Take Your Due Diligence
Have you been locked out of your car or house? Either you can’t find your car keys, or you lock yourself outside the house. The first thought is usually to family and friends asking for help or a spare set of keys, but this may not work. Next is contacting a locksmith Ottawa, or locksmith in your area. It would be nice, before making a deal with a locksmith business, you need to consider the reliability and honesty of the company.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the country’s consumer protection agency, has found that some locksmith companies may advertise in your local phone book, but may not be local at all. Worst of all, these ‘technicians’ may not have any qualified professional training at all and could cause further damage to your property.
Check Locksmith Locality
This may have been noted and reported by the FTC in the past: A company not located in your area has a name for its business that is similar to the names of other local locksmiths in the area. This company advertises on yellow pages and online directories using local addresses and telephone numbers. However, in reality, there is no shop front and local numbers are transferred to a place far from your local city.
Then, you shouldn’t be quoted for locksmith services or given fake quotes. When the locksmith arrives, he or she may want more money and you feel pressured and trapped. If the locksmith does not accept transfer payments and only accepts cash, that is also a sign that the business is not a local locksmith.
Sometimes you can detect these faulty “local locksmiths” because they may have multiple listings – sometimes more than 30 listings in a single phone number. These lists all use different names, but phone numbers are all directed to one call center. There, an operator, who may not be a trained individual, is dispatched to your location.
The Best Way to Choose a Locksmith Company
There are several reliable and honest local locksmith companies out there. The best advice is to experiment before you find yourself locked out or in a locksmith emergency. Perhaps you are thinking of increasing the security of your home by installing a deadbolt lock, changing door locks and locks, or even installing a home alarm system.
This is a great time to sit at the computer and research various companies. Be sure to read reviews, check that they have local addresses and phone numbers, and compare quotes over the phone. Additionally, contact coworkers, family members, and friends for personal recommendations they may have.
Once you find a reputable locksmith, store the company’s contact information in a safe place such as your wallet, phone, or address book. This can save you time, anxiety, and money in the future because it will make things easier for you when things go wrong.