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by Dana_Fowle

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Locksmith Consumer Alert
May 13, 2008 | 7:12 PM
Category: News
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Our I-Team hidden camera investigation found just what the Federal Trade Commission warned: some locksmiths are overcharging and playing themselves off as local when they're not local at all.

Drew and Clarissa Owen say they called Atlanta Locksmith and got a $400 estimate to have their locks changed. After the work was done they were handed a bill for more than $3,000. Geraldine Essix got locked out of the house and called State Locksmith, but her estimate and her bill were far apart.

So, the I-Team went undercover and also called State Locksmith to pick a lock. We couldn't get a firm estimate, but the state's trade organization said it was a $75 job. What were we charged? $192.

Read what else we found. Atlanta Locksmith and State Locksmith had different numbers, but both went to the same company: Reliable Locksmith in Florida. The company operates a call center in Florida, then sends sub-contractors out to do the work. What's more, the Better Business Bureau gives Florida's Reliable Locksmith an "F" rating.

A spokesman with the trade organization says companies like this are operating across the country using different names and numbers, subbing out jobs, overcharging customers, then disappearing into a maze of names. Trying to get your money back is nearly impossible.

A quick note: Our story is not about Reliable Locksmith in Dunwoody or Atlanta Lockservice, Inc.

Click Here for Tips on Hiring a Locksmith

Click Here for the National Locksmith Assocation Warning

26 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 26
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chuecos read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 8:05 AM

Dear Sirs, with all due respect I disagree with the question the reporter made to the man that was working as a subcontractor for the Locksmith company. Why did she ask, Where are you from? who cares where is he from?, what does it have to do with the issue she was talking about?

It was totally inappropriate. It sounded very racist and profiling
Dana_Fowle read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 8:36 AM

Actually, the point of the story is that this company is not honest about who it is, what its name is or where its located. We wanted to find out the answers to these questions. How do you do that? You ask, Where are you from? Meaning, what company, what state? And he answered, From my home, which tells us volumes. He didn't want to be straight with us and that he was a sub-contractor.
chuecos read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 8:43 AM

Thanks for replying back Dana, then you should be more careful when asking the question. You should asked, where the company is located? What state? If you are more straight forward, people will not misunderstand the question.
SANTAS_ELF read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 7:09 PM

DONT WORRY ABOUT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WHEN DEALING WITH BASTARDS LIKE THIS GUY!!! $$200 FOR OPENING A DOOR!!! WHO CARES WHAT GODDAM CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY THIS GUY WAS FROM??? SONOFABITCH!!!
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 7:32 PM

DANA ...YOU LIE....PERIOD....AND YOU ARE RACIST!!!
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 7:38 PM

P.S. SANTA'S_ELF....HE IS FROM ISRAEL YOU IDIOT...NOT EVERYONE WITH TAN SKIN IS MEXICAN OR SOUTH AMERICAN....NOW GO FLY THAT REBEL FLAG....AND HAVE DANA JOIN YOU
Dana_Fowle read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 10:19 PM

The locksmith was not Hispanic.
hallcountylock
May 15, 2008 | 10:47 PM

Well I am surprised that you only had two comments on the subject …with all the locksmiths in Atlanta . Isn’t anyone interested in the actual story? Or just looking for racism? I feel sorry for the people in the story…but where’s the other complaints or review for a good locksmith? I have been a locksmith for 35 years and I do provide a good job ….So my question to the people who have been duped is this…When I quote a job - and there is added work which results in a charge of even $5.00 added to the bill...I get a complaint! During my 2 years of providing service in Georgia, I have heard stories of other Locksmiths charging $350.00 to rekey a lock …compared to my charge of $55.00 plus keys.. It seems there’s always someone out there to take advantage be it a plumber, wrecker driver, or a Locksmith……The key is to look for the honest small business man in your community. WE are out here.

Hall County Lock & Safe
Dana_Fowle read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 10:57 PM

I urge everyone to read the links that I provided. It gives a full background on this national trend in the industry.

What I did learn working on this story is that I met some wonderful, hardworking locksmiths who tell me their businesses are threatened by these guys.
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 11:19 PM

I AGREE WITH HALL COUNTY LOCK....PEOPLE WILL CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUY WHAT EVER MONEY THEY HAVE TO SPEND..EVEN AN EXTRA SMALL AMOUNT....BY THE WAY DANA, WHERE DO YOU LIVE??? HOW MANY MINORITY FRIENDS DO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAVE OVER, SAY LIKE FOR DINNER?????
dustoff529 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 7:23 AM

RACIST and PROFILING!!! Dont ya love it... It's ALWAYS about race with "them" that is why they are where they are! A short FAT THUG with processed hair as a "leader".

So as I understand it , now if I say to a "person of color" where are you from in a conversation I am a racist...Good Grief
When I have your wounded
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 9:34 AM

dustoff529....you are an idiot...and racist....DANA, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I ASKED YOU....BY NOT DOING THAT TELLS ME VOLUMES....I AM WAITING. P.S THE YOUNG MAN HAS NEVER BEEN ARRESTED...HE IS NOT A THUG...WHATEVER THAT MEANS....AND DANA WAS ASKING THIS GUY WHERE HE WAS FROM BECAUSE OF HIS ACCENT AND HIS SKIN COLOR....
dustoff529 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 10:58 AM

Bumblebee... My my such a heavy racial chip on your shoulder!!! You know nothing about me.... I may in fact be black, a proud black man that accomplished what I have aaccomplished on my own. I didnt sit back and whine about racist this and that. I have disavowed the race WHORES that profit from keeping black people down!.

Dana,ignmore this sheep, he'll go back to the flock and leave you alone!
dustoff529 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 11:01 AM

PS Bumblebee, why arent you screaming because the shadows of the avatars are black... YOu didnt read the post.. I was refering to Al "kill the Jew" Sharpton!
Beeyotch
May 16, 2008 | 12:32 PM

Ahhh, boo-hoo. Gimme me a break. So she asked the guy where he was from. How the hell is that racist? I'm sure she probably did mean, what company are you with, but even if she didn't, I don't see how asking someone where they are from is a racist comment. People get upset when you lump them into a certain demographic. Try calling a Korean person Chinese, a Pakistanian an Indian or speak Spanish to a Morrocan, you'll find out real quick. How is trying to clarify where someone is from a racist remark? It's not like she made the inference that all Iranians are dishonest, crooked people who will steal your money.
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 12:43 PM

I AM WAITING DANA?????????????????
bumblebee07 read my blog
May 16, 2008 | 12:45 PM

AND IT IS CALLED AN EQUALITY CHIP...YOU, MY DEAR, HAVE THE RACIST CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER. YOU GUYS ARE WHITE MEN...YOU HAVE NEVER SUFFERED RACISM, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING
Beeyotch
May 16, 2008 | 1:06 PM

If you think white people have really never suffered any form of racism than you are a friggin moron. Reverse racism is certainly alive and well, but minorities tend to react with disbelief anytime someone brings that up. I'm not saying it occurs as often as regular racism, but to ignore the fact that it exists is being a bit shortsided.

But, why should I think you even have the means to grasp such a concept? Maybe because every repsonse you type is some inane rambling, calling all whites dumbasses and KKK flag bearers. Hmmmm, seems you've already proved my point for me. Also, it's called a caps lock button...you have never pressed it, there you probably should.
Dana_Fowle read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 1:34 PM

I find it terribly disheartening that a story about people being taken when they are in a vulnerable position turns into a debate about racism. I would bet that the many upstanding locksmiths out there would love to talk instead about how their businesses are suffering because of this element in their industry.

Racism is quite an accusation to throw around so lightly. Taking a quick glance at the last four stories I've done, the people I set out to help were as follows: three black females, one Hispanic female, two black males, one white female, two white males, and a variety of animals. The bad guys, if you will, were two white males and a man of Middle Eastern decent. I don't think any of the minorities asking for help saw me as racist nor do I think the white "bad guy" saw that either. Additionally, the two Israeli-born locksmith owners who called to thank me for the story don't agree with you either.

There is real racism in the world - people beaten or held back because of religious beliefs, skin color or gender.

It is offensive to the people who genuinely struggle to toss the accusation around so lightly.
Beeyotch
May 16, 2008 | 2:03 PM

Dana-
I apologize for falling prey to his racial baiting and hijacking your thread. The I-team works hard at watching out for the consumer and Joe Q. Taxpayer, no matter what descent. I got a little worked up that such a small matter was being turned into a racial attack on someone who works hard to right wrongs against Atlantans, no matter their skin color. I was just unable to put my frustration in words as tactful as you did.
Anyway, I think Bumble must be a friend of said scumbag locksmith or perhaps judging by the quality of his posts, his 12 year old son. After all, he knew the locksmith was Israeali without that ever being explicitly stated. By the way, "I am from my house." was the best answer to any question ever!
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Dana_Fowle

I'm not as serious as I look on TV. I love to laugh even if it's at my expense. I'm just not very PC. My friends would describe me as "black and white." Not a lot of gray. My co-workers call me Elaine from Seinfeld. I'm generally disheveled and have a messy car. I have really curly hair, but the station doesn't like it that way. I love my husband because he's funny. I also love red wine, rare steak, dark chocolate and strong coffee. I'm Type A, so of course, I wish I were smarter.

Member Since: 2/28/2007


 

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