Carmel on the Case
Air Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 email this article to a friend Watch the video
Lousy Locksmiths
At one time or another most of us have been locked out of our homes or cars. But Seven News has learned if you rely on local phone listings to find a local locksmith, you could be in for a big surprise. Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is on the case.
Reported by:
Carmel Cafiero
Producer:
Marina Angleton
Contact
ccafiero@wsvn.com
View all archived
Carmel on the Case reports
WSVN -- Who thinks twice about unlocking a door? Except of course, when you don't have the key.
Judy Lissy: "We said, 'Oh, my God, welcome to Florida.'"
Judy and Alan Lissy think they were taken after they were locked out of their condo on the day they moved in.
What should have been a simple job to pick the lock turned into a $799 bill.
Alan Lissy: "He said that he... "
Judy Lissy: "He had to take the lock out."
Alan Lissy: "He had to drill it out instead of picking it."
Carmel Cafiero: "How often does that happen that somebody can't pick the lock so you have to drill?"
Fred Burton: "Very, very seldom."
Locksmiths Fred Burton and Bob McMahon say all but the most sophisticated locks can be picked with specialized tools.
They say drills are often used by unskilled people who ruin locks and run up big bills.
And lately, they say, there are a lot of those untrained locksmiths working in South Florida.
They're being dispatched by out-of-town companies that use fake names and addresses with local telephone numbers.
Carmel Cafiero: "Phone listings for local locksmiths are being flooded with companies listing bogus locations. For example, I'm standing at an intersection in downtown Fort Lauderdale where five different companies claim to be located. And not one of them is really here."
This construction site is supposed to be a locksmith's office.
And so is this laundromat.
Carmel Cafiero: "Erica -- I think I just talked to you."
And when I called different companies, I kept getting the same operator.
Carmel Cafiero: "How many names do you have in the phone book?"
She told me that depends on what book.
As a result of multiple listings for the same operation under different names, local locksmiths say they are losing business at an alarming rate.
Bob McMahon: "I used to be able to get like four or five lockout calls a day. It's like maybe a lockout a day. People are calling these guys and not getting the service that they deserve."
And it's not just about service.
When you call a locksmith, you're giving them access to your home or car.
Fred Burton: "You don't know if they are going to make a key and sell the key to somebody. You come home from work one day and everything is gone."
But this is not just a South Florida problem.
The Associated Locksmiths of America says problems with phony companies are being reported from New York to California and points in between.
John Casey: "I believe that people are getting taken advantage of."
Our sister station in Boston also looked into these phony locksmiths.
It also found fake local address being used and workers being dispatched by out-of-state companies.
And despite the fact locks could easily be picked and opened, workers there wanted to drill and charge big bucks.
Fred Burton: "The only thing I can think to tell people to do is if you call a locksmith, and they ask for your zip code, just tell them, 'Thank you very much, I will look for somebody else.'"
There's never a good time to get locked out but, if you do, take the time to question the company you contact.
It could make the difference between a big inconvenience and a big bill.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU THINK CARMEL SHOULD INVESTIGATE, GIVE HER A CALL:
Dade: 305-627-CLUE
Broward: 954-921-CLUE
E-mail: clue@wsvn.com
Scandal? This post could save your life
I received a phone call and fax from a locksmith who informed me that there’s some sort of drama going on in the industry.
Basically, it seems as though some out of state companies are trying to muscle their way into the local market.
There are no state regulations or licensing requirements for locksmiths, so there is nothing stopping someone from advertising himself as a locksmith.
What seems to be happening, at least according to Massachusetts Locksmiths Association, is that these out of state companies are charging exorbitant prices to do basic work - picking a lock for people.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, who knows her way around a good story (regardless of facts) covered it an in expose, this past year.
It’s frustrating, dangerous and could happen to you tomorrow! You’re locked out of your house and have to get in. Be careful whom you call. Hank Phillippi Ryan’s exclusive investigation reveals you may be stuck with a ruined lock and an exorbitant bill! Its a big money secret some call a “Lock Crock.”
What does the Massachusetts Locksmiths Association suggest?
Check their website to get a referral to a reputable locksmith.
Comment by Kim
Hi John…
Thanks for touching on the subject for your readers. Just a quick note tho’… It’s not just Massachusetts. Superb Solutions/Priceline and Dependable Locks (Same company, different names) are all over the US. Any search engine search for locksmith (city name) in nearly any metro area of any state will bring up a couple dozen variations of the same company. USATotalSecurity.com, etc. They’re all one and the same.
Even in states that do require licensing, such as California, they outnumber licensed locksmiths 20 to 1. They are vast, and know their numbers far outstrip any puny and underfunded enforcement or legislative efforts by city or state governments to stop them. Here in San Diego, the local police don’t even know the law on locksmith licensing well enough to enforce it, and will refuse to come to a call from a customer or other locksmith if an unlicensed locksmith tries the same scam. These companies buy up all the double truck ads in local yellow pages, bump the pricing on click ads out of reach of local locksmiths, and use endless fake addresses to get into local directories.
In California, advertisers are not even supposed to accept advertising from non-licensed locksmiths, but there’s no enforcement, and the bad guys know it. Besides, what yellow pages or online click ad seller will turn down that lucrative money, even if it is a crime to accept it, when they know no one will hold their feet to the fire over it?
For information on how wide-spread this is, please see:
http://www.sandiegolockandsafe.com/locksmithscams.html
http://www.aloa.org/pressroom.html
Dependable Locks / Quick Locksmith — Scanty pays twice!
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_050222739.html
And more, far more…
In short, don’t think that licensing will stop it, or even slow it down. These companies work just as much in the 14 states that require licensing as they do in the states that don’t. Licensing is an excellent thing, and it should be nationwide. But we need to pressure the yellow page companies, and the online directories to follow the laws against deceptive and false advertising, and hold them accountable if the lure of big money gets to be too overwhelming. If the scammers have no place to advertise, they have no place from which to get business. License or no license.
Cheers!
Kim
Owner
San Diego Lock & Safe
Mike
Comment by Mike | 05/02/07 at 1:17 am
It is True, even in states with licensing these out of state gypses are all over the map. In the state of Illinois there is licensing for locksmiths. It is a misdameanor the first offense and a felony the second offense. This has had no effect on these locksmith impersonators. They operate freely out in the open without any fear. They have put many Small legally licensed locksmiths out of business in Illinois already. In Illinois we have been able to stop one of these companies but their are many more and years of complaints to the authorities have gone unanswered and the companies still operate out in the open.
These are Israeli forieners here on tourist visas that seem to have no respect for american laws and the american consumer.
An Illinois Judge actually claimed that one of the ring leaders of this company looked like a terrorist. ( Chicago suntimes ).
It amazes me that the governing officials lack any will to stop these companys from ripping off consumers.
There are people all over the country that were charged hundreds and even thousands for what they believed would be a 55.00 lockout charge. These guys seem to take advantage of senior citizens and women with the higher prices.
These companys operate boiler room type phone banks and have there crews of scammers placed all over the country, sometimes even living in motels.
They are not trained locksmiths but just a person with a drill that destroys locks rather then pick them. With all the news stories around the country they now use picks and will try for a minute or two and then say it has to be drilled. They will also use this excuse to upcharge the customer an extra hundred, five hundred, thousand, dollars.
These companys are also involved in other industrys and are ripping off consumers untold millions every year.
These industrys are carpet cleaning, florists, towing, moving, etc.
The best thing a consumer could do is ask many questions like where they are located, Owners name, Lic #, What the complete charges would be.
Any thing less than a complete answer they should NOT use that company.
Beware of people that say they are only dispatchers and the technician has to give them the price when they see the vehicle or building they have to unlock, Almost all real locksmiths will give you a complete price over the phone for a lockout. On ocassion (usually rare) There may be an exception to this and you may be charged slightly more. IE: Price was given to pick one lock and upon arrival there might be 3 or 4.
I would also advise consumers to Beware of calling Full Page yellow book ads, Referrals from 411, and internet ads usually at the top of the list, and listings that all look generic and have many more like them with different addresses listed.
Mike
President
Illinois Indiana Locksmith Association.
Drift Reality > Boston > USA Locksmith
This letter describes an extremely negative experience a friend had with USA Locksmith:
On Wednesday February 14, 2007 I locked myself out of my apartment in Boston, MA. After being locked out, I borrowed a friend’s phone and called the USA Locksmith Boston office to help me with my situation. When asked how much it would cost, the representative told me they were unable to provide me with a total estimate, but did state that there would be a minimum fee of $39.95, and that an additional fee for labor would be assessed. I was then told that a representative would be dispatched shortly.
About 40 minutes later, the representative arrived at my apartment. After a brief inspection, the locksmith quoted me a price of $145.00, which would be assessed on top of the $39.95 base fee. As a single female with no personal contacts in the direct area, and with the work day almost completed, I felt compelled to agree to the fee. The locksmith promptly placed some sort of key into the keyhole on the door and tapped on it about ten times or so. After a few moments, he turned the key and opened the door.
Shortly thereafter, the locksmith insisted that I pay him the full amount in cash. As a single female student living alone, I do not make it a practice of carrying very much cash with me at any given time. I asked if I could pay with a credit card or a check and was promptly told that I could only pay with cash. The locksmith asked to see my license. Upon turning my license over, the locksmith told me that he would hold onto it until I paid him the full amount he was owed in cash. I desperately searched for an ATM in the direct vicinity, withdrew the cash and gave it to him.
I am writing this letter of complaint for the following three reasons:
I feel that the refusal on the part of USA Locksmith to provide a cost estimate is a violation of my rights as a consumer. Additionally, the practice of providing a base fee of $39.95 and then an additional fee of $145.00 upon ‘inspection’, to a desperate consumer, is an unethical practice. Particularly when the total time require to open the lock was only a few minutes.
Forcing a consumer to pay $185.00 in cash seems to be an unfair business practice. Particularly because later, when I called USA Locksmith, I was told that it was their policy to allow customers to pay with a credit card.
Finally, The locksmith had absolutely no right to confiscate my drivers license and hold it hostage until I paid him $185 in cash. This was an act of intimidation, as well as illegal. When considering the fact that I am a relatively small single female (5’4), it is clear that this was his way of intimidating me into paying him in cash.
I have suffered loss of money as well as psychological harm as a result of the acts of USA Locksmith and the contractor they dispatched to my residence. I fully intend to file a report with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, as well as the Boston Attorney’s General Office; as well as pursue legal action.
I would hope that others might learn from this experience and avoid doing business with USA Locksmith in the future.
After a Boston ABC television news affiliate called the state's locksmith trade association pretending to be locked out, the locksmith picked the lock in less than two minutes and charged $90. When the same television news crew randomly picked a locksmith from the phone directory, the locksmith quickly gave up picking the deadbolt and drilled the lock, offering to replace it for $175, according to a televised sting on locksmiths.
Complaints about locksmiths recently prompted California's Department of Consumer Affairs, working with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, to conduct a sting to weed out unlicensed locksmiths. Three of five locksmiths were cited for operating without a license after they responded to the bogus request to change locks.
Representatives of the same locksmith company that riled California officials were fined thousands of dollars after Chicago's Department of Consumer Services charged them with fraudulent acts, deceptive practices and operating without a license. The three incidents are among dozens of recent news accounts, including televised investigative reports and law enforcement stings the Association Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has compiled as part of a campaign to warn consumers about the emergence of a troubling trend.
"The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the consumer is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and sub-standard work," says ALOA's executive director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr.
ALOA has recorded a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1,700 to replace a $12 lock. The locksmiths featured in the reports typically are not licensed or registered in state or jurisdiction. They are also often part of an out-of-state operation which local authorities are investigating.
ALOA offers a checklist for weeding out locksmiths who aren't operating within the law and we've researched additional tips from the states of California, Florida and Illinois to help you choose a professional locksmith.
It's a good idea to select a locksmith before you need one. Access to resources for finding a law abiding locksmith are limited when you are locked out of your home. Anxiety and the need for fast help could cloud your judgment.
Ask family, friends, co-workers and others you trust for referrals. Where applicable, check for licenses (not all states license locksmiths), registered or certified locksmiths, and those affiliated with an association. Verify licenses or certification with the regulatory agency and verify trade group affiliation with the trade group. No designation guarantees the locksmith's work, but they do come with some inherent consumer protections.
Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle that is clearly marked. Beware of a locksmith who immediately tells you the lock has to be drilled and replaced. An experienced locksmith who has invested in the education and tools of the trade can unlock almost any door.
The locksmith should ask who you are and record your identifying information, especially when opening a home, business or a car. Ask the locksmiths for a detailed price for a lockout. Don't pay for service in advance and always ask that "defective" parts be returned to you.
Beware of companies that don't advertise a street address, answer the phone with a generic phrase, such as "Locksmith service" and those that don't clearly identify their company name. Also beware of offers of multiple discounts, emergency service promotions, claims of lowest prices, "No. 1" self-ratings and other puffery.
Most people don't have a locksmith on speed dial, but when you're locked out, you need help fast. Help from someone you can trust. But NBC Action News Investigator Nichole Teich is hot on the trail of one company that's hurting some customers instead of helping.
When you've locked yourself out and need to get in immediately, you're desperate. So you open the phone book and call a locksmith. That's what Cynthia Day did after losing the keys to her car.
I opened the Yellow Pages and the first big ad I seen, I called them," she said.
The ad filled the entire page and listed six local phone numbers and a local address. "I wanted them to unlock my door and make me a key," Day said.
But after six hours, all she saw were wires hanging from her dash and her car's ignition switch in the passenger seat. "He told me he was going to fix it, but then it was going to be a $300 bill."
What Day did not know is that the company has a long list of complaints from customers who say they were pressured into paying high prices. So the NBC Action News Investigators decided to put them to the test.
With the help of a metro homeowner, we locked ourselves out. We also called Always Available Locksmith for help. They told us $39 for the service call, $15 to open the door.
And 30 minutes later, a locksmith arrives. He starts using tools to pick the lock and our hidden cameras are watching his every move. But what he doesn't know is that we picked the lock the day before.
President of the Missouri/Kansas Locksmith Association Jack Iturralde is helping us because he says other local locksmiths are often left to clean up the mess after Always Available Locksmith makes a house call.
"If someone comes out and pretends to be a locksmith and treats them like this, that makes the entire craft look badly," Iturralde said. Using ordinary lock picking tools, it takes Iturralde less than one minute to get into our test home. And he left the lock still intact.
"This is definitely a pickable lock," he said. "I would see no reason why any locksmith with reasonable training would have to drill this lock whatsoever." At the test house, the locksmith from Always Available – using the same tools – tried to pick the lock. One minute passes, but the locksmith is having no luck. Five minutes later, 10 minutes later, the locksmith says he can't open the door. That is when he brings up an alternative.
"I might have to drill it," he said. Drilling a hold through the lock is something Iturralde says a skilled locksmith would rarely do, because then the homeowner is left with no way to protect their property.
But the locksmith from Always Available has a solution for that, as well. "That's $89 without tax." He just happens to have a replacement lock in his van and the price goes up $35. The Always Available locksmith takes out a drill and starts destroying the lock. So we stopped watching and started asking tough questions.
NICHOLE TEICH: I'm Nichole Teich with NBC Action News. Is that how you make extra money, by drilling into these locks? And then selling them a lock?
Then he stopped talking. "Get this camera out of my face," he said, then walked away. But we already knew the answers. We decided to pay a visit to the company. The ad in the phone book says all calls are answered at 295 W. 231 St. in Tonganoxie, Kan. But there's no locksmith there, only a huge cornfield. But we tracked the company thousands of miles from home, to New York City.
The company's real name is Dependable Locksmith, and when you call one of the six local phone numbers, your call is forwarded to an answering service out of New York.
Makesha Brown, a former employee, told sister station TMJ4 that she was trained to elude customers' questions. "Some would be crying, some would be really angry, agitated," she said, adding supervisors often made fun of the callers who were angry about the way they do business. And if she was ever in trouble, "I would think twice. I would make sure to find out where the locksmith was because I never hope to deal with that company myself."
The real problem is that even though cosmetologists, podiatrists and even perfumeries are all required to have licenses, locksmiths are not. Dependable Locksmith is doing business in several states and is under currently investigation. Both the attorneys general in Illinois and Ohio are suing the company for deceptive practices. There is nothing pending in Missouri or Kansas.
May 3, 2007 1:31 PM
Investigators: Door Jam
Posted By: Timothy Donley
Most people don't have a locksmith on speed dial, but when you're locked out, you need help fast. Help from someone you can trust.
But NBC Action News Investigator Nichole Teich is hot on the trail of one company that's hurting some customers instead of helping.
When you've locked yourself out and need to get in immediately, you're desperate. So you open the phonebook and call a locksmith. That's what Cynthia Day did after losing the keys to her car.
"[I] opened the Yellow Pages and the first big ad I seen, I called them," she said.
The ad filled the entire page and listed six local phone numbers and a local address.
"I wanted them to unlock my door and make me a key," Day said.
But after six hours, all she saw were wires hanging from her dash and her car's ignition switch in the passenger seat.
"He told me he was going to fix it, but then it was going to be a $300 bill."
What Day did not know is that the company has a long list of complaints from customers who say they were pressured into paying high prices. So the NBC Action News Investigators decided to put them to the test.
With the help of a metro homeowner, we locked ourselves out. We also called Always Available Locksmith for help. They told us $39 for the service call, $15 to open the door.
And 30 minutes later, a locksmith arrives. He starts using tools to pick the lock and our hidden cameras are watching his every move. But what he doesn't know is that we picked the lock the day before.
President of the Missouri/Kansas Locksmith Association Jack Iturralde is helping us because he says other local locksmiths are often left to clean up the mess after Always Available Locksmith makes a house call.
"If someone comes out and pretends to be a locksmith and treats them like this, that makes the entire craft look badly," Iturralde said.
Using ordinary lock picking tools, it takes Iturralde less than one minute to get into our test home. And he left the lock still intact.
"This is definitely a pickable lock," he said. "I would see no reason why any locksmith with reasonable training would have to drill this lock whatsoever."
At the test house, the locksmith from Always Available – using the same tools – tried to pick the lock. One minute passes, but the locksmith is having no luck. Five minutes later, 10 minutes later, the locksmith says he can't open the door. That is when he brings up an alternative.
"I might have to drill it," he said.
Drilling a hold through the lock is something Iturralde says a skilled locksmith would rarely do, because then the homeowner is left with no way to protect their property.
But the locksmith from Always Available has a solution for that, as well. "That's $89 without tax."
He just happens to have a replacement lock in his van and the price goes up $35.
The Always Available locksmith takes out a drill and starts destroying the lock. So we stopped watching and started asking tough questions.
NICHOLE TEICH: I'm Nichole Teich with NBC Action News. Is that how you make extra money, by drilling into these locks?
LOCKSMITH: No.
NICHOLE TEICH: And then selling them a lock?
LOCKSMITH: No.
Then he stopped talking.
"Get this camera out of my face," he said, then walked away.
But we already knew the answers. We decided to pay a visit to the company. The ad in the phone book says all calls are answered at 295 W. 231 St. in Tonganoxie, Kan. But there's no locksmith there, only a huge cornfield. But we tracked the company thousands of miles from home, to New York City.
The company's real name is Dependable Locksmith, and when you call one of the six local phone numbers, your call is forwarded to an answering service out of New York.
Makesha Brown, a former employee, told sister station TMJ4 that she was trained to elude customers' questions.
"Some would be crying, some would be really angry, agitated," she said, adding supervisors often made fun of the callers who were angry about the way they do business. And if she was ever in trouble, "I would think twice. I would make sure to find out where the locksmith was because I never hope to deal with that company myself."
The real problem is that even though cosmetologists, podiatrists and even perfumists are all required to have licenses, locksmiths are not.
Dependable Locksmith is doing business in several states and is under currently investigation. Both the attorneys general in Illinois and Ohio are suing the company for deceptive practices. There is nothing pending in Missouri or Kansas.
Unlicensed Locksmiths May Be Evading Taxes & Pocketing Your Money
Investigative reporting may sound glamorous to news viewers, but much of what we do is often tedious and time consuming.
Earlier this year, our researchers looked up 2,300 hundred listings of San Francisco locksmiths in AT&T’s www.yellowpages.com. We then checked each listing to determine how many of those companies had licenses. The process took well over a month. We found out only about three percent had the proper license to legally operate as locksmiths in California. You can do your own license check of any locksmith you find by going to http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=5079713.
Last month, we then sent off the same list of locksmiths to the disclosure office of the California State Board of Equalization. We submitted a public records act request and asked them to determine if the locksmiths had proper seller’s permit. The permits allow the company to collect sales tax on behalf of the state.
After weeks of time consuming research by the staff of the Board of Equalization, we compiled the information they gave us into a spread sheet. We found out that only 7 percent of the San Francisco locksmiths listed in www.yellowpages.com definitely had permits. Another 17 and a half percent did not have seller’s permits under their name, but businesses with different names at their address did.
The supervisor in the Disclosure Office told us it was unclear to her whether those permits also applied to the locksmiths we submitted.
But as we reported back in February, many of the addresses listed in the phone books for unlicensed locksmiths either don’t exist, or are occupied by other unrelated businesses. Therefore it appears that any permits at those addresses would not belong to the locksmith.
Neither the State Board of Equalization nor the State Controller’s office accepted our request for an interview for reaction to our findings. But the Board of Equalization did issue this written statement.
“It’s very important for businesses to register with the state, so they can lawfully collect and report sales taxes. For that reason, we do outreach to business communities, and offer workshops for new business owners to explain their tax responsibilities.
We also have a new team of staff going door to door throughout San Mateo and San Francisco Counties, making sure each business they visit is properly registered. We also maintain a hotline for people to anonymously report a business suspected of tax evasion. You can reach that line by calling [protected].
There are penalties for knowingly operating without a permit. The basic penalty for late payment of taxes is 10%, but operating without a permit can land an even bigger fine: equal to 50% of the tax owed. So a business owner who operates for six months without a seller’s permit, and collects $3,000 in sales tax, will not only owe the back tax, but another penalty of $1,500.
In some cases of tax evasion, there’s a lack of education and awareness. In others, people are actively evading their responsibilities. An estimated five percent of all businesses in the state operate without necessary seller’s permits. We do not have an estimate for sales tax figures related specifically to locksmiths.
Generally speaking, locksmiths should register for seller’s permits, given that many repairs include materials that are taxable under California law. If a locksmith is found to be operating without a permit, the appropriate penalties will be levied.”
Left unanswered by the Board of Equalization is what if anything will they do to go after the locksmiths without proper seller’s permits. Another issue, how do you go after these businesses if their address is unknown?
Meantime, the locksmith license given by A1 San Bruno Locksmith, License number 658701, does belong to A-1 San Bruno Locksmith. But here’s the problem. The Department of Consumer Affairs tells us the license was cancelled following the recent death of the contractor. The Department says anyone using anyone else’s license is committing fraud, which is a criminal offense. It will be up to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office to determine whether any charges will be filed against A-1 San Bruno Locksmith.
Better Business Bureau Revokes Six Memberships KOTV - 5/29/2007 8:15 PM - Updated 5/30/2007 11:26 AM The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Oklahoma has decided to kick out a half-dozen of its members. The organization says the companies failed to meet its standards. The News On 6’s Chris Wright reports the Better Business Bureau usually revokes the membership of several companies every year, but says it has never booted this many at the same time.
Better Business Bureau CEO, Rick Brinkley, says he doesn't take pride in eliminating businesses from his organization's ranks, but the rules are the rules.
"It's not something we're real proud of when we have to revoke membership, but it's something that we do take a little bit of pride in the fact that we have a set of standards," said Brinkley.
The Better Business Bureau claims that six companies violated those standards. They are Liberty Locksmith, John Waller and Company, American Exteriors L.L.C., Neighbors Construction, JM Construction and Jim Walter Homes. The violations vary from not responding to formal complaints, to false advertising. Brinkley says the organization had no choice but to get rid of all six.
"We're pretty tight about our standards because when one company who is a Better Business Bureau member does something they're not supposed to do, or doesn't act like they're supposed to, it ends up giving all the members a bad name," Brinkley said.
Brinkley says one of the most glaring violations was made by Liberty Locksmith. The company advertises in the phone book, listing several addresses and numbers. Liberty Locksmith lists nine locations throughout Green Country. The Better Business Bureau says all of them are vacant.
Turns out the company is run out of New York, and subcontracts its calls to area locksmiths. Its listed addresses are all nonexistent. The Better Business Bureau says that is misleading advertising and hopes the expulsion of Liberty Locksmith's, and the other five companies, sends a message.
"If you're not going to do business ethically, then you can't be a member of the Better Business Bureau," said Brinkley. The six companies have 30 days to appeal the Better Business Bureau's decision.
Story By: Jace Verhoeven
(TULSA, Okla.) May 23 – We’ve all been there, you lock your keys in the car. You might grab a phone book and look for a locksmith.
The FOX23 Solving Problems Team shows you why that could cost you a lot more.
When FOX23 got a tip about a locksmith company that might not be on the up and up, we investigated.
The problem centers on the advertisement for Liberty Locksmith in some Tulsa area phonebooks.
The ad claims its Tulsa’s most trusted locksmith and lists eight different phone numbers and addresses for locations all across Green Country. But we found out, the addresses don’t even exist.
We went to all eight addresses in the ad, in Glenpool, Coweta, Sapulpa, Owasso, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow and Tulsa, not a single address matched a locksmith company.
We went undercover and called Liberty Locksmith's Harvard location. The ad shows 1905 South Harvard, but while standing where 1905 South Harvard should be, we had to wait almost 30-minutes.
A locksmith shows up, but it's not who we called. The number we called is actually a call center in New York, they contract most people to do their work.
The locksmith works to successfully open our door and then asks for $55, telling us he's charging us more because we went through the call center. If we’d called him directly it would only have been $35.
Rick Brinkley with Tulsa's Better Business Bureau says that's not illegal, but the BBB is still revoking Liberty Locksmith's membership, for another reason. “The problem the BBB has with this is that the advertising is very misleading to the customer. They think they are dealing with local businesses and they are just flat out lying to customers on where they are located.”
Brinkley's advice for customers is: don't pay the extra money, instead call someone else so you aren't caught having to pay extra money just because you unknowingly called a company out of state.
Just last week, Liberty Locksmith told our state's occupational licensing department that it agreed to remove any specific addresses in future telephone book advertisements.
Liberty also told the state license agency that it will open an Oklahoma call center to dispatch local calls.
The state agency plans to make sure the company follows its promise.
FOX23 News did attempt to contact Liberty Locksmith but our phone calls were not returned.
So what do you do if you need help finding a reputable business? Check with the Better Business Bureau at 492-1266 or click on links and reminders.
Consumers Can File a Complaint Against Phony Locksmiths from the ALOA Website
The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA), an international association of locksmith and physical security professionals expanded its website (www.aloa.org) so consumers can file a complaint against phony locksmiths directly to their state'ss Attorney General Consumer Protection Division. For those consumers who used the Internet to find a phony locksmith, they will be taken directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
This is a great tool for consumers to fight back against these scam artists, says ALOA'ss Executive Director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr., CAE, We were asked by the state Attorneys General to help them identify consumers who have been defrauded. Being linked directly to their complaint procedure will ensure a quick response from the state's top law enforcement agency, and faster convictions for these unscrupulous companies.
These phony locksmith companies purposely manipulate phone book and internet listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make their companies seem like neighborhood businesses. In actuality, consumers are frequently calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the consumer is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and/or sub-standard work.
The complaint heard most often by consumers is for car openings. The price quoted over the phone to stranded motorist is around $45. When the individual arrives and unlocks the car, he hands the motorist a bill for $135 - $150. This unscrupulous individual tells the frustrated consumer that the $45 was just the service call and that it was another $90 - $100 for servicing the lock. ALOA has record of a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1700 to replace a $12 lock. These out-of-state operations are set up solely to make money by purposely defrauding the public.
ALOA has also created a 10-point checklist for detecting a locksmith company that may be engaging in this scheme. Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves, adds Gibson. However, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con-artist.
1. Not Familiar with Your Area. To ensure that the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town.
2. Locksmith Service. Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, locksmith service. If the call is answered this way, ask, What is the legal name of your business.
3. ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA? While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo. You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by calling ALOA, [protected] or www.findalocksmith.com.
4. Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?
5. Under Same Ownership. This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, is often legally required to prevent a business from deceiving the public. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases.
6. Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle - a van or truck that is clearly marked.
7. Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith'ss identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it? Does it match the name on the service vehicle?
8. Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
9. Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can'st dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for.
10. Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
Check for a valid state license number. The states that have licensing for locksmith services (AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from phony locksmith scams.
The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is the world'ss largest organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. ALOA is dedicated to being the consumer'ss first line of defense in physical security by increasing the effectiveness and productivity of locksmiths through educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. ALOA'ss activities include the ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) program, the ALOA Annual Convention & Security Expo and the ALOA Training Center, which is based in Dallas, Texas. ALOA leads the way for advanced and improved security performance by providing members and the security community with access to a full range of educational programs and services.
Contact:
Tim McMullen, JD, CAE, Legislative Manager
[protected] x300
tim(at)aloa.org
Consumers Can File a Complaint Against Phony Locksmiths from the ALOA Website
The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA), an international association of locksmith and physical security professionals expanded its website (www.aloa.org) so consumers can file a complaint against phony locksmiths directly to their state's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division. For those consumers who used the Internet to find a phony locksmith, they will be taken directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
This is a great tool for consumers to fight back against these scam artists, says ALOA'ss Executive Director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr., CAE, We were asked by the state Attorneys General to help them identify consumers who have been defrauded. Being linked directly to their complaint procedure will ensure a quick response from the state's top law enforcement agency, and faster convictions for these unscrupulous companies.
These phony locksmith companies purposely manipulate phone book and internet listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make their companies seem like neighborhood businesses. In actuality, consumers are frequently calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the consumer is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and/or sub-standard work.
The complaint heard most often by consumers is for car openings. The price quoted over the phone to stranded motorist is around $45. When the individual arrives and unlocks the car, he hands the motorist a bill for $135 - $150. This unscrupulous individual tells the frustrated consumer that the $45 was just the service call and that it was another $90 - $100 for servicing the lock. ALOA has record of a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1700 to replace a $12 lock. These out-of-state operations are set up solely to make money by purposely defrauding the public.
ALOA has also created a 10-point checklist for detecting a locksmith company that may be engaging in this scheme. Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves, adds Gibson. However, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con-artist.
1. Not Familiar with Your Area. To ensure that the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town.
2. Locksmith Service. Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, locksmith service. If the call is answered this way, ask, What is the legal name of your business.
3. ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA? While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo. You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by calling ALOA, [protected] or www.findalocksmith.com.
4. Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?
5. Under Same Ownership. This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, is often legally required to prevent a business from deceiving the public. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases.
6. Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle - a van or truck that is clearly marked.
7. Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith'ss identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it? Does it match the name on the service vehicle?
8. Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
9. Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can'st dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for.
10. Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
Check for a valid state license number. The states that have licensing for locksmith services (AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from phony locksmith scams.
The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is the world'ss largest organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. ALOA is dedicated to being the consumer'ss first line of defense in physical security by increasing the effectiveness and productivity of locksmiths through educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. ALOA'ss activities include the ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) program, the ALOA Annual Convention & Security Expo and the ALOA Training Center, which is based in Dallas, Texas. ALOA leads the way for advanced and improved security performance by providing members and the security community with access to a full range of educational programs and services.
Contact:
Tim McMullen, JD, CAE, Legislative Manager
[protected] x300
tim(at)aloa.org
I-Team: Deceptive Locksmiths
John Mercure
Shady locksmiths continue to cheat desperate Milwaukee consumers. The I-Team tracks these guys down to their home base outside Wisconsin.
The company claims to be local, but we discovered they operate out of New York. We traced the trail of deception and ripoffs a thousand miles from home.
Complaints and lawsuits in several states tell the tale. People locked out of their homes and cars call for help. They're quoted one price over the phone, but after the work is done, they discover it costs much more than the quote. One customer was told the cost would be $55. When the guy showed up, she was hit up for $140.
We decided to check it out. We locked ourselves out of a Milwaukee home and then called a "Local" locksmith-- Dependable Locks-- for help.
Dependable showed up, took two minutes to open our door, and charged us more than we were quoted. Then they refused to answer our questions. "I'm an employee. The managers... You should talk to them," one guy told us.
There was something else disturbing. Our locksmith never even bothered to make sure we lived in the house he just opened for us. In fact, we had permission to use a house. But it didn't belong to ANYONE there that day. We just borrowed it for the investigation.
"This isn't even his house. You allowed one stranger to get in another stranger's house," we pointed out. The response? "Sometimes the guy moved in an apartment... I'm sorry. I have no comment for you. If you have something, go to the company."
We did go the company. But this 'local' operation is nowhere near Milwaukee.
"Our search brought us to New York... America's financial and cultural center. Its also the headquarters for Dependable Locks... A company ripping off people in Wisconsin and across America."
Not far from midtown Manhattan... In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty... Dependable Locks does it's dirty business from this Bronx office building. We decided to pay the owners a visit.
We were told to knock on a specific door to talk to a manager. But no one ever answered. They then asked us to wait outside. We did.
No one ever came.
But former employee Mekesia Brown says she was told to elude customers' questions. "They're making so much money and it seems they just don't care about what they do or how they do it," Brown told us. She used to work in the Bronx call center.
We asked her, "Is it fair to say that there were policies in place for you guys to not be 100% honest... To be kind of vague... Kind of not on the level?" "Yes," she told us. "And it was joked about by the staff and the supervisors."
Speaking of supervisors, after 15 minutes we thought one had finally come out to talk to us. "I'm going to ask you to wait outside the parking lot," the man said. He refused to talk to us. He then told us yet another place to wait. We waited. For a long time. But managers at Bronx headquarters never came back to chat.
Mekesia Brown remembers how her bosses told her to deal with Wisconsinites. "Some would be crying. Some would be really angry, agitated, and still, and get that information from them as fast as possible and not give them any information as much as we could," she recalls.
And what about those fake Wisconsin addresses used by Dependable Locks? The address of a Waukesha gelato shop was listed in one ad. Brown explains how that worked. "If there was a really angry customer who wanted to know where our location was, we would pull up our GPS system," she admits. "We would give them a random address for a Taco Bell... or a parking lot."
A shady business. A trail of lies and lawsuits. A former employee who wouldn't even call her old company for help... "If I was ever in a situation where i needed a locksmith... I would think twice. I would make sure to find out where that locksmith was. Because I hope to never deal with that company myself," Brown says.
Dependable Locks has operations in several states. They are being investigated in almost all those... Including here in Wisconsin. The state of Illinois is suing them... And their license there has been suspended. The problem here: we license hairdressers... auctioneers... even bait shop owners. But not locksmiths.
On Demand TMJ4 Text Alerts Read more »
My Personal 4 Cast Mobile Read more »
Weather Plus Video RSS Feeds Read more »
Desktop Weather
Copyright © 2007
© 2007, Journal Broadcast Group, a Journal Communications Inc. company
EEO Privacy Policy NBC
Powered by Broadcast Interactive Media.
Johnny32 says
(05/18/07) Worst place ever!
I call this company and they are out of state (New York I think) The man I spoke with on the phone was rude and down right nasty. I would not want anyone to use them. Please be careful. I Would Not Recommend!
nashvilleresident says
(03/30/07) What a joke. Called to open my house the guy used a screw driver and a hammer and busted off my lock, then tried to charge me 200.00, called back to there office to find out they are from new york city, look out you will be taken by these people.
iluvlucy423 says
(03/05/07) Very rude. Do not even bother calling. I called to ask a simple question and the service professional hung up on me.
jrct63 says
(02/16/07) Stay Away! Look for Company's with Storefront locations.
bettyrios says
(02/14/07) Bad. This company is not in st joe let alone in Mo. I have read about these places. They rip people off. Say they will do something for one price than charge a much higher price. Stay away.
Always Ready Locksmith:
The Better Business Bureau serving Metropolitan New York has received a number of recent complaints against Always Ready Locksmith, a company that operates under multiple names, addresses and phone numbers. This questionable operation encourages desperate consumers to call with multiple yellow page advertisements under names such as Millennium Locksmith, Brooklyn Locksmith, and Columbus One Locksmith.
Consumers report to the BBB that Always Ready Locksmith overcharges for services in excess of $200. Consumers receive a low quote over the phone but when the repair man arrives to fix their locks, consumers are told that extra charges apply. These extra charges range in description from 'emergency fees' to 'replacement costs' to 'service charges'. Consumers allege that the company installs broken or low quality locks for upwards of $200. Consumers also report that they are charged but their locks are not fixed and in some cases their locks are damaged further. Complaints describe poor customer service including cases of customer service representatives cursing at, laughing at, threatening, and hanging up on consumers.
The BBB discovered multiple advertisements for Always Ready Locksmith and its aliases that had been placed in the Yellow Pages of all New York City boroughs. When the BBB called the different phone numbers for the allegedly different locksmith businesses, the same person answered the phone each time, identifying the business as "Locksmith". Within the past year, 11 New York metro area consumers have filed complaints against Always Ready Locksmith. Four complaints were closed "disputed" as the consumer remains dissatisfied with the company's response. Always Ready Locksmith did not respond to two complaints and it currently has four pending complaints with the BBB.
The BBB offers these tips on choosing a locksmith:
"Locksmith Service" Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names or aliases. They may answer the phone with a generic phrase like, "locksmith service" or simply "locksmith". If the call is answered this way, ask, "What is the legal name of your business."
Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s) in the yellow pages. Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does the ad look similar to other ads but have a different name? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names?
Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most should arrive in a service vehicle that is clearly marked with the name of the business.
Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. A legitimate locksmith should also provide you with identification in the form of a business card or invoice with the company name on it. Identifying information should also match the name on the service vehicle.
Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can't dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what you paid for.
Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
RESEARCH / PARTICIPATE / REPORT A PROBLEM / privacy policy / find another BBB / contact us
© 2006 Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, Mid-Hudson and Long Island Regions
design and technology by Blenderbox, Inc.
Unlicensed Locksmiths May Be Evading Taxes & Pocketing Your Money
Investigative reporting may sound glamorous to news viewers, but much of what we do is often tedious and time consuming.
Earlier this year, our researchers looked up 2,300 hundred listings of San Francisco locksmiths in AT&T’s www.yellowpages.com. We then checked each listing to determine how many of those companies had licenses. The process took well over a month. We found out only about three percent had the proper license to legally operate as locksmiths in California. You can do your own license check of any locksmith you find by going to http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=5079713.
Last month, we then sent off the same list of locksmiths to the disclosure office of the California State Board of Equalization. We submitted a public records act request and asked them to determine if the locksmiths had proper seller’s permit. The permits allow the company to collect sales tax on behalf of the state.
After weeks of time consuming research by the staff of the Board of Equalization, we compiled the information they gave us into a spread sheet. We found out that only 7 percent of the San Francisco locksmiths listed in www.yellowpages.com definitely had permits. Another 17 and a half percent did not have seller’s permits under their name, but businesses with different names at their address did.
The supervisor in the Disclosure Office told us it was unclear to her whether those permits also applied to the locksmiths we submitted.
But as we reported back in February, many of the addresses listed in the phone books for unlicensed locksmiths either don’t exist, or are occupied by other unrelated businesses. Therefore it appears that any permits at those addresses would not belong to the locksmith.
Neither the State Board of Equalization nor the State Controller’s office accepted our request for an interview for reaction to our findings. But the Board of Equalization did issue this written statement.
“It’s very important for businesses to register with the state, so they can lawfully collect and report sales taxes. For that reason, we do outreach to business communities, and offer workshops for new business owners to explain their tax responsibilities.
We also have a new team of staff going door to door throughout San Mateo and San Francisco Counties, making sure each business they visit is properly registered. We also maintain a hotline for people to anonymously report a business suspected of tax evasion. You can reach that line by calling [protected].
There are penalties for knowingly operating without a permit. The basic penalty for late payment of taxes is 10%, but operating without a permit can land an even bigger fine: equal to 50% of the tax owed. So a business owner who operates for six months without a seller’s permit, and collects $3,000 in sales tax, will not only owe the back tax, but another penalty of $1,500.
In some cases of tax evasion, there’s a lack of education and awareness. In others, people are actively evading their responsibilities. An estimated five percent of all businesses in the state operate without necessary seller’s permits. We do not have an estimate for sales tax figures related specifically to locksmiths.
Generally speaking, locksmiths should register for seller’s permits, given that many repairs include materials that are taxable under California law. If a locksmith is found to be operating without a permit, the appropriate penalties will be levied.”
Left unanswered by the Board of Equalization is what if anything will they do to go after the locksmiths without proper seller’s permits. Another issue, how do you go after these businesses if their address is unknown?
Meantime, the locksmith license given by A1 San Bruno Locksmith, License number 658701, does belong to A-1 San Bruno Locksmith. But here’s the problem. The Department of Consumer Affairs tells us the license was canceled following the recent death of the contractor. The Department says anyone using anyone else’s license is committing fraud, which is a criminal offense. It will be up to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office to determine whether any charges will be filed against A-1 San Bruno Locksmith.
Posted on May 23, 2007 | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/652104/18740146
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Unlicensed Locksmiths May Be Evading Taxes & Pocketing Your Money:
Comments
THESE PHONY LOCKSMITHS ARE HURTING ARE LOCKSMITHS INDUSTRY. THIS HAS TO STOP.
We in Florida have been fighting these scammers but no major state offices will take our case can you help in any way.
Posted by: jason | May 25, 2007 at 07:35 AM
HOW TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST "PHONY LOCKSMITHS"
Below are links to various news outlets, consumer protection agencies and state Attorney General offices addressing the issue of "phony locksmiths". The story is familiar in many states: an out-of-state company hires a number of unscrupulous individuals in the area to sub-contract its work using assumed business names, fake addresses and phone numbers. Many times consumers have been over-sold, under serviced, or just plain lied to!
The Illinois Attorney General filed criminal charges against a New York locksmith operation for setting up phony storefronts with unlicensed individuals practicing locksmithing that lead consumers to believe they were dealing with local companies. The action was successful, and the company was ordered to pay thousands in restitution, to cease operations and to no longer do business in the state under a new name or any of the 25 different names the company had been using in local telephone directories!
ALOA encourages locksmiths who are facing this same situation to go to their state's Attorney General who can take the appropriate legal action against these fraudulent companies. ALOA recently sent a letter to all Attorneys General urging them to pursue this matter in their state. For a copy of that letter, Click Here . To contact your state's Attorney General, go to Click Here .
ALOA is also empowering you to take immediate action when these fraudulent operations show up in your city. Click Here for a Press Release that you may send to your local print and broadcast news media outlets. Make sure you put in the date and the name of your city in the highlighted areas.
For further assistance, contact ALOA Legislative Manager, Tim McMullen at [protected] x300 or tim@aloa.org
Click here to view the Phony Locksmith Press Room with various reports of Phony Locksmiths The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA) announces a new tagline in support of the professionals it represents. This effort is part of ALOA'ss commitment to reach and educate the general public on the locksmithing/access control industry and the true professionals who represent their industry.
The new tagline Locksmiths You Can Trust has been incorporated into the ALOA logo as a symbol that the public can easily identify with. A symbol which represents locksmiths with the highest ideals and standards committed to the professionalism of the locksmithing/access control industry.
With the recent media attention given to the issue of phony locksmiths, ALOA recognized that this was an ideal opportunity for ALOA to provide the public with a branded symbol that they can identify with when they are selecting a locksmith/access control professional to enter their automobiles, home and businesses. This symbol represents over 8,000 members who have submitted to background checks and who have agreed to abide by the ALOA Code of Ethics.
For more information about Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc., visit the ALOA website at www.aloa.org or contact ALOA at [protected].
ALOA - the largest international not for profit organization for locksmiths and physical security professionals - offers legislative support, education, industry certification, tradeshow, business products and services and publishers of Keynotes an award winning publication to more than 8,000 global members--ALOA leads the way for advanced and improved security performance.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST "PHONY LOCKSMITHS"
Below are links to various news outlets, consumer protection agencies and state Attorney General offices addressing the issue of "phony locksmiths". The story is familiar in many states: an out-of-state company hires a number of unscrupulous individuals in the area to sub-contract its work using assumed business names, fake addresses and phone numbers. Many times consumers have been over-sold, under serviced, or just plain lied to!
The Illinois Attorney General filed criminal charges against a New York locksmith operation for setting up phony storefronts with unlicensed individuals practicing locksmithing that lead consumers to believe they were dealing with local companies. The action was successful, and the company was ordered to pay thousands in restitution, to cease operations and to no longer do business in the state under a new name or any of the 25 different names the company had been using in local telephone directories!
ALOA encourages locksmiths who are facing this same situation to go to their state's Attorney General who can take the appropriate legal action against these fraudulent companies. ALOA recently sent a letter to all Attorneys General urging them to pursue this matter in their state. For a copy of that letter, Click Here . To contact your state's Attorney General, go to Click Here .
ALOA is also empowering you to take immediate action when these fraudulent operations show up in your city. Click Here for a Press Release that you may send to your local print and broadcast news media outlets. Make sure you put in the date and the name of your city in the highlighted areas.
For further assistance, contact ALOA Legislative Manager, Tim McMullen at [protected] x300 or tim@aloa.org
I-Team: Deceptive Locksmiths
John Mercure
Shady locksmiths continue to cheat desperate Milwaukee consumers. The I-Team tracks these guys down to their home base outside Wisconsin. The company claims to be local, but we discovered they operate out of New York. We traced the trail of deception and ripoffs a thousand miles from home.
Complaints and lawsuits in several states tell the tale. People locked out of their homes and cars call for help. They're quoted one price over the phone, but after the work is done, they discover it costs much more than the quote. One customer was told the cost would be $55. When the guy showed up, she was hit up for $140.
We decided to check it out. We locked ourselves out of a Milwaukee home and then called a "Local" locksmith-- Dependable Locks-- for help. Dependable showed up, took two minutes to open our door, and charged us more than we were quoted. Then they refused to answer our questions.
"I'm an employee. The managers... You should talk to them," one guy told us.
There was something else disturbing. Our locksmith never even bothered to make sure we lived in the house he just opened for us. In fact, we had permission to use a house. But it didn't belong to ANYONE there that day. We just borrowed it for the investigation.
"This isn't even his house. You allowed one stranger to get in another stranger's house," we pointed out. The response? "Sometimes the guy moved in an apartment... I'm sorry. I have no comment for you. If you have something, go to the company."
We did go the company. But this 'local' operation is nowhere near Milwaukee.
"Our search brought us to New York... America's financial and cultural center. Its also the headquarters for Dependable Locks... A company ripping off people in Wisconsin and across America."
Not far from midtown Manhattan... In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty... Dependable Locks does it's dirty business from this Bronx office building. We decided to pay the owners a visit.
We were told to knock on a specific door to talk to a manager. But no one ever answered. They then asked us to wait outside. We did.
No one ever came.
But former employee Mekesia Brown says she was told to elude customers' questions. "They're making so much money and it seems they just don't care about what they do or how they do it," Brown told us. She used to work in the Bronx call center.
We asked her, "Is it fair to say that there were policies in place for you guys to not be 100% honest... To be kind of vague... Kind of not on the level?"
"Yes," she told us. "And it was joked about by the staff and the supervisors."
Speaking of supervisors, after 15 minutes we thought one had finally come out to talk to us. "I'm going to ask you to wait outside the parking lot," the man said. He refused to talk to us. He then told us yet another place to wait. We waited. For a long time. But managers at Bronx headquarters never came back to chat.
Mekesia Brown remembers how her bosses told her to deal with Wisconsinites. "Some would be crying. Some would be really angry, agitated, and still, and get that information from them as fast as possible and not give them any information as much as we could," she recalls.
And what about those fake Wisconsin addresses used by Dependable Locks? The address of a Waukesha gelato shop was listed in one ad.
Brown explains how that worked. "If there was a really angry customer who wanted to know where our location was, we would pull up our GPS system," she admits. "We would give them a random address for a Taco Bell... or a parking lot."
A shady business. A trail of lies and lawsuits. A former employee who wouldn't even call her old company for help... "If I was ever in a situation where i needed a locksmith... I would think twice. I would make sure to find out where that locksmith was. Because I hope to never deal with that company myself," Brown says.
Dependable Locks has operations in several states. They are being investigated in almost all those... Including here in Wisconsin. The state of Illinois is suing them... And their license there has been suspended.
The problem here: we license hairdressers... auctioneers... even bait shop owners. But not locksmiths.
Update: Unlicensed Locksmith In San Mateo County JailFour Months After ABC7 Gouging Investigation
By Michael Finney
SAN BRUNO, Calif., Jun. 28, 2007 (KGO) - An unlicensed locksmith accused of gouging customers and preying on the vulnerable is in a San Mateo county jail tonight.
The arrest of the locksmith by the San Bruno Police Department comes just four months after our hidden cameras caught him in action in an undercover sting. 29-year-old Moshe Mizrachi is being held on $25,000 dollars bail in Redwood City. Police believe he works for the same company accused of leaving a gaping hole in a San Bruno woman's front door.
He's also the same person seen in our hidden camera video and identified by a Santa Clara county woman, as the locksmith who charged her $3,000 dollars to change nine locks, and he's the same locksmith identified by this San Francisco man as the one who bilked him for $5,000 dollars just to change one lock.
Janet Chung was the landlord who had to foot the bill. Janet Chung, San Francisco: "We're starting to get closure on this. It's been a while. Slow process, so I'm pretty happy about the arrest." San Bruno police say Mizrachi's latest victim is an 86-year-old woman. Authorities say he billed her $1,500 dollars for one lock. Lt. Marc Catalano, San Bruno Police: "We are actively seeking charges of elder abuse, and obtaining money under false pretenses."
Up to now, Mizrachi has refused to answer any questions about his business practices and rates.
ABC7's Michael Finney: What kind of training do you have? What kind of license do you have? $900 dollars to replace a lock? You weren't even here an hour. Come on lets talk about this. You're a legitimate business man, let's have a talk." He'll now have to answer to a court of law. Most local authorities don't give consumer scams a high priority, not San Bruno police.
Lt Marc Catalano, San Bruno Police: "Anytime we find a victim whether its elderly or anybody, it is a felony if the value is over $400 dollars so we take these pretty seriously." Right now, Mizrachi is only facing charges in San Bruno, and not for any of his other alleged abuses.
Janet Chung, San Francisco: "We'd also like to see the different agencies that we've been working with utilize what they've been put in power to do to help us."
Those other authorities would be the San Francisco district attorney's office and the department of consumer affairs. Authorities have tied Mizrachi to two companies -- believed to be one and the same -- USA A1 locksmith and A1 San Bruno Locksmith. Those companies have not been charged.
Related Links
VIDEO: Locksmith Locked Up
ABC7 Video On Demand
Get Alerts In Your E-Mail
Get Alerts On Your Desktop
Consumer features
Michael Finney
Watch Michael Finney's consumer reports nightly on ABC7 News at 5 and 6 p.m.
Jun 21, 2007 1:39 PM
Investigators: Door Jam
Posted By: Timothy Donley
Most people don't have a locksmith on speed dial, but when you're locked out, you need help fast. Help from someone you can trust. But NBC Action News Investigator Nichole Teich is hot on the trail of one company that's hurting some customers instead of helping.
When you've locked yourself out and need to get in immediately, you're desperate. So you open the phonebook and call a locksmith. That's what Cynthia Day did after losing the keys to her car.
"[I] opened the Yellow Pages and the first big ad I seen, I called them," she said. The ad filled the entire page and listed six local phone numbers and a local address. "I wanted them to unlock my door and make me a key," Day said.
But after six hours, all she saw were wires hanging from her dash and her car's ignition switch in the passenger seat. "He told me he was going to fix it, but then it was going to be a $300 bill."
What Day did not know is that the company has a long list of complaints from customers who say they were pressured into paying high prices. So the NBC Action News Investigators decided to put them to the test.
With the help of a metro homeowner, we locked ourselves out. We also called Always Available Locksmith for help. They told us $39 for the service call, $15 to open the door.
And 30 minutes later, a locksmith arrives. He starts using tools to pick the lock and our hidden cameras are watching his every move. But what he doesn't know is that we picked the lock the day before.
President of the Missouri/Kansas Locksmith Association Jack Iturralde is helping us because he says other local locksmiths are often left to clean up the mess after Always Available Locksmith makes a house call.
"If someone comes out and pretends to be a locksmith and treats them like this, that makes the entire craft look badly," Iturralde said. Using ordinary lock picking tools, it takes Iturralde less than one minute to get into our test home. And he left the lock still intact.
"This is definitely a pickable lock," he said. "I would see no reason why any locksmith with reasonable training would have to drill this lock whatsoever."
At the test house, the locksmith from Always Available – using the same tools – tried to pick the lock. One minute passes, but the locksmith is having no luck. Five minutes later, 10 minutes later, the locksmith says he can't open the door. That is when he brings up an alternative.
"I might have to drill it," he said. Drilling a hold through the lock is something Iturralde says a skilled locksmith would rarely do, because then the homeowner is left with no way to protect their property.
But the locksmith from Always Available has a solution for that, as well. "That's $89 without tax." He just happens to have a replacement lock in his van and the price goes up $35. The Always Available locksmith takes out a drill and starts destroying the lock. So we stopped watching and started asking tough questions.
NICHOLE TEICH: I'm Nichole Teich with NBC Action News. Is that how you make extra money, by drilling into these locks?
LOCKSMITH: No.
NICHOLE TEICH: And then selling them a lock?
LOCKSMITH: No.
Then he stopped talking.
"Get this camera out of my face," he said, then walked away.
But we already knew the answers. We decided to pay a visit to the company. The ad in the phone book says all calls are answered at 295 W. 231 St. in Tonganoxie, Kan. But there's no locksmith there, only a huge cornfield. But we tracked the company thousands of miles from home, to New York City.
The company's real name is Dependable Locksmith, and when you call one of the six local phone numbers, your call is forwarded to an answering service out of New York.
Makesha Brown, a former employee, told sister station TMJ4 that she was trained to elude customers' questions.
"Some would be crying, some would be really angry, agitated," she said, adding supervisors often made fun of the callers who were angry about the way they do business. And if she was ever in trouble, "I would think twice. I would make sure to find out where the locksmith was because I never hope to deal with that company myself."
The real problem is that even though cosmetologists, podiatrists and even perfumists are all required to have licenses, locksmiths are not.
Dependable Locksmith is doing business in several states and is under currently investigation. Both the attorneys general in Illinois and Ohio are suing the company for deceptive practices. There is nothing pending in Missouri or Kansas.
Consumers Can File a Complaint Against Phony Locksmiths from the ALOA Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA), an international association of locksmith and physical security professionals expanded its website (www.aloa.org) so consumers can file a complaint against phony locksmiths directly to their state'ss Attorney General Consumer Protection Division. For those consumers who used the Internet to find a phony locksmith, they will be taken directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
This is a great tool for consumers to fight back against these scam artists, says ALOA'ss Executive Director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr., CAE, We were asked by the state Attorneys General to help them identify consumers who have been defrauded. Being linked directly to their complaint procedure will ensure a quick response from the state'ss top law enforcement agency, and faster convictions for these unscrupulous companies.
These phony locksmith companies purposely manipulate phone book and internet listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make their companies seem like neighborhood businesses. In actuality, consumers are frequently calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the consumer is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and/or sub-standard work.
The complaint heard most often by consumers is for car openings. The price quoted over the phone to stranded motorist is around $45. When the individual arrives and unlocks the car, he hands the motorist a bill for $135 - $150. This unscrupulous individual tells the frustrated consumer that the $45 was just the service call and that it was another $90 - $100 for servicing the lock. ALOA has record of a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1700 to replace a $12 lock. These out-of-state operations are set up solely to make money by purposely defrauding the public.
ALOA has also created a 10-point checklist for detecting a locksmith company that may be engaging in this scheme. Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves, adds Gibson. However, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con-artist.
1. Not Familiar with Your Area. To ensure that the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town.
2. Locksmith Service. Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, locksmith service. If the call is answered this way, ask, What is the legal name of your business.
3. ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo. You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by calling ALOA, [protected] or www.findalocksmith.com.
4. Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad
5. Under Same Ownership. This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, is often legally required to prevent a business from deceiving the public. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases.
6. Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle - a van or truck that is clearly marked.
7. Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith'ss identification as well. Does he have a business card Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it Does it match the name on the service vehicle
8. Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
9. Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can'st dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for.
10. Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.
Check for a valid state license number. The states that have licensing for locksmith services (AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from phony locksmith scams.
The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is the world's largest organization for locksmiths and other physical security professionals. ALOA is dedicated to being the consumer's first line of defense in physical security by increasing the effectiveness and productivity of locksmiths through educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. ALOA'ss activities include the ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) program, the ALOA Annual Convention & Security Expo and the ALOA Training Center, which is based in Dallas, Texas. ALOA leads the way for advanced and improved security performance by providing members and the security community with access to a full range of educational programs and services.
Contact:
Tim McMullen, JD, CAE, Legislative Manager
[protected] x300
tim(at)aloa.org
Home | Check Out an Organization | File a Complaint | Go to Local BBBs | Get Tips
News & Articles
- Search Articles
- Consumer/Business Tips
- Press Releases
- Media-Friendly Experts
- BBB Video Series
BBB Warns Consumers of Nationwide Locksmith Swindle. You may have been a victim and not even know it. For Immediate Release.
Arlington, VA – July 10, 2007 – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today is warning consumers to beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies that are ripping off consumers across the country.
Victim complaints to the BBB reveal that several locksmith companies, all using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints.
“Ironically, these companies operate under names like ‘Dependable Locksmith’ but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car,” said Steve Cox spokesperson for the BBB System. “We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.”
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has identified Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – as a particularly disreputable locksmith. This company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. A consumer might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint from Cleveland, OH, where Dependable Locksmith was operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone. The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash – feeling unsafe the victim refused. The victim was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith as he would not let her into her car until she did so. She cancelled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB has also heard many complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services. For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by Dependable Locksmiths of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of Dependable Locksmith’s aliases include, Superb Solutions, Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc., USA Total Security, Priceline Locksmith, and S.O.S. Locksmith.
Two other locksmith contractors fleecing consumers are Basad, Inc. – which operates under more than 50 names nationwide, such as A-1 Locksmith Service, A-1 24 Hour Locksmith, A-1 Lock & Key Locksmith, and AAA Locksmith 24 Hour – and Liberty Locksmith. Similar to Dependable Locksmith, they pose as local locksmiths and run full-page yellow pages ads with multiple phone and address listings. The phone numbers appear to be local, but connect to national call centers such as Liberty’s in New York City, while the addresses end up belonging to other established businesses in the local area, or are simply non-existent.
Liberty Locksmith had been a BBB member in Tulsa, OK, but during normal BBB member validation processes, it was discovered that the addresses provided by the company were false. In June 2007, the BBB terminated the membership of Liberty Locksmith for providing false information in its membership application and providing misleading advertisements to the public.
Like others, Liberty Locksmith and Basad, Inc. use common cons such as quoting one price over the phone, but then charging significantly more on site.
“These companies are very good at posing as trustworthy locksmiths,” said Mr. Cox. “Before you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being locked out of your car or house, do your research and find a truly dependable locksmith in your area. Ask around and always check with the BBB first to find reputable businesses.”
If you feel you’ve been taken advantage of by Dependable Locksmith, Liberty Locksmith, Basad. Inc., or others, please contact the BBB to file a complaint, or do so online at www.bbb.org.
# # #
About the BBB System
BBB is an unbiased, non-profit entity that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses and charities that earn BBB membership contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports and charity Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about the BBB System.
# # #
Reporters and journalists may contact Steve Cox, CBBB's Vice President, Communications, or call 703.276.0100 to request an interview or additional information.
If you are a consumer who is seeking additional information, or need assistance with a complaint against a business, please contact your local BBB, visit the BBB web site (www.bbb.org) or call 703.276.0100.
About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Trademarks | Terms & Conditions of Use | Contact Us
© 2003 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Home | Check Out an Organization | File a Complaint | Go to Local BBBs | Get Tips
News & Articles
- Search Articles
- Consumer/Business Tips
- Press Releases
- Media-Friendly Experts
- BBB Video Series
BBB Warns Consumers of Nationwide Locksmith Swindle
You may have been a victim and not even know it.
For Immediate Release
Arlington, VA – July 10, 2007 – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today is warning consumers to beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies that are ripping off consumers across the country.
Victim complaints to the BBB reveal that several locksmith companies, all using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints.
“Ironically, these companies operate under names like ‘Dependable Locksmith’ but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car,” said Steve Cox spokesperson for the BBB System. “We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.”
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has identified Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – as a particularly disreputable locksmith. This company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. A consumer might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint from Cleveland, OH, where Dependable Locksmith was operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone. The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash – feeling unsafe the victim refused. The victim was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith as he would not let her into her car until she did so. She cancelled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB has also heard many complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services. For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by Dependable Locksmiths of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of Dependable Locksmith’s aliases include, Superb Solutions, Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc., USA Total Security, Priceline Locksmith, and S.O.S. Locksmith.
Two other locksmith contractors fleecing consumers are Basad, Inc. – which operates under more than 50 names nationwide, such as A-1 Locksmith Service, A-1 24 Hour Locksmith, A-1 Lock & Key Locksmith, and AAA Locksmith 24 Hour – and Liberty Locksmith. Similar to Dependable Locksmith, they pose as local locksmiths and run full-page yellow pages ads with multiple phone and address listings. The phone numbers appear to be local, but connect to national call centers such as Liberty’s in New York City, while the addresses end up belonging to other established businesses in the local area, or are simply non-existent.
Liberty Locksmith had been a BBB member in Tulsa, OK, but during normal BBB member validation processes, it was discovered that the addresses provided by the company were false. In June 2007, the BBB terminated the membership of Liberty Locksmith for providing false information in its membership application and providing misleading advertisements to the public.
Like others, Liberty Locksmith and Basad, Inc. use common cons such as quoting one price over the phone, but then charging significantly more on site.
“These companies are very good at posing as trustworthy locksmiths,” said Mr. Cox. “Before you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being locked out of your car or house, do your research and find a truly dependable locksmith in your area. Ask around and always check with the BBB first to find reputable businesses.”
If you feel you’ve been taken advantage of by Dependable Locksmith, Liberty Locksmith, Basad. Inc., or others, please contact the BBB to file a complaint, or do so online at www.bbb.org.
# # #
About the BBB System
BBB is an unbiased, non-profit entity that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses and charities that earn BBB membership contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports and charity Wise Giving Reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about the BBB System.
# # #
Reporters and journalists may contact Steve Cox, CBBB's Vice President, Communications, or call 703.276.0100 to request an interview or additional information.
If you are a consumer who is seeking additional information, or need assistance with a complaint against a business, please contact your local BBB, visit the BBB web site (www.bbb.org) or call 703.276.0100.
About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Trademarks | Terms & Conditions of Use | Contact Us
© 2003 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Skepticism The Key To Avoiding Locksmith Scam
Advertisement
July 12, 2007
• Read More Scam Alerts ...
Perhaps playing on consumers' security fears, a handful of operators, posing as locksmith companies, are ripping off consumers coast to coast.
The companies, all employing similar tactics, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints, according to the Better Business Bureau.
“Ironically, these companies operate under names like ‘Dependable Locksmith’ but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car,” said Steve Cox spokesperson for the BBB System. “We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.”
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has singled out Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – for harsh criticism, calling it “particularly disreputable.”
The group says the company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. A consumer might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint from Cleveland, OH, where Dependable Locksmith was operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone. The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash. Feeling unsafe the victim refused.
The victim said she was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith, claiming he would not let her into her car until she did so. She cancelled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB also reports complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services. For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by Dependable Locksmiths of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of Dependable Locksmith’s aliases include, Superb Solutions, Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc., USA Total Security, Priceline Locksmith, and S.O.S. Locksmith, according to the BBB.
More Scam Alerts ...
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
bookmark this on del.icio.ussave this be the first to bookmark this page!
July 12 2007
Verizon Signs Florida Anti-Cramming Agreement
• Ameriquest to Pay $325 Million to Homeowners
Gas Price Increases Ahead
Vet Sounds Warning on Internet Pet Sales
FDA Approves New LASIK Device
Skepticism The Key To Avoiding Locksmith Scam
AOL Pays $3 Million, Promises to Clean Up Cancellation Process
Consumers Bilked of $17.5 Billion in Overdraft Loans
Apple Denies iPhone Nano Reports
More News ...
Trip Tricks: What to Know Before You Go
Watch Out for Restocking Fees
Young and In Debt
Hoodwinked by Hoodia
Who's Screening the Screeners?
Going Once: Buying a Home at Auction
Food Fads: The Raw Truth
More Videos ...
Nissan Recalls 140,000 Altimas
Bonjour Cooking Torches
Milwaukee Power Tool Battery Packs
Mag Stix Recalled After Serious Intestinal Injury
"Essentials" Children's Jewelry
Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Nitro Recall
Algoma Hammock Stands
Infantino Toy Castles
Veggie Booty Snacks
More Recalls ...
READER SERVICES
Subscribe
Weekly Newsletter
Enter your e-mail
Daily Newsletter
Enter your email
Advertisement
Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use
Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.Com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.
Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.
For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice. ConsumerAffairs.Com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof.
Copyright © [protected] ConsumerAffairs.Com Inc. All Rights Reserved.
July 12, 2007
• Read More Scam Alerts ...
Perhaps playing on consumers' security fears, a handful of operators, posing as locksmith companies, are ripping off consumers coast to coast.
The companies, all employing similar tactics, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints, according to the Better Business Bureau.
“Ironically, these companies operate under names like ‘Dependable Locksmith’ but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car,” said Steve Cox spokesperson for the BBB System. “We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.”
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has singled out Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – for harsh criticism, calling it “particularly disreputable.”
The group says the company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. A consumer might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint from Cleveland, OH, where Dependable Locksmith was operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone. The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash. Feeling unsafe the victim refused.
The victim said she was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith, claiming he would not let her into her car until she did so. She cancelled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB also reports complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services. For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by Dependable Locksmiths of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of Dependable Locksmith’s aliases include, Superb Solutions, Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc., USA Total Security, Priceline Locksmith, and S.O.S. Locksmith, according to the BBB.
July 13, 2007
Locksmiths Pick Your Wallet
> Posted by at 11:13:58 AM
If you've got a bone to pick with a locksmith over an inflated bill, you might want to call the local Better Business Bureau and file a complaint. Maybe even the police.
The BBB released a warning this week about locksmiths who quote one price over the phone only to show up at your doorstep demanding much higher fees.
The BBB says it has identified Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – as a particularly disreputable locksmith. This company, like other similar schemes, poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. Consumers might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center.
Two other locksmith contractors to avoid are Basad, Inc. – which operates under more than 50 names nationwide, such as A-1 Locksmith Service, A-1 24 Hour Locksmith, A-1 Lock & Key Locksmith, and AAA Locksmith 24 Hour – and Liberty Locksmith, according to the BBB.
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
One woman had to eventually call police after a locksmith tried to double her fee for opening her locked car and refused to let her in until she paid. He later harassed her after she cancelled the check.
To file a complaint with the South Florida branch of the BBB, visit www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org/ or call [protected].
I'd suggest skipping the Yellow Pages for expensive jobs and get recommendations from the BBB or from friends or neighbors. And never hesitate to file a complaint against a bad company.
BBB Warns Consumers of Nationwide Locksmith Swindle. You may have been a victim and not even know it. For Immediate Release:
Arlington, VA – July 10, 2007 – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today is warning consumers to beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies that are ripping off consumers across the country.
Victim complaints to the BBB reveal that several locksmith companies, all using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers, charging consumers for unnecessary services, using intimidation tactics, and failing to give refunds or respond to consumer complaints.
“Ironically, these companies operate under names like ‘Dependable Locksmith’ but in reality they exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their house or car,” said Steve Cox spokesperson for the BBB System. “We’ve found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune part of their business model.”
Complaints about locksmith services to the 114 BBBs serving the U.S. increased almost 75 percent from 2005 to 2006, and have continued to come in steadily during the first half of this year.
The BBB has identified Dependable Locksmith – which operates under more than a dozen different names – as a particularly disreputable locksmith. This company poses as a local locksmith in cities across the country and advertises in the yellow pages using local phone numbers and fake local addresses. A consumer might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith but their phone call is actually connected to a call center located in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Consumers are quoted a reasonable price over the phone but when the locksmith arrives – typically in an unmarked vehicle – he demands significantly more money than originally quoted, often only accepting cash.
A complaint from Cleveland, OH, where Dependable Locksmith was operating under the name “Superb Solutions,” alleges the company quoted fees of $39 and $84 for separate jobs, but the bill ended up at $471, which included add-on fees such as a $65 breaking in fee and a $58 fee to uninstall old locks.
Another complainant reported that the locksmith sent to let her into her car demanded she pay twice the price quoted over the phone. The locksmith offered to drive her to an ATM to get cash – feeling unsafe the victim refused. The victim was ultimately forced to write a check made out personally to the locksmith as he would not let her into her car until she did so. She canceled payment on the check the next morning, but eventually filed a police report after the locksmith harassed her with continuous phone calls about payment.
The BBB has also heard many complaints from victims who say they were charged for unnecessary services. For example, complainants suspect locksmiths sent over by Dependable Locksmiths of pretending they couldn’t simply pick the lock so that they could charge more and install all new locks in homes.
Some of Dependable Locksmith’s aliases include, Superb Solutions, Locksmith 24 Hour, Inc., USA Total Security, Priceline Locksmith, and S.O.S. Locksmith.
Two other locksmith contractors fleecing consumers are Basad, Inc. – which operates under more than 50 names nationwide, such as A-1 Locksmith Service, A-1 24 Hour Locksmith, A-1 Lock & Key Locksmith, and AAA Locksmith 24 Hour – and Liberty Locksmith. Similar to Dependable Locksmith, they pose as local locksmiths and run full-page yellow pages ads with multiple phone and address listings. The phone numbers appear to be local, but connect to national call centers such as Liberty’s in New York City, while the addresses end up belonging to other established businesses in the local area, or are simply non-existent.
Liberty Locksmith had been a BBB member in Tulsa, OK, but during normal BBB member validation processes, it was discovered that the addresses provided by the company were false. In June 2007, the BBB terminated the membership of Liberty Locksmith for providing false information in its membership application and providing misleading advertisements to the public.
Like others, Liberty Locksmith and Basad, Inc. use common cons such as quoting one price over the phone, but then charging significantly more on site.
“These companies are very good at posing as trustworthy locksmiths,” said Mr. Cox. “Before you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being locked out of your car or house, do your research and find a truly dependable locksmith in your area. Ask around and always check with the BBB first to find reputable businesses.”
If you feel you’ve been taken advantage of by Dependable Locksmith, Liberty Locksmith, Basad. Inc., or others, please contact the BBB to file a complaint, or do so online at www.bbb.org.
