As New Yorkers we all know or heard about locksmiths being dishonest and riping unsuspecting customers off. Unfortunately its one of the things we’ve all gotten used to.
We’ve put together 5 tips that will help you identify the real from the fakes:
1. Look at the phone number
Legitimate locksmith services are local and will most likely have a 212 or 646 are codes (for Manhattan). Illegitimate locksmiths will commonly use a cell phone (917) or an 800 number to mask their real phone number.
2. What is the company’s real name?
What’s in a name? Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names or aliases. They may answer the phone with a generic phrase like, “locksmith service” or simply “locksmith”. If the call is answered this way, ask, “What is the legal name of your business.”
3. Get an Estimate
Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it, if possible have the locksmith write it down or submit a proposal prior to commncing work. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
4. Unmarked vehicle
Most legitimate locksmiths will arrive in a service vehicle that is clearly marked with the name of the business. Illegitimate locksmiths will usually operate out of a personal car or van.
5. Ask for an invoice
Insist on an itemized invoice. You can’t dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what you paid for.
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Using these tips is a basic tool for filtering the professionals from the “fakes” but dont forget to use simple common sense when dealing with a locksmith (or any other service provider for that matter).
If for any reason you are not comfortable working with a locksmith for whatever reason let them know and see if they can resolve the issue. if they won’t dont be upset. Take the invoice they gave you as well as any other correspondance and file a claim with the BBB.
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SOS Locksmith is a licensed bonded and insured locksmith and has been serving New York since 1973. Click here to view our BBB profile.
SOS Locksmith was recently featured on LX-TV’s Open House NYC. The show chose SOS to secure an apartment in brooklyn. From the locks to the security system - SOS did it all.
Check out the video for more details.
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SOS Locksmith carries a wide range of security products for your home. Come into our NYC showroom and consult one of our security professionals for free today.
Lock bumping is said to be the process of opening a lock through the use of a bump key. A bump key is a specially cut and crafted key that when made can open all locks of the same kind. The technique involved in the making of these keys is using a file on an ordinary key and modifying it so that when it is inserted into an ordinary door lock it can be tapped making the internal cylinder pins bump up so that the door lock will open.
There are several countermeasures that can be taken to combat lock bumping such as locks that have trap pins that engage when a pin does not support it, thereby stopping up the cylinder of the lock.
Using registered or restricted keys are another effective way to help prevent lock bumping as they are more difficult to obtain since a person require permission to receive any blanks for them and therefore less likely to be copied.
Even if the locks you are using or purchasing are considered to be of high quality, unless countermeasures are taken by the lock company that designs them then these locks are at the same risk as any other lock.
When requiring a system of locks that are able to stop lock bumping there are many manufacturers that offer products with features such as in-line systems that come with a magnetic pin to prevent the lock bumping process, higher grade disc tumbler lock mechanisms, sidebars that must be aligned to a specific depth to allow pin movement and there are tests currently being performed on liquid gels to dampen the kinetic energy of someone attempting to bump a lock.
Most common house locks are susceptible to lock bumping. In the United States lock bumping is illegal and the bump key is considered a tool for burglary. This is not a method that is new as locksmiths have been using it worldwide for years.
Lock bumping is a very serious and effective technique for breaking and entering since a person can enter without doing damage to the lock(s) or doors, drawing no notice, and disappearing with your valuables and other possessions you own. With identity theft on the rise these days this is also a concern to have with lock bumping and a thief entering your home or office unnoticed as they can make off with vital personal information long before it is ever noticed.
This article was written by Mykel Gold.
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SOS Locksmith provides a wide array of bump-resistant locks. Call, visit our website, or come into our store for more information.
