Fraudulent “Locksmiths” Ripping Off Phoenix Consumers
There are NO $29-$49 Locksmiths. It is a SCAM.
When you’re quoted low, low prices for locksmith service you’ll pay hundreds over what a legitimate company would have charged.
Unscrupulous locksmith companies are quoting low prices and no trip charges to consumers into booking their service. But you’ll pay much more than that low quoted charge.
Only when you’re handed the bill do you find out what the really charge. We recently received a call from a women whose $39 rekey quote turned into a $1200 bill!
What was the difference? The crooked company told her that her locks had to be replaced, and they were installing high security locks (both of which were not true). Always find out what the total charges are before hiring a locksmith. If you can’t get a total price or price per lock/key, keep calling around.
How Does the Locksmith Scam Work?
ACME Locksmith in Phoenix receives 2-3 phone calls a week from clients that have been taken by locksmith companies.
The consumer is always quoted a low trip charge and book the service because it seemed like a deal.
When the scam locksmith company shows up, the charges quickly increased to astronomical rates.
Were You Scammed by a Locksmith?
- Did the “locksmith” arrive in a non-marked vehicle?
- Were you given a receipt with not company name on it?
- Did the price increase 5X or more over what you were quoted?
- Did they offer you a several hundred dollar discount in exchange for a 5-star review?
- The “locksmith” says your locks are high quality so they can’t be picked open or rekeyed. They will either need to be drilled and/or replace.
All of the above are indications that you got scammed. The used unmarked vehicles and provide unmarked receipts so you won’t be able to contact them after the fact.
They jack the final price up astronomically, and then over a ‘discount’ to give you the illusion that you are getting a deal. In fact, even after the discount you may be paying up to 10X over what you should be paying. They drill locks out so they can replace them with cheap imports, often calling them high security, so they can price gouge you there too.
Many people don’t even realize they’ve been scammed. They have no idea what a locksmith costs. They just know they got a very high bill and the nice locksmith offered to cut the cost in exchange for a review.
Examples of Scam Locksmith Receipts
The first receipt shown is 3X what someone should pay in 2024. This customer, a senior citizen, searched for “ACME Locksmith” on Google. Unfortunately, they called the first ad that was presented – which was not ACME Locksmith. They asked if they were talking to ACME Locksmith, and they were told they were. Fraudulent lock companies answer their phone with “Locksmith.” They will always answer yes to “Are you [so and so] locksmith?” They want your call, they’re not going to say, “No.”
The company then arrived for a rekey of one door. This job with any reputable company would cost about $125 in 2024. However, the receipt shows that a fresh installation was performed (a hole being drilled into the door to install a lock where no lock has existed before). But this was NOT done. The company was onsite of less than 1/2 an hour and charged $328.
The customer with this receipt (left) was quoted just $15 for a home rekey. She was left with a $572 bill. There were three locks on this job and it should have cost less than $200 (in 2024).
Can I Avoid Locksmith Fraud by Looking at Online Reviews?
The answer to this question is complicated. Yes, you can avoid scammers but only if you know what you are looking for. The new breed of fraudulent locksmiths are very smart. It is an industry worth tens of millions of dollars and they know how to get it.
Learn how to spot fake Google reviews when hiring any contractor.Don’t Get Scammed – How to Find a Good Locksmith
Hire a licensed locksmith company
Almost everyone advertising as a locksmith is claiming to be licensed and bonded. Ask for their ROC license number to confirm. When they don’t have one, and they’re website is telling you they do, hang up and call the next guy.
While licensing is not required in Arizona for small jobs, it is required for large jobs and only the most reputable locksmith go through the process. There are fewer than 12 licensed locksmith in the Phoenix Metro market.
Look for reviews written over a sustained period of time.
It’s hard to get reviews! Especially for small, single-man operations. If a small company is getting several reviews a day it’s a sign that they are paying for them.
Look for bad reviews
Try as we might, someone will always eventually be unsatisfied, and a unsatisfied customer is very vocal. A company with 0 bad reviews and 500 5-star reviews is suspect. If there is a bad review, and it specifically mentions price switching, look elsewhere.
For the most common lock services, you should get an exact price
Locksmiths rekey locks, unlock houses, businesses & cars thousands of times a year. We know exactly what it takes and exactly what you will pay. Don’t accept a “plus labor” quote for these types of services and don’t except any varying away from that quoted price once they’ve arrived.