Locksmith Questions, Answered Straight
What Houston callers ask us before they book. Arrival time and pricing for your area are on each city page; this page covers everything else.
Why do you ask for ID before opening a door or car?
Texas requires locksmiths to confirm the person requesting entry has the right to it. A driver's license with the address, a lease, a registration or an insurance card all work. It takes a minute and it is the reason a stranger cannot hire us to open your door.
Are you a real local company or a call center?
A local Houston company. The dispatcher who answers can see where each technician is and gives you a real arrival window, not a promise from an out-of-state phone bank that resells the call.
Will the technician arrive in a marked vehicle?
Yes. Technicians arrive in marked vehicles, in uniform, and will show identification before starting. If someone shows up unmarked claiming to be us, call the number on this site and check.
How do I avoid the $19 locksmith scam?
Any locksmith advertising a total price under about $30 is a lead-generation ad, not a company. The technician who arrives will quote hundreds more and often drill a lock that did not need drilling. Ask for the full price on the phone and hang up if they will not give it.
Do you drill locks?
Almost never. Picking and bypass open the large majority of residential, automotive and commercial locks without damage. Drilling is reserved for failed high-security cylinders and we discuss it with you before it happens.
What payment do you take, and when?
Cards, cash and common mobile wallets, paid when the job is finished and you have tested the result. You receive an itemized receipt. Commercial accounts can arrange invoicing.
Can you make a key for my house without an existing key?
Yes. We can decode the lock or rekey it and cut new keys on the spot, so a house with no keys at all becomes a house with a fresh set in one visit.
Do you service gates, mailboxes and padlocks?
Yes. Driveway gate locks, community mailbox locks, storage unit padlocks and cabinet locks are all routine. If a mailbox is USPS-owned we can only help with the tenant's individual door lock.
Can you come out at night or on holidays?
Yes. Lockouts and lost keys do not keep business hours and neither do we. Late-night calls are quoted the same way as daytime calls, with the price given before dispatch.
Do you install smart locks and keypads?
Yes. We install keypad deadbolts and app-connected smart locks, check the door alignment so the motor does not strain, and keep a mechanical override so a dead battery never locks you out.
What should I do while I wait for the technician?
Stay somewhere safe and well lit, keep your phone charged, and have your ID ready. If you are on a freeway shoulder, stay in the car with the hazards on. If a child or pet is locked in a car in the heat, tell dispatch so the call is prioritized.
Will you tell me if I don't actually need the service?
Yes. If a stuck ignition just needs the wheel turned, or a lock only needs adjusting rather than replacing, the technician will say so. A repeat customer is worth more to us than an unnecessary upsell.
Questions about a specific job
Each service page answers five more: