First Local Locksmith LLC

Headline: Extremely Overpriced – Be Wary of Hidden "Emergency" Fees
I am writing this to warn others about the pricing structure here. While the service itself was fine, the communication and billing were unacceptable. I was told the technician would arrive in 20–25 minutes; he arrived in an hour and ignored my calls in between.
Most importantly, I was charged $796 to unlock a vehicle—a job that took less than five minutes. Despite explicitly telling the dispatcher this was not an emergency, the locksmith claimed that requesting service "as soon as possible" justified an emergency rate. Expecting to pay around $250, I was shocked by a bill nearly triple that amount. This is not a sustainable way to build a loyal customer base. I will not be returning and suggest looking elsewhere for fair, transparent pricing.

This company tried to squeeze hundreds of dollars out of me while I was locked out of my car, and I genuinely believe people need to be warned.

I called because I was stranded and needed help. I asked very clearly what the price would be. I was told $49 for the service call and that they couldn’t give the total until arrival. That vague answer is intentional — it’s how they get their foot in the door.

They arrived, unlocked the car in about 10 seconds, and only after the job was done asked for my license so they could “build the quote.” Then they handed me a bill for $280 cash or $311 by card.

For a 10-second unlock.

That’s not a quote. That’s an ambush.

When I said I never would have agreed to that price, the technician refused to adjust it. He called his boss and came back with $260 like he was doing me a favor. When I said that was still outrageous, he told me if I didn’t agree he would lock the car back up.

Yes — he threatened to relock my vehicle unless I paid.

That is not customer service. That is intimidation. That is taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position and trying to force payment through pressure. It felt like highway robbery dressed up as a business transaction.

After arguing, the price magically dropped to $150 flat.

So let’s be clear: the original $280 was never a real price. It was a test to see how much they could scare me into paying. If your pricing can drop by over $100 in minutes, your business model is built on gouging.

And judging by other reviews describing the same exact pattern, this isn’t a misunderstanding — it’s a routine tactic.

People call locksmiths during emergencies. They’re stressed, stranded, and vulnerable. A company that sees that as an opportunity to inflate prices and threaten customers should not be trusted.

I would never call them again and I strongly recommend others protect themselves and go elsewhere. There are honest locksmiths out there. This company is not one of them.

My ex came and broke her key off in my lock while the top lock was locked. I asked for them to remove it and when they got here he told me it wasn’t possible. I had to change the entire lock and it would cost $150. He would have to talk with his manager to see if he could do anything else. I told him to just put the lock back and I’ll deal with it. After he left, I watched 2 YouTube videos and removed it myself with no pins damaged and lock works fine. Changing locks would break my lease, it wasn’t an option. $70 down the drain and probably a copy of all my keys with it. BBB will have a report and a few other agencies.