| KOMO: Rogue locksmiths prey on desperate victims
If you ever lock yourself out of your home or car, be careful who you call for help. But as Ellen Ginn discovered, you do not need to agree. Or, as many report doing, challenge them. Laurie Todd hired a locksmith to re-key five locks on her new house. "He wrote down $280," Todd explained. Rogue locksmiths use generic names and copycat phrases so you can't tell who the good guys are. And it turns out some of the companies that say they're local are not that local at all. Cut your losses. After a forceful protest, then being told to leave, Ginn says her locksmith suddenly caved. She explains: "He immediately said, 'Well, my boss is going to get really mad at me, very angry. Get in touch with your insurance company for referrals. Or call AAA, which now offers residential lock-out service with its memberships along with vehicle lockout. I'll charge you only $65. It doesn't take long and it doesn't cost hundreds of dollars. Unscrupulous operators simply rely upon your desperation. Despite local telephone numbers, the Better Business Bureau has traced a number of the companies to an operation based in New York and Colorado. The local BBB just launched an investigation. Horace says the shady operators are almost impossible to pin down. Which is all Ginn should have paid in the first place. How much should you would anticipate to pay for a typical car lockout? According to Dave Armstrong of AAA Washington, for most vehicles it's nowhere near $100, let alone $175. "If you're calling retail (not a AAA member), a reputable locksmith will charge anywhere between $50 and $75," explained Armstrong. The certified technicians at AAA know the horror stories. And Horace says it's not necessarily illegal, because virtually anyone can take out an ad and claim to be a locksmith. He says it took about three seconds for the locksmith to unlock his car door. Total bill? $109. Ellen Ginn got a quotation of $39. It's very, very shady. To avoid getting burned, do your homework before you ever require a locksmith. And car lockouts are not the only targets. Rogue locksmiths are pulling off what some say is a "bait and switch. Part of the challenge is that we never think about locksmiths until we need one -- in which case we're usually desperate and at the mercy of whoever is available to help. They come to your rescue, but these guys are not your friends. In some cases, they encourage you to let them accompany you to the ATM. "So it was going to be like $140 plus tax," says Todd. If pressed, they'll often take a credit card. Dave Amstrong says you can call even if you aren't an AAA member and get referrals. |
Sunday 13 May 2012
KOMO: Rogue locksmiths prey on desperate victims
