In the recent past, there has been an explosion of the Locksmith fraud. This explosion has been necessitated by the importance of the service and the ease with which the scam can be perpetuated. It has been noted that legitimate companies offering locksmith services rarely take advantage of vulnerable people. According to the guys at slotenmaker belgalocks, the main problem lies with con men who have capitalized on people that have been locked of the vehicles and houses that they own. These con men always overcharge the advertised prices leading to people stranded.
The following are among the things that one can do to dodge the con men’s net.
Conduct Due Diligence
Ask around for any locksmith. If possible, give them a call. During the call, inquire about their address, number of years that they have been in the industry and if possible get their crucial contact persons. Alternatively, ask a friend if they can link you up with a locksmith. If possible, visit them at their office.
When you place a call to the company, pay attention to how they answer the call. If the person picking the call does not use the company’s name, then take that as an indicator of trouble ahead. The caller should be able to identify the name of the company when answering the call.
Ask for an Estimate
Before you meet the technical people, make sure you have an estimate. Do a mental calculation of the guaranteed amount and see if it is reasonable. No work should start on your vehicle or house unless the costs have been agreed upon. If the locksmith is dilly-dallying, then that should raise the red flag.
Secondly, the technician should provide an estimate that is written. This will give you an opportunity to scrutinize the bill and know the exact overhead and variable costs.
Thirdly, companies that quote excessively low should be avoided. Ideally, there should not be so much variance between what different companies charge.
Identification of the Technician
Never shy from asking the technician to identify him or herself accurately. Insist on seeing their identification and certification cards. If you have some sneaking suspicion, confront the technicians. This could make the difference.
Check the Company’s Branding
The familiar red flag is when a technician shows up in a vehicle that is unmarked. In this case, do not make the mistake of allowing them to start work. If a locksmith is offering legitimate service, it will have its vehicles branded with contacts, logos, and the location of the company.
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Mode of Payment
A well-established company will have several methods of payments. It could have the option of credit and debit cards, PayPal, cash, etc. However, if the company is insisting on settling the payment with cash, then this is an indication of a scam fermenting. By taking cash, you will have no trail of making payments hence the difficulty in case of a follow-up due to poor services.
Having looked at the essential tips to avoid locksmith fraud, we hope that you will be attentive to avoid being caught unaware. It is very much possible to beat the fraudsters at their game.
