Have you ever considered that someone could just ring up a locksmith and ask them to open a house for them so they could rob it. This is very uncommon for a number of reasons, including, no one wants any traces of who they called to ask to open the house, no locksmith would want to risk the financial and legal liability of opening a house for someone that they shouldn’t and locksmiths always need to verify residency. When it comes to lockout situations, they can be tricky, some people outside of the house will want valuables as well as important items. If someone calls a locksmith for help with access and they don’t have proof, then a locksmith will need to verify it before leaving. Documents can verify who a person is, as well as their residency, this includes drivers licence, bills and statements, car registration and much more.
If you’re locked out of your house, for whatever reason, a locksmith will need to verify that you own the property before they help you get back into your house. Verifying ownership of your home is vital, it will ensure that a locksmith knows that you are the authorised resident or individual that requires the locksmith service. Typically a locksmith will need some form of identification, this could be a valid photo ID, a driving licence or a utility bill that has your name on it along with the address of the property that you are trying to get into.
If you don’t have the correct identification, the locksmith will more than likely decline to carry out the work. This is because you will be unable to provide ownership or residency proof for the property.
Some locksmiths will understand that you don’t always have your photo ID, especially in emergency situations. In some cases it may be so unexpected, it’s been a warm day and you have your laundry drying on the line outside. It starts to rain so you quickly run outside to bring it in, the door shuts behind you and you are locked out. You don’t have your keys, you don’t have your ID, a locksmith will need proof that you live at the property before they try to help you get back in. you may be wondering, how can you provide this without an ID?
Prove the Ownership of Your Home
Fortunately there are some ways for you to prove your identity without photographic ID, this includes: do you have a landlord? If your property is rented, it’s more than likely that your landlord will be able to verify your identity and might even let you back into the property themselves. Give them a call and explain that you’re locked out, they’ll be able to help you to prove your identity, they may also have a spare key and will help you to get back into your home.
Do you have a family that lives close by? Maybe they will have documents, ID, or bills that will prove that you’re the resident of the property. Or maybe they have a spare key that you can use to let yourself back in.
Do you have friendly neighbours, a locksmith could ask them to identify you. If you know your neighbours well, ask them to prove who you are, they can confirm to the locksmith that you are the owner or tenant. When the locksmith has let you back into your home, you could then show them the required ID to further ensure you do live there.
A locksmith will need identification, this is usually a driving licence or a bill to verify ownership and also confirm that it’s your property.
Verifying Your Ownership with a Commercial or Residential Locksmith
When contacting a locksmith, whether it’s an emergency or not, they will need you to verify who you are. Your identification will need to be confirmed before they get you into your property. Locksmiths are professionals at getting people back into their homes, whether you are locked out of your property or vehicle, they will help you to gain access to it as soon as possible. A locksmith will need you to prove who you are if you are locked out and can’t get in, imagine if they helped the wrong person get into a home that wasn’t there. The information that a locksmith will need to help you get into your property includes – needing proof that you own the home or are a resident there. The documents that you can use to authorise your identity include: A drivers licence that includes your full name and your home address on it, will need to match the address of the property that you are locked out of. Some drivers licences also include photos, which will further confirm that you are who you say you are. Having a driving licence ID will mean that the locksmith will be sure that they are letting the right person back into their home. Hopefully, when you get locked out, you’ll have your driver’s licence in your wallet or purse.Letters Addressed to You
If you’ve been locked out of your house or property, it might be the case that you can still access your letter or mailbox, if you have an external one. Have a look inside it and see if any letters have arrived that you’ve not already collected. If there is one and it has your name and address on, then this will help to authorise who you are.
Title or Deeds to the Property
You will also be able to show the locksmith the title or deed to your property, if you have it with you, then you’ll be able to give this to the locksmith so they can check who you are. However, the house deeds tend to be inside the property that is locked. Some locksmiths may unlock the home and allow you to show them the deeds after you have gained access.
There will be a couple of ways for you to demonstrate property ownership, it’s important to make sure that people don’t take advantage of the services of a locksmith and that they don’t grant the wrong person access.
What if You Aren’t the Owner?
Maybe you aren’t the owner, but you still have permission to access the property, in this case, you may be an employee who is locked out of premises or a commercial building, you will still need to get authorisation from the owner as well as proof of ownership from them.
If you don’t have authorisation then the locksmith won’t be able to provide you with the required services. It may seem like a challenge, but it’s essential that a professional locksmith has obtained all of this information. As a locksmith you will need to follow the very best standards of practice and without the necessary rules and regulations, people may try to scam locksmiths and access a home illegally.
Gaining Access to Your Property
Legitimate locksmiths will require proof of ownership or residency before opening up your property, they are going to need you to prove exactly who you are. This includes the rights that you have to be in the property, something with a photo, name and address on will work perfectly. This can be annoying, especially if you don’t have anything with you, but it’s essential so the locksmith can do their job properly.
Alternatively, if you know that you don’t have the correct ID on you, you can arrange for someone to meet us who does. As well as the usual forms of ID, there are many documents that will provide you with the right authorisation. This includes faxes, other types of photo IDs and property records.
All credible locksmiths will need proof of ownership before letting you in, if the locksmith that you hire doesn’t ask for you for authorisation, then it should be a red flag to you. They could be unskilled and an unscrupulous person.
What IDs Wont a Locksmith Accept?
Locksmiths won’t accept authorisations over the phone or email this is because anyone could be on the phone or on the other side of an email. Whilst it may seem annoying, locksmiths are just trying to do their job properly and protect property owners and residents. In some cases, customers may complain about the security measures around a locksmith helping you to regain access to your home or property, but it’s important to remember that this is all for your own safety and security.
When calling locksmiths and enquiring into our services, customers may put the phone down because they don’t have the correct ID. They aren’t worried about losing business as they know that they are doing their job properly.
The majority of customers will understand, they know that we are protecting them and we ultimately are professionals. We’re not just someone showing up in a t-shirt with no qualifications or experience.
Why Is It So Important To Check The Ownership
Being a qualified locksmith comes with a lot of responsibilities, you are a person that can open any lock, a locksmith needs to be attentive, discreet, private and careful. No locksmith wants a tool in the hands of the wrong person, someone who wants to access a property that they don’t own or aren’t associated with. It’s vital for locksmiths to verify ownership.
Some of the easiest ways to prove identity include a valid ID, a driving licence or a utility bill with your name on it. If you can produce one or more of these items, that’s great. However in some cases it may be that you don’t have anything with you.
You can think outside the box and ask a neighbour, they will be able to confirm who you are. Relatives or family closby will be able to do the same, or you may have left a form of ID in their house. You could also ask your landlord if you’re in a rented property, chances are they’ll have a spare key to let you in as well.
While these rules and regulations may seem strict, without them, people’s homes and properties will be at risk. We understand that in an emergency you may not have the time to deal with documents, but professional locksmith companies will want to guarantee peoples safety at all times. As a locksmith, one of their main aims is to be responsible for what they do.