That $19 service call is not the price. Here is how the bait and switch works, the questions that expose it in one phone call, and what to do if it is already happening to you.
BBB Accredited, A+ ratingSee our BBB profile★★★★★5.0 on Google170+ reviews. Read them✓Veteran-owned & mobileSame-day service in Palm Beach & Broward✓Price before we come outNo surprises on siteYou search for a locksmith, and the first number you call quotes a price that sounds too good to be true: a $19, $29 or $39 "service call". The person who answers never says the name of a business. They just say "locksmith service" and promise someone is on the way.
The technician arrives, often in a car or van with no business name on it. Then the price changes. The low number was only the trip charge. Now there is labor, a "high-security lock" fee, an after-hours fee, and a new key or lock that suddenly costs several hundred dollars. On a house lockout, the first move is often to drill the lock, which means you also have to buy a new one from them. By then you are standing outside your home or your car, and it feels like you have no choice but to pay.
Many of these numbers go to call centers far from Florida that sell the job to whoever is nearby. That is why the quote on the phone and the bill at the end have so little to do with each other.
One phone call with these questions weeds out almost every scam. A legitimate locksmith answers them without hesitating.
Ask: “What will I pay in total, including the service call, labor and the key or parts?” If they will only give you a trip charge, hang up.
Write it down, then look it up. Check how long the business has been around and read its reviews before the technician arrives.
Ask for a written invoice with the business name, address and phone number. You want the quote by text or email too, if you can get it.
Ask what would make the price change once they arrive. An honest answer is specific, such as a different lock than you described.
Not at the state level. Florida does not license locksmiths, and Broward County stopped requiring locksmith licenses and business registration in 2021, after a state law limited local licensing. In Palm Beach County, businesses need an annual business tax receipt, but there is no separate locksmith license.
That means a license card cannot tell you much in South Florida. What tells you more: a real business name you can look up, a history of reviews from real customers, BBB standing, proof of insurance, and a written invoice.
Car key scams work the same way, only the numbers are bigger. A cheap quote turns into a key, a programming fee and sometimes a claim that the ignition or a computer module has to be replaced. Before you agree to anything, ask for the total price for a key that is cut and programmed to your car. If you are comparing against the dealer, ask the dealer the same question. Our car key replacement page lists what dealers typically charge by make.
This page is general consumer information, not legal advice.
Einstein Locksmith is a locally owned mobile locksmith based in Boca Raton, serving Palm Beach and Broward County since 2016. We are BBB A+ accredited with more than 170 five-star Google reviews. When you call or text, you reach us directly, not a call center.
You get the full price before we come out, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay. If the job turns out to be different from what you described, we tell you and give you the new price before we start, and you decide.
Call or text (561) 561-5397, or ask for a quote on our quote page. If another locksmith has given you a price, we are happy to tell you whether it sounds like the whole story.
The $19 is real, but it is only the trip charge. The labor and parts are added after the technician arrives, and the total is usually far higher than an honest quote from the start. Always ask for the total.
Ask for the business name and the total price on the phone, then look the business up: its reviews history, BBB standing and whether it has a real presence in your area. A legitimate locksmith gives you a written invoice with its name and phone number.
Rarely. Most house and car lockouts are opened without damage. Drilling is sometimes needed for a high-security or broken lock, but it should not be the first thing a technician reaches for.
No. Florida has no state locksmith license, and Broward County ended its locksmith licensing in 2021. Palm Beach County businesses need a business tax receipt. That is why reviews, BBB standing, insurance and a written invoice matter more than a license card here.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (1-800-HELP-FLA), Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs or Broward County Consumer Protection, and the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov or 1-877-382-4357).
New keys and smart fobs cut and programmed at your car, including all keys lost.
Car key replacement →
Rekeys, lock changes and smart locks for homes and businesses.
Residential locksmith →You get a price before we come out. Mon–Thu 9am–10pm, Fri 9am–2pm, Sun 10am–6pm, after-hours emergency service by appointment.