Whether you own or rent your own home, there is always that fear of being locked out of your home because the keys are lost, the door has automatically shut behind you or the key has broken off inside the front door lock leaving the door lock jammed with you locked outside. Locksmith emergencies might involve an attempted break-in leaving the lock damage and unsecure with an urgent need for a locksmith to replace the lock for your security. Any time there is a sign of tampering with a lock or damage to the lock, you need to get the locks changed even if it has not yet resulted in a burglary. Locksmiths are also equipped to deal with car or van locks for when those keys have gone missing or the vehicle has locked itself with the keys still left inside.
Professional locksmiths work around the clock, including weekends and bank holidays so whenever your catastrophe might occur there will be a locksmith available and it is about choosing a reputable locksmith to not rip you off in your time of need. Before you settle on a locksmith, make sure that they are accredited with a UK professional body such as the British Locksmith Institute, National Guild of Certified Locksmiths (NGCL) or a member of Safe & Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA) and that the locksmith coming to help you has been DBS checked.
Discuss over the phone about the emergency you are in and give as much details as possible regarding the lock. If it is a lock from an attempted burglary, let the locksmith know if there is any damage to the door, doorframe, window or windowframe. Ask if the locksmith will be able to change the lock on site and secure the door, insist on a replacement lock being a BS 3621 British Standard lock as a lot of home insurance companies require these thief-resistant locks to be fitted on external doors. If it is a vehicle lock, let them know the make, model and vehicle registration number.
Despite how rushed you are feeling in an emergency, take time to ask the locksmith if they have insurance to cover any damages that may happen in error while changing a lock on a door or window. Do not agree to paying any money upfront over the phone, you should only be presented with an invoice once the lock has been fixed or replaced. If they are insisting in payment upfront before they arrive and before the work has begun, alarm bells should start ringing.
If you have contacted the locksmith via a contact form on a webpage, ask for their contact telephone numbers and address and then hang up and call the telephone number to check they answer the phone. Unfortunately nowadays there are people pretending to be emergency locksmiths to take advantage of you in your time of need so you must make sure that the person you are talking to is someone you can get hold of at another time if you have any queries relating to the job carried out in your home.
The only way to know if the quoted price is fair is by getting more than one quote from various locksmiths in your area to compare services offered and skills. When you are in a moment of crisis you may not feel you have the time to spend ‘shopping around’ for quotes but HaMuch.com helps you find an emergency locksmith quickly, seeing their prices and having them get in contact with you, saving you time and money.