices vary significantly.
One of the biggest signs that the company you are dealing with is fraudulent (and is worth mentioning separately) is if they have to use a drill to address the problem lock. In most cases, the use of a drill is NOT necessary.
If you are looking for a reputable locksmith company who does what they say, visit https://www.rjlocksmith.co.uk/locksmith-colchester/ today.
