Frequently Asked Questions by Tampa-Area Residents

At ABC Locksmith, we thought it would be helpful to provide a number of locksmith facts in response to frequently asked questions we hear from residents and business owners in the Tampa area. Some of the following facts are about our company, services, and operating protocols. The rest are in response to common questions people have about keys, locks, alarms and other elements of home and business security.

Click on any of the questions below to expand and see our answer. If you don’t see an answer to a question you have regarding locksmith facts, you can call us with your pressing inquiry at 727-314-1010. For an assortment of essential facts and information concerning the locksmith industry, click on click on a question below.

FAQs About ABC Locksmith:

[accordion openfirst=false clicktoclose=true tag=h3][accordion-item title=”What are the other cities and towns you serve besides Tampa?”]ABC Locksmith operates in several other cities and communities in Florida besides Tampa, such as:

• Clearwater
• St. Petersburg
• Brandon
• Largo
• Pinellas Park
• Dunedin
• Safety Harbor
• Palm Harbor
• East Lake
• Westchase
• Town ‘N’ Country
• University
• Egypt Lake-Leto
• Progress Village
• Gibsonton
• Bloomingdale

We never charge any travel fee for providing service in any of these areas, even if you’re in Bloomingdale, which is on the opposite end from our headquarters in Clearwater. Also, we don’t use rough weather conditions or after-business hours as an excuse for not reaching you in a timely manner. ABC Locksmith is always available to help with residential, commercial or automotive dilemmas, day or night.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”How long will it take you to reach me in Tampa?”]ABC Locksmith’s response times differ by distance and current workload, of course, but keep in mind we’re based in Clearwater. We reach most customers in Tampa in anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes. If we are unable to reach you within that window, we’ll let you know promptly and won’t leave you hanging![/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Can you make copies of a key for me while out in the field?”]We generally have no trouble making extra keys for customers when we meet them at their home, office, or vehicle. We don’t even need to head back to our office or a hardware store to make duplicate keys. Each of our locksmiths carries tools to make key duplicates on the go, should a customer request one at any time.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Can you make a copy of a key marked “Duplication Prohibited” or “Do Not Duplicate”?”]We CAN, but in some cases, we won’t. This is because we have to verify first that you have proper authorization to duplicate such a key. Therefore, we may ask for a letter of approval from your landlord, the owner of your company, or other authority figure who can override the designation of such a key.

There is the rare case where a key is so restricted that we can’t get our hands on the key blanks. If this scenario arises, we will refer you to the responsible party with the authority to duplicate the key.
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[accordion-item title=”Do you require proof of ownership before unlocking something for me?”]Yes, we always quickly verify that you are the rightful owner of the vehicle, business or house you’re asking us to open. We may ask for a photo ID and/or an official proof of ownership document prior to letting you back in your car, home, or office.

Of course, we may run into situations where a customer has left their wallet or purse inside the building or vehicle they need opened. In that case, we use alternative security measures in order to verify that they have the authority to enter the property.
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[accordion-item title=”If I own a safe, can you get it open if I’ve forgotten the code?”]Yes, our locksmiths have several years of experience in opening safes of many makes and sizes. Depending on the safe, our locksmith may have to drill a small hole to get the door open. If so, the locksmith will repair the safe in order make it secure and fire resistant again.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”What other services do you provide besides lockout help and key duplication?”]Besides re-keying doors, duplicating keys, opening locked doors and installing locks, we offer a number of additional services related to home and business security. We pride ourselves on offering a litany of security solutions that go beyond basic keys, locks, deadbolts, etc.

For the home or office, we offer services such as:

• High-security lock installation
• Door alarm installation and replacement
• CCTV security system set-up
• Security gate installation
• Push bar installation and repair
• Cabinet and file unlocking and lock installation

And for vehicles, we have additional services such as:

• Ignition unlock
• Jumper cables
• Door handle repair
• Keyless entry set-up

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Other General Locksmith Facts:

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[accordion-item title=”What kind of lock do you suggest purchasing for my home?”]We always recommend buying the highest security deadbolt you can afford. It’s really a small expense when it comes to the level of security it will provide. No matter if your house is 1,000 or 50,000 square feet, you need a high security deadbolt at minimum. When it comes to home security, it all starts with your front door. Don’t let your door locks be an afterthought.[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”If I have an alarm system, do I still need a high-security deadbolt?”]Absolutely! First of all, your alarm system may not be as helpful as you think. Even if you have a trustworthy alarm system, it does little good if an intruder can break through your front door in a matter of seconds. A high-security deadbolt is always essential. Start with having one installed on your front door, and then expand your home security from there – not the other way around.[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”If I lose my house key, do I need to change the locks in my home?”]If you lose your house key, you understandably might be worried about somebody else finding the key, figuring out which house it goes to, and then gaining entry into your home. It’s not all that far-fetched of a scenario, but you don’t need to completely change out your locks throughout the home.

In most cases, you can just have the locks re-keyed instead. If you do this, make sure to have enough keys made for your entire family and for spares. This will still be cheaper than changing out the locks entirely.[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”Is it OK to hide an extra house key somewhere outside the home?”]You can take the risk if you know a unique, incognito spot around the house where no outsider would think to look, but we generally don’t recommend hiding your backup key in your yard or near the exterior of the building.

Instead, we recommend carrying an individual key in your purse or wallet wherever you go. Almost any type of house key will fit, even if you’re a man who’s worried about wallet bulk.

An alternative option is to have a combination lockbox installed on an exterior wall or pillar of your home. You can keep an extra key in there at all times, and nobody else should be able to access it.[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”I’ve heard there are different levels of master keys? What are they?”]You may think of master keys as the ones to open up all of the doors in a building, such as a school, office building or apartment complex, but did you know there are up to three different levels of this type of key?

The master key levels, from most limited access to unlimited, are:

• Master
• Grand Master
• Great Grand Master

A great grand master key will work with every door in a facility or complex, while master keys and grand master keys only get into a certain set of rooms. For example, think of a school where a master key may work for only one hallway out of the whole campus. Not every building is set up to the great grand master level, but you should always use the help of a seasoned locksmith when it comes determining which doors should be equipped for which keys, and how many levels of security you need when keying or re-keying a facility, complex, etc.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Why do different local locksmith companies charge different rates for the same service?”]In any large metropolitan area, one can find an array of “locksmiths” offering a variety of prices for service that is just as varied in quality. While the state of Florida has a licensing process for professional locksmiths, unlicensed amateurs still operate throughout many of the larger cities. That means you get a lot of part-time and out-of-a-garage operations that deliver subpar quality at “rock bottom rates.”

This is why ABC Locksmith makes it a point to inform customers that we are licensed, bonded and insured. Our rates are competitive, but we guarantee exceptional quality and value with timely service for our service requests.
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Looking for Additional Helpful Locksmith Facts? Just Call ABC
Locksmith and We’ll Be Glad to Help You Out:
727.314.1010