When choosing a professional to perform a home or business service, it’s important to choose someone who’s both certified and insured. To be sure, hiring an uninsured professional in any industry can be a risky venture – when uninsured, you may have to pay for damages out of your own pocket. When hiring a locksmith, then, it’s extremely important to hire a locksmith that carries full insurance. While failing to do so may seem cheaper and faster upfront, it can end up costing you an arm and a leg in the long run. Here’s what you need to know about the implications of hiring an uninsured locksmith just to save a buck:
Uninsured Locksmith Businesses are Often Scams
When a locksmith isn’t insured (as well as licensed and bonded), it’s often because the locksmith business is a scam. Scammers will often make promises of quick service at cheap prices, only to wind up charging you way more than you were expecting. Immediately upon having a locksmith arrive at your home or business, ask to see his or her credentials. If the locksmith doesn’t have insurance, refrain from continuing with the locksmith any further to protect yourself from a scam.
If Uninsured, You’ll Have to Pay for Any Damages
While most locksmith jobs go according to plan with no damages caused to the home or business, some—especially those locksmith jobs performed by non-licensed frauds—do lead to structural destruction. This is especially true if the locksmith insists upon installing a new lock or using a drill to enter your home or business (which may also be a sign of a scam).
Unfortunately, if the locksmith doesn’t have insurance and any damage is caused, the locksmith may not be held liable for the damages; rather, you will be. This means that you’ll most likely have to pay for any damages to your property out of your own pocket, which can get pricey. When a locksmith is insured, then the locksmith’s insurance is responsible for paying for any damages that occur as a direct result of the locksmith professional’s work.
Resisting the Urge to Hire an Uninsured Locksmith
When you’re locked out of your home or office, the only thing that’s on your mind is getting back in. This is especially true when you have a project that demands instant attention, are in a rush, or it’s late at night. When you’re in a situation like this, it can be tempting to hire the first locksmith that pops up on a search engine’s search results page. While this may get your door unlocked, it could end up costing you hundreds of dollars in service fees, technician’s fees, and damages and repair costs.
To avoid a costly mistake such as a hiring an insured locksmith, don’t take chances; instead, always call the team at A-1 Locksmiths. Our team has over 60 years of experience in the Dallas area, and we are fully bonded, licensed, and insured. If you have a commercial or residential locksmith emergency, we’re ready to help you!
