There are certain things in life that you should never cut corners with, locksmith services being one. Although this is an expense that no one wants, these services are an essential part of existence. After all, homes, businesses, vehicles, and more are designed with locking mechanisms, so the work of a locksmith never ends.
Unfortunately, some people will try to save money by hiring an unlicensed locksmith. While there may be no risk involved in doing this, it could lead to a new range of problems, those that end up being more expensive to correct. For this reason, it is always best to hire a locksmith who is licensed, insured, and bonded.
Potential Risks
In reality, there are unlicensed locksmiths out looking for prey. These individuals know their services are in high demand, and for that reason, they prey upon unsuspecting consumers. In recent years, the Better Business Bureau has seen an increase in complaints about unlicensed locksmiths who provide subpar work and charge outrageous fees.
Therefore, before hiring just any locksmith, make sure that the individual has proper licensing. As the customer, you have both the right and responsibility to request proof. If at any time your request to see a license is denied, that should be a huge red flag.
A large number of unlicensed locksmiths are nothing more than criminals. In this profession, these individuals are being provided access into your home or business, which gives them an opportunity.
- Criminals can scout around a home or business looking for valuable items, easy access points, safes, and more.
- While conducting services, an unlicensed locksmith may have the time to steal items.
- Duplicate keys can be made while on the job, making it possible for an unlicensed locksmith to return after hours to burglarize the place.
This is not saying that all unlicensed locksmiths are bad, because this is not true, but many are. If you think about it, there is a reason for not having a license. This could be to avoid visibility or perhaps because a license cannot be obtained for one reason or another.
The process to secure a license to operate as a locksmith is not overly difficult, so in reality, there is never a good reason not to be licensed. When hiring a locksmith, you need to think beyond the immediate situation. The goal of using this type of service is to boost security or help in an emergency lockout situation, so the last thing you want to face is an array of other problems that could be far worse and more expensive.