When you think of locksmiths it is easy to think that they pick locks as shown in the picture above. But picking a lock requires skill and often takes a lot of time – and some locks simply refuse to be picked. A legitimate locksmith is trying to maximize his hourly earnings by not wasting time, theirs or yours and getting the job done for a reasonable price. However, there are locksmith scammers out there who may not do a good job and overcharge you as seen in the video below.
Hidden Cam News Report on Scammers
Thanks to CBC News for the YouTube video
Legitimate locksmiths should first ask for ID to show that you live there and after examining the lock, quote you a final price. Frequently, the most cost efficient and quickest method to open a keyed lock is to use a power drill to remove the locking mechanism. After opening the door, the locksmith’s next task is to replace the door knob set with a lockset that they have in their truck. All that is left after that is to hand over the new keys and go to the next job.
Since locksmiths are normally small business owners, there is a lot of room for different services and price competition. Some of the rates I see in Southern California are as low as $15 to make the service call to your house. However, you usually cannot get any more than a general idea of the final cost over the phone – they have to see the job to know what will be required. One of the few advertised rates I found said lockouts started at $35.
Some of the questions to ask when calling are if the lockout estimate is in addition to the service call amount? Does the lockout quote include a new lockset if needed or is that an additional charge? If this call is outside of normal business hours, is there an emergency service or nighttime fee added? How long will it take for someone to get here?
You may end up with a temporary door knob lockset which is not the same style as what you started with…
Another factor to keep in mind that the locksmith will have a limited stock of locksets in the truck. You may have major tradeoffs between how soon a new lock is installed, the cost and the looks of the new lockset. For instance, you may have lever-handle locksets throughout your house but you may have to settle for a cheap round knob replacement for right now and then spend more money getting a matching lever-handle lockset installed later.
Conclusion: Final cost is unknown until the locksmith gives you a quote and since they are already at your house when they do, the pressure will be on to accept that quote… But don’t let them start work before giving you a quote, otherwise you may end up like those people in the video above – overcharged and poorly served by an unscrupulous so-called locksmith.
But in the end, you are no longer locked out. You are inside the house with a locking door having only made a phone call. However, your wallet may be telling you to get that hidden emergency key in place as soon as possible so this doesn’t happen again.