Secure Menifee Locksmith: What To Do In Different Lockout Situations

The team at Secure Menifee Locksmith knows just how worrying it is to get locked out. That’s because it’s a problem they have seen many times before. For this reason, they have been kind enough to put together a list of ideas that would be useful to anyone who ends up misplacing their key, or otherwise just being unable to get into their property. Often times, people don’t realize in their moment of stress that one of their doors is actually accessible. One of the first things a locksmith might tell you to do is check another door. If you’re locked out of your vehicle, they might have you check the back doors. If you are locked out of your home, they might gently remind you to check the patio or garage door. Often times, the situation isn’t this simple, unfortunately. Have a look at the tips provided by one of the best lock and security providers around – these will be useful to you whether you are in Menifee, CA or anywhere else.

1. If you are locked out of your house, ask yourself if a neighbor or family member might have a spare key. It is easy when our minds become filled with anxiety to forget little details. If you made a copy of your house key and gave it to a neighbor, friend or family member, make sure to reach out to them if possible. This could save you the cost of needing to have a locksmith come out to get you back in.
2. If you are locked out of your vehicle, be sure to get to a safe place. Maybe you just left a local mall or office, and the sun is going down. It might not be the safest thing for you to hang out in a parking lot. If you have the option, go back inside to the place that you were, before you realized you couldn’t get into your car. If you’re in a parking lot that doesn’t feel safe, and you don’t have the option to go inside somewhere, consider calling a police officer or even a security guard to come wait with you. Try to stay in a well-lit area. These are just basics to ensure your protection. No matter where you happen to live in the country, it is always important to exhibit caution.
3. Locked out of your house late at night? Keep in mind some of the tips in point number two. Be sure to get to a safe place, whether that means asking to wait inside your neighbor’s home, or even going back inside of your vehicle. If needed, call a police officer so you have someone to make you feel safer.
4. Whether you are unable to get into the house or vehicle, or even a commercial property, avoid breaking a window. Sure, this might seem like the logical next step, especially if you are in a rush to get somewhere. Using your fist to break glass could end up causing physical injury. Using some sort of tool to break open a window will leave you having to deal with shattered glass, which can also cause personal injury. In addition to potentially hurting yourself, you will also be left with damaged property. Do the math – it would almost certainly be less expensive to call in a local locksmith to have them deal with the lockout, than to have to pay to replace broken glass or go to a doctor because you have glass pieces stuck in your hand.

Avoiding a Locksmith Scam

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it can’t happen to you. Anyone can unknowingly be ‘taken’ by a scam. Nobody is exempt. This is why anytime you require the services of a professional service provider, you should always be aware of the various types of scams that any type of service provider is known for. In the case of a locksmith service, they are known to go after homeowners and motorists. This happens when they are in the most vulnerable situations, like being locked out. You can find a reputable and trustworthy Menifee locksmith, such as, Secure Menifee Locksmith, by performing little research. 

Searching the Internet is not the most reliable resource for finding a reputable locksmith service since scammers are mimicking legit locksmith services.  The reality is that many of the scammers do not even operate a locksmith service; they just set up out of state call centers and then reroute your calls to someone they work with who may not even be a trained or certified locksmiths. This opens up a host of issues and problems for you. One of these is your safety and security. If you want to make sure you’re not being ‘taken’, it is up to you to perform you r due-diligence to ensure you’re dealing with a legit and qualified locksmith service.

Steps to Finding a Legitimate Locksmith 

1. Search Locally – Research, research, research! Call up a couple of local locksmiths and have a list of questions ready to ask them about their services. Be specific in your questions and make sure they give you clear and concise answers to your questions. 
Listen out for how the service answers your call. If they do not have a company name and they answer by using the phrase ‘locksmith services’, be cautious. 

When a locksmith has a local business address, check to make sure there are no other businesses operating, using the same address. Get confirmation from the locksmith service if you find that they share the same address with another service provider. If the addresses match it is likely a SCAM! 

If the locksmith service uses an 800 number and there is no other number listed, be wary. The place that you’re calling is likely an out-of-state call center.
 
2. Check Locksmith Credentials – If locksmiths in your area are required to carry a license, make sure the first thing you ask for when they arrive to your location is their id and license. You wan to be sure that they are who they say they are and that they are qualified to address your lock or key issue.

Alabama, Connecticut, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas all require that locksmiths have a license. If you have telephoned a locksmith service and they claim that they are licensed, yet they do not live in any of these states, proceed with caution!

Legitimate locksmith services will always ask the customer to show them some id before they will begin handling the work they need done. This clears them of any liability if they should unlock the home or car of someone whom it doesn’t belong to. 

Check to make sure the locksmith arrives in a vehicle that is clearly marked. If they arrive in an unmarked car or do not have the name of the business that you thought you were hiring on the vehicle, walk away and find another locksmith service.

3. Get an Estimate for the Job – When you’re contacting a locksmith call center, you’ll notice that they will give you a starting rate less than $50. They get customers by promoting their services way lower than the actual cost of the job. This is known as a bait-and-switch approach. However, once they arrive, the price will undoubtedly go up much higher than the low price they initially offered you. They will tell you that the job is more challenging than they anticipated.

On average, a locksmith service call will typically cost between $50 to $60. If you receive a price of $15 to $40, this is usually the sign of a scam because these are the numbers that are usually most attractive to a potential customer. The reason the cost is a little more for legitimate locksmiths is that the cost of traveling to your location is often including.

Keep in mind the expenses that are incurred by the locksmith service, such as, licensing, tools and travel. Do you honesty think that anyone could pay for these things charging customers only $15 per job? 

If you ask for a price quote and the locksmith service doesn’t provide you with one, don’t use their services. They will often charge you what they want and it will likely be a lot more than you can imagine. Don’t let them touch anything until you have a written estimate in your hand. It is also in your best interest to also get a quote for any emergency lock and key services they might offer.

Be aware of any price changes. We understand that an estimate is just that, an estimate. However, if the price that they offer to you on the phone far exceeds what they tell you once they have performed an onsite evaluation, find another locksmith service.

4. Customer Satisfaction – If it is clear that the problem you have hired a locksmith to perform has not been performed efficiently, you shouldn’t have to pay. A legitimate locksmith wants the customer to be satisfied and they will do whatever it takes to make sure the customer is happy. This mean that they will ‘willingly’ come back to perform the job the right way. A locksmith that refuses to make things right, should be avoided.

The bottom line again is to make sure you do your research before hiring just any locksmith service. You have to protect yourself and your family and cannot risk just allowing anyone into your home or handing over your keys to anybody. Get what you pay for by hiring a legitimate locksmith service.