Before you call the first number in your search results, it is worth decoding the ad.
Claims of being number one
Ranking claims are rarely backed by anything you can check. Read reviews across more than one site, including the critical ones, and see how the business responds.
"24-hour" service
This usually means someone answers the phone at any hour. It does not tell you when a locksmith can actually reach you. Ask for a specific estimate for your address.
"Arrives in 15 minutes"
No business can promise the same arrival time to every address at every hour. A trustworthy dispatcher gives you a realistic estimate and calls if it changes.
"From $19"
Very low prices are almost always a call-out fee only. Ask for the total for your specific job.
"Local"
Many ads route to call centres that pass jobs on. Ask for the business name and where they are based, and check that the name on the invoice matches.
"Licensed and insured"
In California, locksmith companies are licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, and licences can be checked online. Ask for the number and look it up.
Five better questions
- What is the business name and where are you based?
- What will the total be for my job?
- When can someone realistically get here?
- Will you try to open it without drilling?
- Will I get an itemised receipt?
Ask us any of these at 626-537-2150. Read more: spotting a reliable lockout service.
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