MIAMI, Jan. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Whether
you are moving homes in Miami or
you find yourself locked out of your vehicle, at one point or
another, you are going to need the assistance of a locksmith.
Locksmiths can be a saving grace in a tough situation. However,
unlike Quickly Locksmith, not everyone has a customer's best
interests at heart.
Knowing you are dealing with a reputable locksmith can save you
time, money, and a world of frustration. Before we get into tips on
how to avoid locksmith scams, let's look at two of the most common
scams that occur in Miami.
The 24-Hour Scam:
In general, emergency locksmith services come at a slightly
higher price. Finding a locksmith that won't charge you a fortune
during an emergency seems too good to be true – that's because it
probably is.
The 24-hour locksmith scam has become all too common in
Miami. Here is what happens.
Say you lock yourself out of your home and you find a technician
that only charges $30. You get them
to come out to your location, only to be charged $400 by the end of the job. Their excuse for this
is that the $30 was just the callout
charge and doesn't include labor. They also tend to claim the labor
was more complicated than first anticipated or that you needed a
high-security lock.
You could refuse to pay them, but they generally threaten to
call the police. In many instances, they will even offer to drive
with you to an ATM so that you can withdraw the cash.
Reputable locksmiths like Quickly Locksmith will provide you
with a free and accurate estimate before going ahead with a repair
or lock-out. This ensures you know exactly what to expect.
The Re-Keying Scam:
Another locksmith scam that is often heard of in Miami is the re-keying scam. Re-keying will
never cost more than $30 – this is
generally only when the lock is double-sided.
The re-keying scam involves the locksmith charging a client for
the new pins along with additional charges. What many people don't
know is that replacing the pins is part of the re-keying process,
it's not an added extra.
There is another variation of this scam that involves the
locksmith basing their estimate on the number of pins. However,
almost all locks have five pins, so there should only be one
standard cost. Some locksmiths will even indicate they need to open
the lock to make sure there aren't more than five pins. The result?
The customer is all too relieved that they don't need to pay more
to replace six or seven pins.
Tips for Avoiding Fake Locksmiths in Miami:
- Start with a Bit of Research.
Having an idea of who the most reputable locksmiths are in
Miami is the first step in
avoiding a fake professional.
Researching potential locksmiths before you need one is the best
way to avoid wasting your time and money. When you are locked out
of your home or vehicle, you are generally panicked and desperate –
not the ideal time to search for a locksmith.
When searching for local locksmiths, read through online reviews
and stop in at their physical store if it's possible. This will
provide you with greater peace of mind when you do find yourself
locked out.
Unfortunately, not everyone gets the chance to research
locksmiths before they need one. This is when you need to take
additional steps to rule out scams.
- Review Their Online Presence.
Reputable professionals like Quickly Locksmith have a prominent
online presence. If the locksmith you have in mind has a website,
that's a positive sign, but before you get too excited, look at the
depth of the site.
How much detail does the website provide? Are they posting any
useful content that indicates they are industry professionals?
Next, move onto their social media presence. Do they have one?
And if so, how regularly do they post? You can even explore some of
the comments to see what people are saying about their experience
with that locksmith.
- Pay Attention When Calling.
Whether you need urgent assistance or are shopping around for
quotes, pay careful attention to what happens during your call with
a potential locksmith.
In most instances, a professional business will answer their
phones with their name and company. Don't hear a company name? See
this as a red flag.
Many fake locksmiths pay call centers to answer and route calls
on their behalf. These centers are also usually answering calls for
hundreds of other people (many of which are locksmiths), so they
avoid mentioning any company names.
The second red flag to look out for when calling a potential
locksmith is how often you get transferred. Call centers need to
route calls based on zip codes, which can take more than one try.
One transfer is fine but once you are transferred two to three
times, see this as a sign to continue your search.
- Get Physical Proof Wherever Possible.
If you don't need a locksmith right away, ask for a written
estimate from the company. If you are dealing with a reputable
locksmith, you will receive a detailed estimate on a company
letterhead.
This is not to say that a fake locksmith won't necessarily use a
letterhead, but at least you have some physical proof should you
need to open a case against them later on.
It's also highly recommended that you get a receipt after you
pay. A number of locksmiths try to get a second payment out of
customers when there is no proof of a receipt.
- One Quote Isn't Always Enough.
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is,
especially if you are calling a locksmith in an emergency.
Professional locksmith estimates include overheads as well as the
time spent completing the job. The rates for emergency and
after-hours services will also be higher than their general prices.
This is to account for the overtime they need to pay staff.
Fake locksmiths aren't too concerned about whether they can
actually assist you without damaging your locks, so their rates
tend to be much cheaper. These scammers draw you in with a lower
price, end up damaging your locks, and charge more for the
repairs.
This is not to say you shouldn't shop around for an affordable
locksmith, it's just best to get at least two quotes to compare
before you sign off on repairs.
- Rely on Your First Impression.
Every detail counts when you want to hire someone to assist you
with the security of your home. Is the locksmith arriving in a
professional vehicle with signage? Are they professionally dressed?
Do they carry branded documentation? Never discount your instincts
when searching for a locksmith. It's these small details that can
help you spot and avoid fakes.
When contacting Quickly Locksmith, we will always arrive in branded
vehicles and attire, ensuring you know we are true professionals
who are ready to assist you.
Once you decide on a locksmith, there are some final questions
to ask before you let them go ahead.
The first thing you want to ask for once a locksmith arrives is
their license. This means you can count on them to maintain a
certain standard when conducting their repairs. It also proves that
they have insurance should anything go wrong.
Unfortunately, only 15 states require locksmiths to have a
license, which is why it's important to conduct additional research
before accepting assistance. These states are:
Alabama
California
Connecticut
Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
If your locksmith doesn't have a license, you can also ask them
for an ID, which will contain their name and address.
Over and above this, you may also want to ask one or two
questions about the work they are about to perform. A reputable
locksmith will always be willing and able to answer your
questions.
Fake locksmiths are out there, and they won't be disappearing
any time soon, so it helps to be aware of how to protect yourself.
Being aware of these common scams in Miami and what you can do to avoid them is a
good start.
If you ever need emergency assistance or want an estimate for
your residential or commercial property, keep the Quickly Locksmith
Miami contact number on hand.
Use Quickly Locksmith Miami website for more tips and helpful
information: https://www.quicklymiamilocksmith.com.
Or call Quickly 24/7 with any question: (305) 984-9922.
Media Contact
David Davidof, Quickly Locksmith Miami, +1 786-294-8768,
quicklylock@gmail.com
David Davidof, Quickly Locksmith Miami, 305-984-9922,
quicklylock@gmail.com
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SOURCE Quickly Locksmith Miami