Frequently Asked Questions

Locksmith Scams. What do I need to know?

There have been numerous reports on the news and from customers being scammed by so-called locksmiths. This is a nation-wide problem that is affecting customers and local businesses. These scam artists will advertise a very low service call rate ranging from $15 to $30 dollars, which seems to be a great price and a fast response time. Buyer beware these are con artists, they will come out in a unmarked car and jack the price up to several hundred dollars. If you are a victim of this scam and are being strong armed into paying, call the police immediately and do not pay them.

So how do you avoid this? When calling a locksmith ask if they have a physical shop location and stop in to see the storefront and grab a card or phone number. Another way to find a reputable locksmith is to look at online reviews such as Angies List, Yelp, Checkbook.org, etc. The ALOA, (Associated Locksmiths of America) has a website where you can search for registered locksmiths.

What is a transponder key?

These are keys with a microchip embedded into the head of the key that is a part of the anti-theft systems on newer modeled vehicles. There is a coil around the ignition of these cars that when you put your key in your ignition a signal is sent from the coil to the chip in your key powering up the chip, there are no batteries in these keys, and then sends a signal through the coil to the cars engine control module allowing the car to start.

If you don’t know whether your car has a transponder key, call us today with your make, model, and year of your vehicle and we can provide a quote over the phone.

I have a key broken in a lock, can you fix it?

If there is enough of the key sticking out of the lock you can usually grab a hold of it with a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers. If there isn’t enough to grab onto do not try to use super glue or gum to get the broken piece out. You WILL end up destroying the lock and will have to have it replaced.

It is less expensive to bring the lock to Bill's Locksmith and have us take it out without damaging your lock.

Can you bill me?

We accept Cash, Debit, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We cannot bill you unless you have an established account, which also has a requirement of a $50.00 monthly minimum invoice to charge.

My key is worn, can you make a new one?

YES! Do you have to wiggle and jiggle your key or pull it out a little to get it to work in your lock? Chances are you have a worn key or inaccurate key. We can usually cut a key to the manufacture specs if you bring the key into our shop. In extreme cases we ask that you bring in the lock so we can decode the lock to get you a good key made.

I bought a key/remote online can I get it cut/programmed at your shop?

We do cut and program keys and remotes purchased from the Internet or else where. Buyer beware we do not guarantee any key or remote that is brought into our shop.

Due to faulty milling, the wrong item being purchased, and/or poor quality construction, we have had a lot of issues getting these keys and remotes to work.

Ford ignition key issues...

This is actually a common problem especially with the Ford Focus. If you have to sit there and try your key several times to get the ignition to turn it can be a couple different problems, we usually start with the key but there are some ignitions that are prone to failure.

If this problem is starting to happen we highly recommend you seek help immediately because your ignition can freeze up leaving you stranded. We keep many replacement ignitions in stock and can replace the ignition and key it to your same key to get you back on the road in no time, call for a quote today.

Toyota ignition key issues...

In the early 1990’s Toyota’s locks went to a higher security design. They have what are called split wafers. Instead of a solid flat wafer they cut them in half, therefore making it harder to pick. This design was incorporated into the ignition and all of the door locks. Unfortunately these locks are somewhat prone to failure after a certain amount of usage.

Your key will start to stick or will not turn at all. If your key is starting to stick we advise you get it looked at as soon as possible or else you might get stranded someplace. You do NOT have to get new locks; we can repair your existing locks so you will never have this problem again. Stop by our shop and our skilled technician will take a look and give you a price on the spot.

Dodge/Chrysler ignition key issues...

This is actually a common problem with many Dodge/Chrysler models. If you have to sit there and try your key several times to get the ignition to turn it can be a couple different problems, we usually start with the key but there are some ignitions that are prone to failure. If this problem is starting to happen we highly recommend you seek help immediately because your ignition can freeze up leaving you stranded. We keep many replacement ignitions in stock and can replace the ignition and key it to your same key to get you back on the road in no time, call for a quote today.