There are a lot of situations where people will need the services of a locksmith, most commonly when we have accidentally locked ourselves out of our cars or homes. However, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that there has been a growing trend of scams in recent years, particularly regarding locksmiths or people pretending to be locksmiths. So before you fall into the tricks of the scammers, here are some tips and techniques that you could use to detect that if the person you’re dealing with is a scam artist.
1. Don’t hire some random locksmith. Finding a licensed and reputable professional locksmith is one of the best ways to avoid getting scammed. Do not engage just any locksmith that you found online right away, especially if the person hasn’t been referred to you by a former client that you know personally. Contact your local BBB in Singapore or visit their website to verify the company that you’re planning to engage, and see if there are any complaints regarding their services.
2. Bring a witness with you. If you got locked out of your vehicle or your house, ask a relative, a friend or a trustworthy neighbor or person who’s nearby to keep you company as your locksmith work on the locks of your home or vehicle. Just make sure that the person that you’re bringing with you isn’t affiliated with the Singapore unlock door and key maker that you hired.
3. Have the locksmith verify the company’s information. When the locksmith you hired arrives in the location, check if he arrives in a clearly marked company vehicle. The van should have the proper identification of the company such as its phone number and business name. If your locksmith is quite hesitant in giving you the company information that you’re asking for, then it’s time that you start looking for another locksmith company such as http://www.lockmaster.sg/ in Singapore.
4. Your locksmith should ask for your identification as he arrives. This is one of the things that professional and reputable locksmiths do. In return, you should also ask for his credentials. This includes their company ID, state license (if applicable), business card, and driver’s license. It’s better if your locksmith Singapore was able to give you information on all of these. List down the information that you got on your phone or on a piece of paper because phony locksmiths are more likely to leave you behind when they feel that you’re planning to report them.
5. Verify their work estimate. Before the locksmith starts to work on with your security problems, he should be able to provide you with a work estimate wherein everything is clearly itemized in an invoice after completion. If you’re uncomfortable with the estimate he provided, then don’t hesitate to refuse taking his services. Don’t use the services that they’re offering, instead locate a reputable and better locksmith to do the job for you.
6. If you’re uncomfortable with your locksmith, don’t work with him. Being comfortable and fully trusting your locksmith is important, so if you’re uncomfortable with the one that you hired, then trust your gut feeling and decline his services. It is better that you do this earlier than regret your decisions later on.
7. Never apprehend the scam artist. This is one of the important things that you should keep in mind when you feel like you’re dealing with a scam artist – never, ever try to capture or detain them on your own. Be observant instead, and report them. Most importantly, if you already feel unsafe, immediately contact your local Singapore police and get to a safer place straightaway.
Keep these tips in mind, especially if you often encounter security-related problems. Hire a locksmith who’s known for the excellent services that he provides. Yes, it might be costly, but it’s better to spend extra bucks since it’s your security that we’re talking about.