Frequently Asked Locksmith Questions
When you are looking for a reliable professional locksmith that are a few easy steps that you can take to identify a locksmith who is reputable. The first is when you have found a company online, is to check that company’s name with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if, first that company name is recognized and second view the reputation of the company. The BBB records all major customer complaints and is a go-to reliable source for information on how a specific company operates and handle any complaints they receive. When you are on the phone with a company there are two major questions you should ask; first what is the company name? If you do not receive a straight answer, this can be because that company is operating with multiple names and should set off a red flag with customers. Another question to ask is what is the exact price? If the person on the phone can not provide you with an exact or maximum price for a service which should be common, it is a dead giveaway that the company may be using bait and switch tactics to get you to pay an exorbitant price once they have arrived on scene. Lastly, having a vehicle which is marked with the company name and number is also a good way to confirm that they locksmith company you have called is legit, since they have a name which they must stand behind. Using a combination of these practices can help you avoid scams which aim to overcharge you for locksmith services.
We receive calls about this constantly. There are a few issues that can cause the lock to not function properly. During extreme heat or extreme cold, wooden doors can expand and contract causing the lock to no longer properly fit into the door frame. This can happen when I lock is installed during the height of summer or winter, once the temperature changes the door can shift causing the issue. In most cases a lock will continue to function properly, however it is recommended that you have a professional adjust your lock if you are not able to constantly arm it.
In many newer model vehicles there is a transponder chip inside of the vehicle’s key and the car’s computer. For ignition to take place the two chips must be able to connect to each other, verifying that the key is indeed for that vehicle. Sometimes an issue can arise with the communication between these two chips which renders them unable to connect to each other. When this takes place the vehicle’s key must be re-programmed to the car’s computer. For some vehicles programming can be done by the owner themselves with assistance from a tutorial on youtube. Some keys, however, need a specialized machine in order to be programmed. In this case a call to American Best’s automotive technician would be warranted.
You do want to have your locks changed to a different key, however this does not necessarily mean you must replace your entire lock set. The two options that you have are to either change the lock set or have it re-keyed. Replacing the lock set means that your entire lock including the knob will be removed and replaced with a brand new one or, the economical solution, have your locks re-keyed. Which is when we replace the tumbler itself which means that your current lock stays in place, but a new key will open it and all previous versions will be made ineffective.
At American Best Locksmith when we say we are a mobile company this means that our technicians come directly to your location to complete locksmith services. In addition to coming to your location our locksmith are stationed on call in high traffic areas so that they can be on site in as little time as possible. What allows this to happen is the fact that all of our services are radio dispatched, one of our customer service representatives will take a customers information, find our closest technician to them and provide the technician with the job information.
Due to the nature of the work we complete, we are unable to accept personal checks. Credit cards, debit card and cash are acceptable forms of payment. For commercial jobs, we do offer billing and also accept business checks but only for repeat customers. The first time we complete service at a commercial location we require a debit, credit or cash payment in order to form a good faith business connection. We are constantly trying to offer more payments for the ease of our customers, so continue to check back for updated information.
Lock bumping is an undetectable lock picking method that criminals can use to get inside of your home or business. What the theif does is shaves down a key which fits into the cylinder of your specific lock, from here all they have to do it place the key inside of the lock and hit the key with an outside force and they are able to open the door as if they had a real key. This is a method that with just a little bit of training can leave your home or business susceptible to break-in. There are now specifically built locks that have mechanisms inside of them that are designed to prevent bump keys from working.
Please, read more here: How to find a cheap locksmith service