Beware Of Locksmith Scams
Most people don't think to research the locksmiths in their community before they get into a situation in which they find themselves needing one
. This is unfortunate because not all locksmiths are of the same caliber; in fact some are down right scam artists. Across the nation reports are pouring in of people being drastically over charged for simple locksmith services. In fact, the Better Business Bureau has recently issued their own warning regarding these "bait and switch" tactics. In the following, we will illustrate one such scenario and then discuss some ways by which you can prevent this from happening to you.
Working as a Sacramento Locksmith in California I have personally come across some of these scams. For example, not long ago I was called out to rekey a house in a local city Roseville, California. This is a routine call for anyone working as a professional locksmith, however, when I arrived on site the customer explained to me why she was rekeying her house.
As it turned out she had made a similar call one month earlier yet instead of calling a locksmith at a local phone number she had dialed a 1-800 number out of the phone book. She asked the dispatcher what it would cost to have her locks rekeyed and they told her $125 to $150. The price seemed reasonable so she scheduled an appointment.
Later that day a man arrived in an unmarked van and identified himself as a locksmith. Trusting that all was as it seemed she presented the locks that needed to be rekeyed to the "locksmith". Immediately he told her that the locks she had could not be rekeyed and that they would all need to be replaced. She thought that what he was saying sounded a little odd but since she needed the work done she told him to go ahead.
When the technicians work was complete he told her that the amount due would be $450. She was flabbergasted by the amount, but being that he had her keys she realized that she was in an awkward position so she told him that she would write him a check. The Locksmith asserted that he could only accept cash or credit, so begrudgingly, she handed over her master card. Feeling taken advantage of she requested a written receipt, in response to which, he gave her an address and told her that she would have to submit a written request. In the end he left, she got her keys and she did submit a request for the bill.
I asked her if I could see a copy of the bill and she obliged. On the invoice was the companies name Dependable Locksmith out of Florida. Amongst other charges it turned out that they had billed her $135 for a generic door knob that you can buy at any local hardware store for $8, this blew me away.
Not only had they over charged this poor old lady, they had also done horrible work; they had taken all the deadbolts off the doors and had replaced the knobs, which by the way were literally falling off of doors. When all was said and done I charged her $125 about what she was originally expecting.
This story is an unfortunate one, yet it could have been prevented. So how can you stop such a Scam from happening to you or those that you love? First and foremost, do not call a 1-800 number if they are indeed a local business then they should have a local phone #. Second, make sure that they don't arrive in an unmarked vehicle. If they are a reputable locksmith then they will be invested enough to have some sort of name and business info on their vehicle.
Many states, including California, have laws against locksmithing without a valid license, if applicable ask them to show it to you before they begin any work. Do your research, find out who it is that you're letting come into your home. Ask a friend for a reference, run a check for their company name on the Better Business Bureaus website, ask a, or even contact your local Chamber of Commerce. Finally and most importantly once the locksmith has arrived make sure that he gives you a clear idea of what the work will cost you.
So in conclusion don't fall prey for this type of locksmith swindle take these steps to protect yourself and the ones you love.
by: Emily Taggart
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