How to Avoid Fraudulent Locksmiths

The BBB (Better Business Bureau) has developed a guide to help consumers stay away from fraudulent and unlicensed locksmiths advertising their services online.

With the help of consumer reporting, this inquiry found the following warning signs that indicate that you could be dealing with a locksmithing scam:

Ads with a local telephone number that when called, connect consumers to a call center in another city.

The locksmith overcharged for their services.

The consumer received bad advice or overall poor workmanship and materials.

The consumers had had difficulty contacting the business after service to follow up on issues.

Learn how to avoid fraud. Confirm the address of the company you are thinking of hiring and ask for the legal name of the business. When the locksmith arrives, ask for identification, a business card and their license. Be wary of businesses that ask for cash only.

Quick Lockworks is your best choice for reputable, experienced and dependable locksmith services in Calgary.

403-202-7656

 

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On May 21st, 2013, posted in: News by

How to Hire a Professional Calgary Locksmith

Looking to hire a locksmith in Calgary? Don’t waste your time or your money. A professional locksmith is a contractor who is accredited, experienced and has a passion for locksmithing. An amateur or even worse, a scammer, is simply out to get money out of people during their time of need for a crucial service. The expertise and experience that a professional locksmith should have ensures that you don’t get left stranded, or that your home is not easily compromised in the future.

Here is what you need to do to hire a professional locksmith:

 

  • Plan ahead. Find a professional locksmith before you’re stranded and in a difficult spot and need the services of a 24 hour locksmith.
  • Beware of very cheap advertised prices. They are most likely scams that entail poor service or materials, or bait-and-switch tactics.
  • Always seek out locksmiths that have proper accreditation and if possible, read reviews on their services on sites like Yelp and Google Places.
  • Make sure the locksmith uses quality materials and not cheap hardware store locks.

It is of utmost importance that a Calgary locksmith be trustworthy and reliable, since you are entrusting them with the security of your home after all. Quick Lockworks locksmiths know that we are responsible for ensuring that your home is safe, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Call us at

403-202-7656
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On April 18th, 2013, posted in: News by

Calgary Locksmith: Tips About “Do Not Copy” Keys

You might have come across some types of keys in your life with the instructions “Do Not Copy” on them. This is usually the case with front entrance to apartment building keys, and commercial storefront keys.

These keys often cause a lot of confusion, as people are not sure what to make of them. Most people might think that these keys, for some reason, are unable to be copied. That’s not true. In fact, any skilled locksmith is able to copy these keys. The instructions on the key are more of a request on the part of the owner rather than some physical safeguard built into the key.

Many locksmiths will look the other way and have these types of keys copied if they believe they are free of liability. Normally though, a professional locksmith should ask the right questions to determine if the key holder is the owner of the building, and so on.

Trust Quick Lockworks to offer you locksmith services in Calgary with dedication to professionalism at all times. For emergency locksmith services in Calgary, re-keying or security upgrades, call us any time: 403-202-7656

 

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On March 12th, 2013, posted in: News by

Calgary Lockmsith: Key Copying Eventually Results in Keys that Don’t Work

Locksmiths in Calgary are aware of this fact as much as everyone else: it is quite common to get a key copied in order to have a spare or to give it to a friend or family member. However, what most people don’t realize is that this process carries with it tiny imperfections that can add up to make a key unusable in a given lock.

This problem occurs if a key is copied from a series of copies themselves. Since every time a key is copied, the copy is not exactly the same as the original, if copies are made from copies eventually the key will become different enough so that it will no longer unlock the lock.

This has been proven by Calgary locksmiths to occur in keys that are around 7th or 8th generations removed from the original, that is to say the final key that no longer works comes from a series of copies of the original that have been copied from each other subsequently about 7 or 8 times.

In many cases, the original key is lost, and only copies remain, some of which will not work. The only solution if this problem should arise is to have the lock re-keyed to the new copies. Think of it as adjusting the lock to fit this new version of the old key that has been changed over generations. Fortunately re-keying is a relatively simple and inexpensive process.

For all your Calgary re-keying needs, call Quick Lockworks at 403-202-7656

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On March 7th, 2013, posted in: News by

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For a Great Calgary Locksmith, Time Is of the Essence

There are many good locksmiths in Calgary, but there are very few great locksmiths. One thing that puts a great locksmith in Calgary like Quick Lockworks ahead of the good ones is the respect for time.

In addition to having the right tools, experience, knowledge and skills to perform locksmith duties in a professional manner, the quality of promptness is probably one of the most important factors in determining how successful and in demand a Calgary locksmith will be.

Aside from being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, response time is absolutely crucial. A great locksmith like Quick Lockworks will arrive to the call within 30 minutes. This factor is probably the top criteria when it comes to emergency services. People locked out of their homes do not like to wait.

Quick Lockworks is the top locksmith in Calgary for a reason. Not only are we available 24/7 for emergency services, we arrive promptly every time.

If you are in need of emergency locksmith services in Calgary, keep this number handy: 403-202-7656

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On March 4th, 2013, posted in: News by

The Secret to Success as a Calgary Locksmith

If you’re going to succeed as a locksmith in Calgary, there are a few key things that you should remember. Of course, Quick Lockworks locksmiths uphold the highest standards of locksmith service in Calgary, and exemplify what it means to be a professional locksmith.

Here are some tips on being the best locksmith you can be, and for clients in need of locksmith services to look out for:

Always be available. As an emergency locksmith, it is crucial to be available 24 hours a day. If you advertise that you provide 24 hour service, stick by it.

Always be on time. No client that is in need of a locksmith wants to wait around. Showing up early will put the client at ease and allow you to better assess the situation.

Have enough stock on hand. You should arrive at a job with all the necessary parts to fix any situation, inclusding deadlocks, cylinders, sashes in a wide range of brands.

With these basic tips, you’ll make a strong impression with clients -something that Quick Lockworks has been doing for years with their locksmithing in the Calgary area.

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On February 27th, 2013, posted in: News by

Lock Re-Keying in Calgary

As a Calgary locksmith, Quick Lockworks provides re-keying services as a security measure to our clients. This is a procedure that can only be done on pin-and-tumbler locks. Pin-and-tumbler locks are extremely versatile because their pin configuration can be changed, thereby essentially creating a different lock without having to replace the whole lock structure.

When a lock is re-keyed, its combination is changed, requiring a new key to unlock it. If the lock is of good quality, it can last a long time with security added by changing its pin combination every so often, such as when a new tenant moves in.

Locks which are designed with an universal keying system are easier for a Calgary locksmith to re-key.

The process of re-keying a lock is relatively simple, but requires specialized tools and expertise which you should always trust to a skilled, professional locksmith like Quick Lockworks.

Call us now to safely and easily re-key your locks. Whether it is following a break-in or a change of tenant, or you simply want to secure your dwelling, Quick Lockworks can re-key your lock in no time: 403-202-7656

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On February 25th, 2013, posted in: News by

Professional vs. Amateur Locksmiths

Locksmithing in Calgary is a business that has been plagued by so-called locksmiths which are really just handymen that are seeking to make an extra buck dealing with people’s lock related issues.

The problem is, aside from potentially damaging your locks in the process of repairing them or even worse, compromising the security of your home, a handyman type will often simply be unable to address a relatively complex locksmithing issue and walk away leaving you stranded.

Don’t waste your time or your money with these types. A professional locksmith in Calgary like Quick Lockworks can and will handle complicated technical jobs with pleasure. The expertise and experience of a locksmith like Quick Lockworks ensures that you don’t get left locked out of your home, or that your home itself is not easily compromised. This is our vocation and our passion, we’re not just handymen – we are real locksmiths.

Call us to book an appointment to professionally secure your home or business: 403-908-0185

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On February 20th, 2013, posted in: News by

Faulty Lock? Call Quick Lockworks, Your Calgary Locksmith

One of the most common problems that a locksmith in Calgary would be called upon to fix is a faulty lock. This normally means that a resident is locked out of their home and needs emergency locksmith services.

Faulty locks are most often caused by the locks being improperly installed in the first place. If a property owner is looking to cut corners and save money, they might buy a harware store lock and install it themselves. This is a recipe for disaster, and an improperly installed lock is the least of the issues.

Cheap locks are easily bypassed by experienced burglars and can compromise the security of your home and family. If the lock is faulty or improperly installed on top of that, it could not only allow easier access to your home, but it could also bar you from normal entry, jamming or breaking your key in the process.

All of this mess can easily be avoided by calling an experienced locksmith to have a quality lock installed right the fist time. Of course, things happen, and sometimes you get locked out. That’s why we offer 24 hour emergency locksmith services.

Call Quick Lockworks for all your Calgary locksmith needs: 403-908-0185

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On February 15th, 2013, posted in: News by

Know Your Deadbolt Locks

According to Calgary lockmiths, the term ‘deadbolt lock’ can be used to describe a variety of locks. Generally speaking however, a deadbolt lock features a lock bolt that is moved by turning a knob or key. More specifically, no spring is used to achieve this motion.

This differs from a latch, which is rounded and spring loaded and allows automatic retraction as a door is closed. A deadbolt is simply a solid piece that is manually retracted with a key or knob in order to close a door.

There are three main different types of deadbolts that locksmiths in Calgary will use:

Single Cylinder: this is a straightforward deadbolt lock. You use a key to move the bolt in or out to unlock it and a knob on the inside to do the same.

Double Cylinder: this is the same as a single cylinder except that a key is used on both sides of the lock. This might be more secure for burlgaries but fire departments generally do not recommend this type of lock.

Keyless: This more advanced type of deadbolt lock is opened with anything from a fingerprint scan to a PIN or remote control, and locked from the inside with a knob.

Call Quick Lockworks to have a quality deadbolt lock installed in your home today. 403-908-0185

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On February 13th, 2013, posted in: News by