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Federal Trade Commission – FTC urges consumers to use caution when seeking a locksmith – “when local is long distance”.
Consider this scenario: A company far away from your town chooses a name for its business that is very similar to the name used by a local locksmith. The company advertises in the phone book or on the Web using a local telephone number and local address (sometimes 30 or more separate listings in a single phone book) with different names. When you call any of these numbers, you’re actually connected to a call center in a distant city where operators dispatch untrained individuals to do the job. What’s more, there’s no locksmith shop at the address listed or the address belongs to another established business.

What’s the best way to pick a reputable locksmith? Consider researching locksmiths before you need one, the same way you would a plumber, electrician, or other professional.

Once you’ve found a reputable locksmith, keep the company’s name and contact information in your wallet and address book at home or at work. You also may want to program this information into your home and cell phones. This can save you time and trouble the next time you need these services.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) – “You May Have Been A Victim And Not Even Know It”
Beware of untrustworthy locksmith companies that are ripping off consumers across the country. Victim complaints to BBB reveal that several locksmith companies, using similar methods, are significantly overcharging consumers and charging consumers for unnecessary services.

Consumers are quoted 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.

“We found that some locksmiths have made taking advantage of consumers’ misfortune a part of their business model. These companies are very good at posing as trustworthy local locksmiths.” Said Steve Cox BB spokesperson.

Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) – Legislate Manager Time McMullen JD, CAE Legislative Manager stated that of the “280,000 people a day that call a locksmith, (80%) 225,000 reach a phony locksmith and don’t realize it until too late.”
“The out-of-state operations they unknowingly reach are set up solely to defraud consumers.”

“They purposely manipulate phone book and internet listings to make their companies seem like neighborhood businesses.”

Example of “the most typical scam” identified by all the above organizations and agencies:

You are locked out of your home, car or business. You look for a locksmith to help you out. (Most people tend to call the locksmith with the biggest or local looking ad thinking that they should be reliable). In fact many of these (not all) are placed by the very people who are offering a bait and switch scam. You are quoted a very low price over the phone.

A locksmith who quotes you $29.00 to come out and “diagnose” the problem is a big warning sign. There is absolutely no reason to have an unlocking service “diagnosed”. In fact most locks can be picked open by a professional locksmith in a matter of several minutes. There may be special tools used to gain access to a lock release mechanism. But don’t let them drill the lock this is rarely necessary. Realistically, since it costs any company more than $29.00 to dispatch a professional locksmith, a lowball quote can only be assumed to be “bait and switch”.

If you can’t get a flat, bottom-line price on what an unlocking or any other locksmith service would cost on the phone, hang up and find a reputable locksmith that will. This should absolutely be all you will pay after the job is completed. If you wind up with a questionable locksmith at your home, business or car, don’t let them proceed. You will probably wind up paying 3-10 times more overall than you should!

Beware of fake storefronts just to confuse search engines and trick you.

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