Every locksmith ad promises the same things in slightly different words. None of it can be checked from a search page. These things can.
A license you can look up
California licenses locksmith companies and individual locksmiths through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask for the number; it takes a minute to verify online.
A price before anyone comes out
You should be able to hear the service call fee and the starting labor for your job on the phone. Ours: a $29.00 service call fee, with labor from $19.00 for lockouts and rekeys, on the price list. The locksmith confirms the total before starting.
An ID check at the door
A locksmith who doesn't ask whether you live there would open the door for anyone. Being asked is a good sign.
A clear invoice
The business name, the work done and the price. Keep it; it's also where any warranty is written.
Who does the work
Many locksmith numbers, including ours, are referral services passing calls to independent contractors. That's common, and the terms explain who invoices you and who warrants the job.
Warning signs
- No price at all until the van arrives
- A total far above the phone estimate, without explanation
- Drilling a standard lock as the first move
- Pressure to replace locks that only needed rekeying