Locksmithing in Ontario is an unregulated industry. Other areas of Canada and parts of the US do regulate it as a trade, but Ontario does not currently. Anyone can put up a website saying ‘Hire me to be a locksmith’ and no one is making sure they have any ability to actually work on locks.
This can lead to a number of issues. For one, it can lead to inexperienced and untrained technicians in the field who don’t know what they are doing, which can have significant consequences if their work leaves a door improperly secured, especially at night for businesses where there are valuable goods inside. Another issue, and in my opinion the more significant one, is Locksmiths that use false advertising to fool and gouge customers into paying for things they don’t need or ultimately paying exorbitant fees. They may advertise unbeatable rates and incredible response times, like $20 and 20 minutes. These businesses often stick to simple jobs like lockouts or rekeys. For example, on a lockout they will come to “pick” your lock, but then when they arrive, they claim its a high security lock that cannot be picked (even when it is not) or that it is broken, because they believe the customer wont know that. Then they will proceed to drill it off the door and once your lock is destroyed they will tell you a new one is $150 or more and at that point your options are few, so you are forced to pay it.
How can you avoid such an unpleasant experience? There is no one way to completely make yourself safe from unethical behavior, but its always a good idea to do your research to check if they are qualified. Although its unregulated, there are credentials you can have. For example, there is an association called “The Association of Ontario Locksmiths” for which you must prove yourself to be a locksmith in order to join–note the association has a list of proven locksmiths in many areas of Ontario. The Association offers courses and many lock manufacturers also offer courses certifying those who complete the courses. Check online reviews before you decide. All of these contribute to a better locksmith experience for the customer, with less hassle and hidden costs.
Remember, you often get what you pay for. If you see a $20 locksmith, 9 times out of 10, you will pay a great deal more before all is said and done. Locksmithing does take experience and time to acquire the skills. As someone who runs a competing business to these fraudulent companies, I can say I know they’re out there, I have seen them, I have lost customers to their appealing rates and I have helped some customers deal with the aftermath. I have even had them try to recruit me; but legitimacy, fairness and making a positive customer experience are the most important things to my business. I will also say I’m not the only legitimate locksmith around, there are plenty, but if you want hiring a locksmith to be a good experience, it’s worth it to do your research beforehand or it can cost you more later.
