Dealing With Locksmiths

While there are reliable locksmiths who will do a good job for a fair price we have found that there are unscrupulous companies that take advantage of your desperation.

Often when we look on the Internet, or in the Yellow Pages for a locksmith we find 800 numbers. These may, or may not, be for local companies where you have recourse.

We suggest you take a few simple steps to protect yourself.

Preparing in advance may be hard to do, but it’s a good idea to carry the phone number of a reliable locksmith in your wallet just in case you are locked out or lose your keys
Ask if the company is licensed, and if the individual locksmith is licensed. A license is required in New Jersey and New York City. Both the locksmith and the company must be licensed.
Ask the dispatcher to make sure that the individual locksmith brings his license with him. In New Jersey photo identification is required.
Ask the dispatcher for a price quote. Have them e-mail the estimate if possible, or ask them to instruct the locksmith to bring a written form with the price clearly marked on it before any work is started.
When the locksmith arrives makes sure that he, or she, has a license with him and appropriate identification. Make sure that he offers the same price as the dispatcher offered on the phone.
When the work is completed be sure that you have an itemized bill for all the work done, and the materials that you may have purchased.
If there are issues such as a bait and switch where a different price is offered take a breath and tell the locksmith you don’t want to use his services. It may be a mini nightmare to call another company but you’ll be happier in the long run.
If you have complaints please let your local consumer affairs office know and file a complaint with your local Better Business Bureau to help protect other consumers.
The following links to consumer affairs offices and Better Business Bureau offices may help you to check out the reliability of locksmiths you are thinking of hiring.
New York City Consumer Affairs – www.nyc.gov/consumers
New Jersey Consumer Affairs - www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
Nassau County Consumer Affairs - www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/OCA/index.html
Suffolk County Consumer Affairs - www.co.suffolk.ny.us/departments/CountyExec/consumeraffairs.aspx
Better Business Bureau of New York – www.bbb.org
New Jersey Better Business Bureau – www.trenton.bbb.org