When looking for automotive locksmiths, make sure to avoid being scammed by verifying the company’s physical presence and online reviews across different platforms. Always requires a firm quote over the phone and avoid too low quotes. Legitimate businesses will always send professionals in branded uniforms, and with a branded vehicle, so ensure to check for those signs as well.
Tips to Avoid Automotive Locksmith Scams
01. Verify the Company
The best way to verify a business is to check whether they have a physical address. Scammers don’t bother having a real address and an office, since it poses just an extra cost. In some situations, you may even see that there is a legit address, but you have to verify whether that is a real office, or more often, a residential home, an empty lot, or just a fake location. This is the first signal telling you something is off, and that you should avoid hiring that locksmith.
02. Check Reviews
Checking businesses’ reviews on Google, Yelp, or Angie’s List is a must. This is the best way to verify the reputation of a business and to check real people’s experiences. However, you need to be careful with reviews, since they can be easily fabricated. If you see that the reviews are written in similar tones and a lot of them are very close in date, they are probably fake. Another sign telling you the reviews are not genuine is that they are coming from accounts with fake or made-up names and without a profile picture.
03. Request a Quote
Scammers are not able to provide a fixed quote. That is why, before hiring a business, you need to see whether they are able to provide you with a fixed estimate range of how much the service will cost. Furthermore, they need to be transparent about all the services included, without any hidden costs or extra charges that will be communicated on the spot. Requesting a firm quote is a good way to protect yourself from possible scammers.
04. Beware of “And Up” Pricing
Some pricing and quoting may be too attractive because they are too low. The way most scammers structure their prices is in a form of “and up” pricing (e.g., $20 and up). This is the most common way used to attract customers, scam them, and then charge them ridiculous amounts once the job is supposedly completed. The “and up” pricing system only serves as a bait, so try avoiding it. If the price sounds too good to be true, it is most likely because it is.
05. Check for Branding
Legitimate businesses care about their branding, so you will see their professionals in a uniform, with the company name and logo, and their company car would also have some branding on the exterior. If the supposed locksmith arrives in personal clothes, or even in an improvised uniform, but in a personal car, it is most likely just a scam, and you should deny their services. Also, check for branding on their invoices, since this is a detail many scammers avoid, as they have nothing to offer.
06. Ask for Identification
Professional technicians arriving at your location should be able to provide their ID, company card, and professional licence. For the most trustworthy locksmiths, showing their credentials is a part of standard greeting procedure. If you have to ask for them, that is a first red flag. If the locksmith cannot provide them, that is a huge “runaway” sign. Most of them will try to justify the absence of the credentials by saying they forgot them or showing images on phones, but don’t accept any services if they are unable to provide them.
07. Verify Name
When you call the locksmith and the dispatcher answers with a generic answer and name, without mentioning the specific business name, that is a sign that something is off. Professional locksmiths will always answer the phone, addressing themselves by name, and if one fails to do that, you can ask what their legal business name is, so you can verify it.
08. Be Aware of “Sunk Cost”
Similar to the pricing techniques that are already mentioned, some scammers may try to raise the price significantly upon arrival. Even before starting the service, they will assess the situation and claim that the repairs needed to be done are extensive and expensive, and start addressing the costs immediately. This is a sign to deny the service, since they are just trying to scam you. A professional and reliable locksmith will provide you with an estimate of the phone and stick to it, without stating any additional surcharges that exceed the value of the service.
09. Check for Payment Method
When a customer pays with a credit card, that costs the vendor, since they are required to pay a fee for each transaction. Because of this, and because credit card transactions leave a trace, scammers insist on cash payment. A reliable locksmith will never insist on one payment method, but will allow you to choose the one that suits you the most.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
01. Report to Authorities
The first and most obvious thing you should do if you suspect you’ve been scammed is to report that to the police or BBB (Better Business Bureau). Make sure to provide all details about the transactions, including conversations, text messages, any invoices or service confirmation, and even surveillance footage if you have any from automotive mobile cameras.
02. Dispute Charges
If you have paid with your credit card somehow, you can dispute the charges with your bank immediately. They will require you to raise a report and provide proof that you reported the incident to the police or BBB in order to investigate and process the transaction further. In most cases, the banks resolve these disputes positively, and you get your money credited back to your account.
03. Leave Reviews
If the scammer has a fake business profile, make sure to leave them reviews highlighting your experience and warning other people to beware of being scammed. Furthermore, use your social media and review platforms to post your experience and warn others. Only by sharing that you’ve been scammed can you warn people to be careful with whom they hire.
Final Thoughts
You can easily fall into a trap and be a victim of scammers, especially when you are experiencing an automotive emergency. When you are locked out of your car, you don’t spend too much time thinking about verifying someone’s business, but instinctively call the first number that appears. This brings a risk of you calling a scammer who will end up charging enormous amounts for even simple tasks. Furthermore, they don’t even have to be professionals, which can mean that you might end up paying for a job that wasn’t even done properly.
Do you need a Reliable and Trusted Automotive Locksmith? We Serve Customers Across Hillsborough County, FL
We at A1 Locksmith Service LLC proudly serve customers across Hillsborough County, FL. We provide all automotive locksmith services from emergencies to regular check-ups, and are able to attend to any lock or ignition-related issue for both newer and older vehicle types. Call us at +1 (813) 817-5576 to schedule your automotive locksmith service.
