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Calling a Locksmith – What you need to know

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:39:58 +0000

With our busy lifestyles it’s usually only a matter of time before you get locked out of your home or your car and need a locksmith to come over and help you back in. Many times people call locksmith technicians to have specific locks replaced on their doors or just to re key a lock so that someone who has a copy of the older key cannot gain access to a property.

A few simple tips can not only insure that you receive the service you are entitled to but will also help the locksmith expedite your service call as well as make sure that they arrived prepared on the location with the specific tools and key blanks that they will need to complete the job to your satisfaction.

Finding a great locksmith

1. Do your research – the Internet is a great place to start your search. Look for previous customer reviews on each locksmith listings.

Before placing the call to a locksmith

1. make sure to have the full address of the location where your require the service (including the zip code). If you are locked out of your car and are on the road try and locate a business in the area that the locksmith can look up on his GPS so that he can reach you faster. Also, make sure the locksmith you are contacting is close in your area, and is a known locksmith.

2. Let the locksmith know any information you have about the type of lock, door, vehicle etc when placing the order (for example if you are calling for an ignition key make sure to have the make, model, year and color of your vehicle handy). If you know what type of locks you have installed on your door make sure to mention that over the phone as well.

3. Make sure to ask the locksmith if the work provided comes with any type of guarantee or warranty.

4. If you do not have the legal permission to access a property or a car you will need to get written consent from the owner before any work can be completed at your location. Most locksmith companies will ask you to send over a consent form from the owner confirming they are allowing you to permit access to their property or their vehicle on their behalf.

Pricing Schedule for Locksmiths

Many locksmith companies will quote you a service charge for the service. Be aware that with most companies this service call charge is the basic cost for the locksmith to arrive at your location. Many companies will make you believe that that will be the final charge for the job, and then when the technician arrives on location you are surprised to learn that there are various additional charges involved. Because of the nature of the locksmith business it is virtually impossible for the locksmith to give a customer an exact estimate over the phone for most lockout or lock repair jobs, since there are many variables that can impact the price you will be expected to pay (such as the type of locks installed, the condition of the locks, the security level of the locks, the type of door the locks are installed on etc…)

Once the locksmith arrives at your location in New York, NY and asses the job he will most likely be able to give you a set price for the work before he starts working.

After the locksmith job is completed

If you plan on getting reimbursed for the service the locksmith provided either by your insurance company, landlord etc. make sure to receive a detailed receipt / invoice for the service provided by the locksmith companies. Most established locksmith companies in New York, NY will be able to provide you with a detailed invoice of the service provided which you can later take to your insurance company and get reimbursed for (usually for car ignition related services)

If you are happy with the service the locksmith has provided you it is highly recommended to save their number on your cell phone – you never know when you will need locksmith service again. Many companies also offer discounts to returning customers.

Protecting your Mailbox – make sure personal information is safe and secure.

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:37:31 +0000

There are many reasons you may want to change the lock on your mailbox. You may have moved into a new apartment or the current lock that you have on your mailbox is broken or not functioning properly. You may have simply lost your mailbox key. It is often the responsibility of the occupant of the apartment / house to deal with the problems of a missing key or replacing a mailbox lock even if the building or property is not owned by that same person (for example in a rental situation). While many people fear identity theft issues and take measures to protect their identity online from such criminals, Many times the simple option an identity thief gaining access to your personal, physical mail gets overlooked as it is still one of the most popular methods these identity thieves use to obtain your personal information and your identity.

A few things to consider before you place a call a locksmith to come to your residence and install a new lock on your mailbox:

1. Make sure to get permission for installing a new lock from your landlord or building supervisor if you have one before placing the service call.

2. Locksmiths will most likely not be able to repair an existing mailbox lock so your best option would be installing a new lock on your mailbox and getting new keys for that lock.

3. While it is possible for you to install the new lock yourself we highly recommend hiring a professional locksmith to install the new lock for you. This investment will end up being very valuable in the long run. Keep in mind that in case the lock on your mailbox or the mailbox itself is damaged for any reason, the united states postal office may refuse delivery of your mail until that issue is taken care of. The USPS has no authority to, and will not allow you to have a postal employee open the box with their key while someone changes the lock on your box. That’s simply against the law.

Most locksmiths will not be able to re key an existing lock that is installed on your mailbox. If you have lost your mailbox keys it is always a good suggestion to go ahead and replace the lock on your mailbox just to make sure that no one has access to your personal mail. A reliable locksmith company will usually charge you a service charge to come out to your location, plus the price of the lock as well as an installation fee. The installation fee can vary and depends on the type of work that the locksmith needs to perform the service (for example if they need to drill a new hole in your mailbox to fit the lock etc…) Replacing the lock on your mailbox will not interfere with the US Postal Service for group mailboxes (such as in condo associations or businesses) and you do not need permission from them to install a new lock on your personal mailbox.

As with any type of locksmith job we always recommend doing the research and finding a locksmith technician who is a professional and can provide you with quality service at an affordable price. The Internet has lots of websites that offer customer reviews on locksmith companies that can help you make an informed decision. Many locksmith services provide same day service. Taking control on the security of your mailbox is important and can end up saving you lots of trouble in the long run. Good luck!

Ignition Keys and Locksmith Information

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:56:57 +0000

Ignition keys – what you need to know

With modern technology advancing so fast these days car keys are getting more and more sophisticated as well. Car companies make it a priority to install the most advanced lock systems on their cars so once you get locked out of your vehicle the process of getting you back in is getting more intricate as well. most newer models have advanced technologies installed both in the car as well as on your key that offer very high security and peace of mind to car owners. These security measures usually include transponder chips that allow your car to recognize the key being used to open the car, many times wirelessly even before you put your key inside the switch. While it does make a car thief’s life much harder, it also requires locksmith technicians to stay up to date with the various security systems and measures used to protect vehicles.

Most established locksmith companies employ specific locksmith technicians who are highly trained in this specific field and who are specifically knowledgeable about the various security systems involving car security systems. Furthermore many of today’s newer models have an actual computer installed within the body of the car which communicate to the various parts of the vehicle including the door locks and the ignition switch.

These security measures vary depending on the model, make and year of the vehicle and therefore the price to service your car depends on these variables. When calling for locksmith service for your car make sure to have this information handy so that the locksmith technician knows to prepare the relevant materials and blanks before heading out to your location.

Furthermore, all cars carry a unique Vehicle Identification Number number. Commonly abbreviated to VIN (but sometimes incorrectly referred to as VIN number), is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual vehicles. Prior to 1981, there was no accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats. However since 1981, these codes consist of 17 characters which do not include the letters I (i), O (o), or Q (q) (to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0). Your car’s VIN number is listed on the registration document of your vehicle and will be required by the locksmith technician to produce a new ignition key for your specific car.

Newer cars have transponder chips installed in the body of your key. These transponder chips communicate with your vehicle and provide an added measure of security. Older style mechanical metal car keys are rapidly being replaced by “smart keys” that are usually laser cut and are far more sophisticated (and therefore more costly to replicate) then the old type locks. Some cars, like the Toyota Prius, have an entirely electronic key (called a fob) that controls both doors as well as the ignition switch.

Costs: The Boston Globe quoted a survey that was conducted back in 2007 listing the minimum cost to replace a smart key at $150 – far more then the cost of producing an old-style metal key. That cost can be as high as $350 and up, depending on the model, make and year of your specific car. When you must get a replacement key from a dealer, you may have to wait several days as well as paying more. The exact cost depends partly on the make of the car. For example, a replacement key for a Prius averages $300.

Some car companies (especially the higher end car makers) require you to contact their dealership directly for additional keys. Generally speaking it is cheaper to get a locksmith to make those type of keys for you as dealerships are known to charge higher fees for keys as well as take at least a few days to produce a new key for you. In the past car makers used to make it intentionally hard for clients to receive the codes required to make keys for the vehicles so that they can monopolize that business as well. In 2008, California became the first state to require automobile companies to make their codes available to clients and locksmiths. Consumer groups like the American Automobile Association are working to make this a national standard so that car owners have the freedom to make keys for their vehicles independently.

It’s highly recommended to have a backup key made in case you lose a key or accidentally lock your keys in your car. You can also have a simple metal copy of a smart key made and it will usually work in the door lock, just not in the ignition. However, consider investing in a backup smart key. It will save you time ad money rather than not having the use of your car for several days while you wait for a replacement as well as any emergency service costs that may be charged to the service provided to you by a locksmith company.