Slogans versus facts
Arrival-time promises and claims of perfection make good headlines but say little. Traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard and a lock nobody has seen yet make exact promises hard to keep.
The licence
California locksmiths need a licence from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask for the number and check it on the bureau's public search.
The price
Ask for the call-out fee and the starting price, and what would raise it. If the technician's on-site total is far higher, you can stop before work starts.
The paperwork
Expect a written invoice with the work, parts, total and warranty. Read the terms too: this service refers jobs to independent contractors, who invoice you and give the warranty.