Not everything is as it might seem. You may look at an ad for a locksmith with one name and notice another locksmith with a completely different name and not realize that it is actually the same locksmith company. Oh, yes, this is very common. You may think that you are contacting a locksmith right here in Missouri City but the locksmith may actually be located somewhere else. Another common practice is for a locksmith company to use a call center to answer their calls. When they dispatch a locksmith to your location, unfortunately, it isn’t always the most qualified locksmith or trustworthy locksmith. The way that they draw you in is by offering a really low rate for your lock change needs. Upon arriving to handle the job, they will then raise the price by taking on different service fees. Since their already there, most homeowners will allow them to perform the work. However, when this happens to you, simply tell them that this is not what was discussed and that you will not be using their services. Some will even insist that you pay them with cash and not a credit card. These are the types of things that should raise a red-flag. If you experience any of these issues, simply refuse the services of this particular locksmith company and look elsewhere. You want a locksmith that is trustworthy and honest. Not someone who is going to try to hook and bait you.

Here are some things you can do to ensure you’re contacting a trustworthy and honest local locksmith.

• Make sure that whenever you call a locksmith company, you listen to the name of the company when they answer your call. When you’re contacting a call center, they will not answer the phone with the name of the company, as they are going to simply send out the first available locksmith.
• Always, always, always check company reviews. We can’t stress this enough. Don’t just rely on one review website, check several review websites to get a clear picture of the type of services they offer. If you come across a locksmith company with only a few reviews then look at others locksmith services with more reviews to get a better idea of who they are and how they operate.
• Another thing that you should look for is the address of the company. We know that you might not think this is very important but we assure you that it is. When there is no address mentioned online or in any of their advertisement, beware! If you are unable to find an address anywhere, simply pick up the phone and call them. If they can’t provide you with a legit address, look elsewhere.
• Finally, they should be willing to provide you with a written estimate. If they are hesitant to offer you a written estimate then go somewhere else for the help that you need. Any legit business that is trustworthy would be happy to provide you with a written estimate. Once you receive the estimate, make sure it includes the following fees:
  1. Mileage fees, emergency call fees, surcharges
  2. Parts
  3. Labor
  4. Service call

Once you have a representative on the phone, also ask them the following questions:

1. Ask about their licensing
2. Ask if they carry insurance that covers lose or damages
3. Ask if they are registered in the state of Texas