When you see locksmith service for 15.00, 19.00 service it is just the first part of a bait and switch
scam. These are not real locksmiths but out of state national call centers. When you ask them for a price for a lockout they
will then usually quote you a price of 39.00 service and the tech needs to determine the rest of the price and they usually
tell you 15.00 and up which is a huge lie. They just about always use the same procedure for unlocking your vehicle or home.
Vehicles are always opened the same way, they bend your door open at the top and use a special reach stick to unlock
your door. They will tell you it is a hard job or they have to use a special tool what you thought was going to cost you (55.00
or so turns into 120 and usually up to two hundred. They will threaten you with the police if you don't pay. Do not let them
swindle you and call the police yourself. This is an international scam one of the largest scams in history.
Homes and business lockouts the will almost always tell you the lock cannot be picked and must be drilled. This is
due to their lack of skill as a locksmith. They cannot pick the lock and resort to damaging your locks. This is also planned
as they will sell you new as cheap as money can buy hardware and then charge you a fortune for it. They also use an air-wedge
and spread your door jam open causing damage to your door jam. I have seen them charge all the way up to 1700.00 for drilling
one simple pick-able lock. This was highlighted in the ABC Good Morning America news. The usual price they try and charge
you is a few hundred dollars. The average REAL locksmith will pick your lock for usually under 100.00 during reasonable hours.
When you are calling a locksmith always ask them for the total price of the lockout as real locksmiths can accurately
quote you a complete price over the phone. Ask them where they are located and don't take the we are a mobile service answer
as they are most likely in another state. Ask them for their State of Illinois License #. They wont tell you as they are usually
not licensed. They have to tell you this # as it is the Law. They will make all kinds of excuses why they cant give it to
you but it is the law. It is even supposed to be on all ads.
Beware when
calling around shopping for price and availability Probably 9 out of 10 advertised locksmiths you call are the same phony
international scam operation. They even resort to listing phony addresses to manipulate the Google maps etc.
Real locksmiths very rarely resort to destructive methods when opening locks. We can pick most of them.
