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Beware Locksmith Scams How to Avoid Hiring Dangerous Services by Christine Rushton
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ou’re locked out of your home. You’ve searched for the keys, and now it’s time to reach for your phone to find a locksmith. But the companies that pop up on local searches and Yelp review pages? Beware trusting them because they might be out to scam you. Unscrupulous locksmith companies or single-person operations use online advertisements promising discount rates to attract business, said John Myers, a senior technician with District Lock in DC. They may even pressure customers into posting positive reviews on sites like Yelp and Google to increase their chances of getting clients. But an advertised $29 lock change often turns into a $400 or $500 bill upon service. “There have always been the fly-by-night scammers,” Myers said. “In recent years with the rise of Yelp and internet review systems, they have really jumped out.”
No Regulation of Locksmith Licenses The District doesn’t require locksmiths to obtain a specific locksmith license to operate. Anyone who wants to run a locksmith company simply needs a business license. Maryland and Virginia require both the business and locksmith license to operate. Along with not needing a specific license, locksmiths in DC don’t need to be bonded. Myers said professionals do acquire insurance and bonding. The standards aren’t regulated by the city or by the national locksmith group, Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA). In DC popup companies can advertise services without regulation or vetting, said Shay Knaani, co-owner of Keyed In LLC. Services that install fresh locks on a house may have ulterior motives to gain home access, which no regulatory process can catch. “You want to know who has the key to your house,” Knaani said. “They will sell you a lock and will have access to the key that they installed for you.” Homeowners in distress often get caught in these traps because they don’t take the time to research a legitimate, trustworthy business, he said. They also may not know about the dangers of hiring off of a Yelp or Google review. Myers recalled cases when customers called multiple businesses to get quotes. The scam services would demand an address, and even if the customer chose to hire a more reputable company the scam locksmith would show up. If they got there before the reputable company, they might even claim that company’s identity just to get in the door. Scam companies also use names similar to legitimate companies like District Lock and Keyed In, Myers said. “A lot of companies are pretend-
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District Lock 8 – John Myers, senior technician for District Lock. (Photo: Christine Rushton)
ing to be companies that they aren’t,” he said. “People get suckered into this and they will do anything to get themselves secure.” Myers has also heard from clients that some unlicensed locksmiths will only give a $25 or $35 discount on a bill if the client agrees to write an online review – in front of the locksmith. Some even ask for a selfie photo for the post. If the client declines they are charged the full bill.
Tips to Find a Trusted Locksmith Physical intimidation, high-pressure tactics, and scamming are things people in distress don’t want to find in a locksmith. Myers and Knaani have tips for clients who ask how to find reputable and trustworthy companies: • Find a company you trust. District Lock opened its doors on Capitol Hill in 1946, and while it no longer has a physical retail location, veteran technicians like Myers answer calls for neighbors 24 hours a day. His advice is, “Go with the company you feel most comfortable with.” • Search sites like Angie’s List. Unlike open sites like Yelp and
Google, Angie’s List is member-based and regulated, Knaani said. It offers more reliable reviews of legitimate businesses. • Ask to see a license. Keyed In launched in 2011 and has both business and locksmith licenses in Maryland and Virginia and a business license in DC, Knaani said. This proves that the service provider has passed official background checks, which can filter out scammers looking for ways into houses. “You can always ask the company to show a proof of licensing,” he said. • Don’t believe in a $29 deal. A lock change costs more than $29, Myers said. Someone in need of help needs to understand that it costs to hire a professional. An average price from a reputable company is around $120-$200, he said. The scammers will “draw out your lock before you approve the work, and they charge you $500 or more,” he added. To reach District Lock call 202415-0483. To reach Keyed In call 888247-4656. u