Before you let a locksmith in, ask

Tell us on the phone what happened and you get a ballpark from that description. When the technician arrives he checks the lock first, then gives you the final price before any tool touches it.

Then we do not start, and you owe nothing for work you turned down. The decision is always yours, and it is made before the work, not after.

Yes, every time. It is itemized and carries the company name and our state license number, LCO 8138.

Yes. Every active duty service member and veteran gets one. Mention it when you call, so it is part of the price you hear at the door.

Not as a first step. We open doors with picks and bypass tools first. Drilling is the last option, and it only happens after we explain why and you say yes.

Often not. Wet weather can swell a door or shift the strike so the bolt binds. We check the lock, the latch and the strike, repair what can be repaired, and reinforce the door or frame when that is what it needs.

We work from 7:30 AM to 11:30 PM, seven days a week, weekends included. On the phone you get an arrival time for your address based on where the van is.

The car has to be there, plus proof that it is yours and a photo ID. The key is cut and programmed at the car. Programming usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes per vehicle.

Yes. Dead batteries, a lost code or an app that will not pair are the usual causes. We get you in, get the lock working or replace it, and can set up guest codes or install a keypad.

A rekey changes the inside of the lock so the old keys stop working, and the hardware stays. New locks make sense when the old ones are worn out or you want something different. We tell you which fits your doors.

We come to the business, get you in, and either cut new keys or rekey the locks so the lost set is useless. If several doors are involved, we can move you to a master key system.

With a free, no-obligation estimate on site. You get the exact price there, and the scope and price in writing before anything is ordered.

Check us before we arrive. Our license number, LCO 8138, is on the van and on every receipt, and you can look it up on the state license site. You can also ask to see the license and a photo ID at the door.

No. Patriot is mobile and based in Concord. The van is the shop: it carries the tools, the hardware and the key machine, so the work happens where the lock is.