| When Hiring a Locksmith, Beware of Scam Artists Hillsborough County's Consumer Protection Agency has some advice for consumers the next time they are locked out of their house or accidentally lock the keys in the car. • The unscrupulous locksmith leaves you with a generic receipt with no identifying information. • The consumer is left paying an unknown company more than they ever agreed to. • Check locksmiths with the Florida Attorney General's Office, the county Consumer Protection Agency and the Better Business Bureau to make sure no unresolved complaints are on file. • The call center gives you a low reasonable estimate and dispatches a local technician to help you. What You Should Do • Research a locksmith before you call and find an established local locksmith with 24-hour service. • If the price the locksmith provides is different from the phone estimate, do not allow the work to be done. • Ask family and friends for recommendations and referrals. • Unscrupulous locksmiths use several names and telephone numbers which are returned to the same answering service, which might be a call center in another city. • Check to see if the invoice includes the company's name, address and telephone number. • Keep a business card in your wallet or program a trusted locksmith number in your phone to have at all times. How Phony Locksmiths Operate • Phony locksmiths advertise in the telephone book or on the Web using local telephone numbers and addresses belonging to unsuspecting residents, businesses or even vacant property. • Call on a quote on the telephone for the total cost of the work. • Always ask the locksmith for identification, including a business card. • Verify a locksmith's address using Websites that allow you to match phone numbers with street addresses. • The technician drives an unmarked vehicle and charges you more money than was quoted, and tries to intimidate you into paying the increased fee with cash – a "Bait 'n Switch. • Check with roadside assistance services for a list of pre-approved locksmiths. |
Thursday, 8 March 2012
When Hiring a Locksmith, Beware of Scam Artists
