Lockout service: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering lockout service

Lockout service is an urgent, trust-based call where the customer is stressed and in a hurry. Win the job by arriving with a clear identity, opening the door or car without damage and leaving a clean receipt.

What customers ask

  • How soon can you get here?
  • Will you damage my car door?
  • What do you need from me to open my house?
  • Will the lock be damaged?
  • Can you cut me a new key on the spot?
  • What is the total for the call?

How to win the job

  • On the call, confirm the address, the lock or vehicle, the customer's location and the time, and give a realistic arrival window.
  • Verify the caller's identity and right of entry, and write down what you checked before you open anything.
  • Explain the non-destructive method you plan to use, and what you will do if it fails, so the customer agrees before work starts.
  • Give the total price for the call in writing before you start, with after-hours and travel as separate lines.
  • Photograph the lock or vehicle door before you start and after the opening, and leave the customer the photos.
  • Leave a receipt with the time, the method, your name and your company.

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of openings with no damage to doors, frames or vehicle seals
  • List your service area, your hours and the vehicle types you open
  • State your identity checks in a short line, so customers know what to expect
  • Show your company name and vehicle markings clearly on your website and your vehicle

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a lock upgrade for the door you opened, since an opening can reveal a weak lock
  • Suggest a spare key plan for the household or business, so the next lockout is simpler
  • Recommend a key holder list for the property, kept in a safe place

Licenses and permits

Lockout service is often provided by locksmiths, and some states and local areas license or register locksmiths. Confirm your requirements with your state or local licensing agency before you take paid work, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

Do I have to check ID before every opening?

Yes. Check identity and right of entry on every call, and write down what you checked. Turning down an opening you cannot verify protects you and the customer.

What do I do if I cannot open the lock without damage?

Tell the customer before you drill or force anything. Explain the damage, the repair and the cost in writing, and get approval before you proceed.

Should I cut a key on the spot?

Only if you have the blank and the machine for that lock. Quote the key as its own line, and test the key before you leave.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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