I am shocked to learn that only 9 of 50 states require locksmith licensing

1. Alabama
2. California
3. Illinois
4. Louisiana
5. New Jersey
6. North Carolina
7. Oklahoma
8. Tennessee
9. Texas

If you DON’T live in one of those states, you need to be highly aware of locksmith scams.

“Phony locksmith” companies purposely manipulate phone book and internet listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make it seem like a neighborhood business. In actuality, consumers are calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the consumer is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and/or sub-standard work.

The complaint heard most often by consumers is for car openings. The price quoted over the phone to stranded motorist is around $45. When the individual arrives and unlocks the car, he hands the motorist a bill for $135 - $150. This unscrupulous individual tells the frustrated consumer that the $45 was just the service call and that it was another $90 - $100 for servicing the lock. ALOA has record of a number of incidents of elderly consumers locked out of their homes and being charged $900 to $1700 to replace a $12 lock. These out-of-state operations are set up solely to make money by purposely defrauding the public.

The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has created a 10-point Phony Locksmith check-list for detecting a locksmith company that may be engaging in this scheme. Many of the items in this checklist are legal by themselves, however, if several are used together, you may be dealing with a con artist:

1. Not Familiar with Your Area . To ensure that the company is local, make sure that they are familiar with your area of town .
2. “Locksmith Service.” Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, “locksmith service.” If the call is answered this way, ask, “What is the legal name of your business.”
3. ALOA Logo. Does the Yellow Pages ad contain a logo that makes them appear to belong to ALOA? While many locksmiths do belong to the Association, some unscrupulous individuals trick the consumer by falsely using the ALOA logo. You can always check to see if in fact these businesses are members by calling ALOA, (800) 532-2562 or www.findalocksmith.com .
4. Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?
5. “Under Same Ownership” This confusing statement, often found in small print at the bottom of a full-page ad in phone directories, give consumers a sense that the firm has been in business for awhile. The statement itself may be a warning sign that the company operates under several aliases. Also, the ad sometimes lists association memberships for organizations that do not exist, (i.e. American Locksmith Association).
6. Service Vehicle. Some legitimate locksmiths will work out of a car or unmarked van for quick jobs, but most will arrive in a service vehicle, a van or truck that is clearly marked.
7. Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith’s identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it? Does it match the name on the service vehicle?
8. Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
9. Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can’t dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for .
10. Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.

Check for a valid state license number . The states that have licensing for locksmith services (AL,CA, IL, LA, NJ, NC, OK, TN and TX ) may require the licensed locksmith company to include a state license number on their vehicles, advertising, and all paperwork. If your state requires licensing, then the technician must show you his/her identity card, which is a good indicator of legitimacy. These licensed locksmiths and their companies have been investigated by the state and found free of criminal activity in their past, and are required to have current valid liability insurance policies in force. States with a licensing law typically have a consumer protection hotline number to call and a mailing address for complaints to be sent to. Do not pay anyone that will not provide you with this information. If your state does not have a licensing law to protect you, ask your legislator for that protection. The Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) supports state licensing for the purpose of protecting the consumer and can assist your legislator in drafting laws to protect consumers from phony locksmith scams.

Daniel Vasquez, consumer columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes:

Door open for discussion of locksmith licensing

If you’ve ever had to call a locksmith, you know it’s usually an emergency.

Even when time isn’t a factor, the bill can easily be hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. And when a locksmith arrives, he or she literally has the keys to your kingdom, be it home or office.

But unlike a growing number of states, Florida does not regulate locksmiths. That means the state has no licensing, background checks or training requirements.

Those are some of the key reasons locksmiths across South Florida and the state claim the industry is rife with untrained, unqualified service providers. And when you call a locksmith, you never know who will show up at your door: a seasoned professional, untrained novice or even someone with a criminal past or intentions of cheating you.

Fortunately, two state legislators are working to change all of that.

Six months ago, I wrote a column calling for licensing and regulation of locksmiths, as is done in Miami-Dade County, the only area in Florida that does so. That was after a group of Broward County and Palm Beach County locksmiths educated me about how regulations would benefit professionals and consumers alike.

“We need a law that will give the consumer a way to hold locksmiths liable for shoddy workmanship and price gouging,” says Mark Chrisman, owner of A-Mobile Locksmith in Hollywood. Two months ago, he joined more than 50 other professionals at a town hall meeting hosted by the Associated Locksmiths of America, a national trade group that is working toward regulation in every state. Each attendee supported the Florida effort, he says.

Earlier this year, two identical bills were introduced in Tallahassee, sponsored by Sen. Victor Crist, R- Tampa, and Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin.

They are modeled on similar laws passed in nine other states, including California, New Jersey and Illinois. And if passed, they will revolutionize the Sunshine State’s locksmithing industry, requiring high professional standards, accountability and stiff penalties for scofflaws.

Provisions include:

• Creating a licensing board housed with the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The board would be responsible for, among other things, setting education and testing requirements.
• Mandatory fingerprinting and recurring background checks.
• Requirements for locksmiths to provide a license number in all advertisements, including the name of the business filed with the state.
• Insurance policies sufficient to pay for damages caused by negligence.
• Fines of up to $10,000 for any violation of the law.

I’ve had to hire more than a few locksmiths over the years. I welcome these tough yet fair regulations. Plenty of professionals do, too.

Why? As Crist puts it: A locksmith law “will ensure that when a vulnerable citizen hires a locksmith to install a lock or make a key, he will be a professional, honest and capable person,” says Crist. “And not a would-be thief setting a customer up for a hit.”

“Customers will benefit by knowing who they are dealing with,” says John Rosenblatt, a manager with C.K.’s Lockshop and Security Center in Delray Beach. “And locksmiths will be accountable for their work.”

Yet despite the support of many locksmiths and the common-sense appeal of the legislation, it appears the bills drafted by Anderson and Crist are unlikely to be taken up by the Legislature this session. Anderson’s office says it appears his bill will not be reviewed by the committees it has to pass — before legislators can debate it — because those House panels have wrapped up their scheduled work.

Both legislators plan to introduce them again next year.

But I say: Why wait? Now’s a good time to voice an opinion, if you have one, to convince legislators that this is the right thing to do.

If you live in one of the states that doesn’t require licensing, it may be worth “paying it forward” by contacting your congressman to start the process.   Maybe your actions can keep a friend or neighbor from getting burned.

See this NBC6 report:

You get locked out of your car or home, or want to change your locks. You call the locksmith you trust. But do you know who is actually showing up?

Related Content: Video

“Well, Richard’s has been around for a long time,” said NBC reporter Jeff Burnside posing as a driver who locked his keys in a car.

“They’re busy sometimes and they call me,” said the locksmith who showed up to unlock the car.

On hidden camera, the locksmith claims he’s working on behalf of a well-known locksmith company named

“Richard’s Locksmith and Safes” on Sample Road in Coral Springs, Florida.In fact, we called directory assistance and asked simply for “Richard’s Locksmith.” We dialed that number. “Yea, Richard’s,” said Burnside, “Do you help people who are locked out of their car?”

But the locksmith who showed up was not the one we intended. When we confronted him, we discovered he works for “Boca Security Services.” The locksmith, who wouldn’t give us his name, conceded there is deception in the way his boss got our business.

“You would agree with that, wouldn’t you?” asked Burnside.

“I guess there is. Everyone does their business their own way. It’s unfortunate.”

Here’s what happens. When a customer does an Internet search or calls Directory Assistance for a favorite locksmith, like “Richard’s,” you may get the real number. But you also get a slew of copycats using similar names that can mislead a lot of customers.

“I’ve been cheated by an unscrupulous locksmith,” says salon owner Steve Holbrook who looked up his favorite locksmith to come change door locks, only to find out later he’d been misled by the same “Boca Security Services.”

Read the rest.

Tips for hiring a locksmith:

It is important to find an honest and reliable locksmith. Some companies run a criminal background check on all employees to help ensure their people are trustworthy. If you are nervous about hiring a locksmith, ask about the background check policy when you call a company for help. Like other contractors, qualities of a good locksmith include professionalism, efficiency and reliability.

Be aware that most professional locksmiths will want to check you out as well. They will want to be sure you are the property owner before helping you break into a house. Don’t get offended by these questions. You should want a professional who will take the time to verify ownership before allowing access to your home, business or vehicle. The locksmith doesn’t want to be responsible for helping a criminal break into a home or steal a car.

How do locksmiths set their fees?

The fees you will be charged depend on a variety of factors. One is the type of work that will be done. For example, a simple job like opening your car or making a replacement key will be much less expensive than re-keying a lock or replacing locks on your doors or windows. Installing and maintaining security systems or closed-circuit television systems will be even more expensive.

Some companies have people ready to respond twenty-four hours a day for emergency situations. Some companies may charge an additional fee for responding in the middle of the night, compared to responding during the regular work day. You should be made aware of any additional fees on the telephone before the person responds. If you have any questions about fees, the time to ask is when you inquire about services by phone, not after the job is done.

Locksmithing is not a do-it-yourself job

You may be tempted to try to do the job yourself to save money on a professional locksmith, but this is often a big mistake. Often, you can do more damage by trying to do it yourself. Even trying to break into your home or car, you can do extensive damage to the lock, which will then need to be replaced. This is much more costly than just paying the locksmith to open the door in the first place.