Emergency Locksmith in Greenville, SC

Safety comes before the lock

Call 911 first when:

• a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is shut in a car or a home and at risk, above all in heat or cold
• someone may still be inside after a break-in
• there is fire, a gas smell or a medical problem

Once people are safe, a lock emergency is usually about getting back in or making a home or business secure again: a door forced in a burglary, a lock that failed with no other way in, or keys lost with no spare.

After a break-in

Report it to the police before touching the door, and let them record the damage. Then photograph the door, frame and lock for your records and any claim. A forced door often needs the strike and frame repaired along with the lock. In Greenville's historic districts, the city's preservation guidelines say damaged door hardware can be repaired or replaced, with new hardware commercial grade, so mention the district when you describe the damage.

Storms and rented homes

After a storm, try every exterior door before you rely on it. If the Governor declares a state of emergency, section 39-5-145 of the South Carolina Code covers services as well as goods: in the declared area it is unlawful to charge an unconscionable amount, one that grossly exceeds the average of the 30 days before the declaration without added costs or market trends to explain it. Ask for the total in writing before work starts. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs accepts written complaints online or by mail.

Renters are the majority in Greenville, so an urgent lockout sometimes involves a landlord. Section 27-40-760 of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act limits when a landlord may take possession: after abandonment, surrender or termination, or as the Act otherwise permits. If you think a landlord has shut you out, treat it as a legal question before a lock job. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to send

• the exact location, and whether it is a home, a business or a car
• what happened, and whether police have been called
• the door or lock involved and any damage
• whether you own, rent or manage the property

See emergency locksmith, house lockout, car lockout and the Greenville page.