CAUTION: BEWARE OF RIP-OFF ARTISTS IN THE CAR UNLOCKING BUSINESS!

There is a growing problem in Gwinnett County and Atlanta and surrounding areas with Rip-off locksmiths. They are a chain of foreign national’s that buys up a lot of yellow page and Google add space. Calls are actually routed to a call dispatch center in New York City, then dispatched to the nearest available "crook" in the area that is ready to take your money, and take you to the cleaners, and probably cause damage to your car in the process.

One way to tell that they are foreigners is by their web site. Watch for the misspelled words. Here is an excerpt from a web site in Atlanta. I have omitted the name of the business:
" ........... Locksmith is licensed, bonded and insured in the State of Georgia. We provide complete residential ,commercial and automotive service for your needs at the most affordable rates and a fast response time"

I pride myself in the use of the English language. Occasionally, I make a mistake, but at least I always run spell checker, before I publish my website.

These "Locksmiths" advertise in the yellow pages and Sponsored Google Adds advertising: $29 [city name] Locksmith. It is interesting to note that the website does not advertise a $29 car unlocking fee, only the Sponsored Google listing advertises car unlocking for $29.

If you call and inquire about getting your car unlocked for $29, they will tell you that $29 is for the call, and that labor is extra. They will not quote a price for the labor. (The labor charge is what ever the "crook" feels he can get out of you based on what he thinks you will pay when he gets there.)

These people are not Professional Locksmiths. They are make-shift-mechanics at best, passing themselves off as locksmiths. 

These make-shift-mechanics (I won't even call them locksmiths) advertise $29 for unlocking cars. They come out, and often jimmy the electronic lock mechanism, or damage the door and window gasket, or even break a car window to get in. When the car door is open, or the service is supposedly "rendered", they tell the customer that the total bill is $188. Then the customer says, "You said it would be $29". He replies, "That is just for the dispatching service, but the labor is $159, and the total bill is $188. When the customer complains, the make-shift-mechanic threatens to call the police and have the customer arrested for "Theft of Services". 

That is just a threat. If the police actually respond, they would advise both parties that this is a civil matter, and it would have to be taken up in Civil Court. The best advice here if you find yourself in that situation, to let the make-shift-mechanic call the police, while you are Googling his add from your Blackberry again, so you can show it to the Police when they arrive. My guess is that the make-shift-guy will be long gone by then. He may get mad and throw your keys back on the front seat of the car and lock the door again, just before he leaves.

 
However, that's okay, because that is when you need to call me. I'll come out and unlock your car and charge you an average of $60, and I won't damage your car. I use an Air Wedge Tool, and a long Reach Wire to unlock the car, and I won't damage your electronic locks.

Deal only with local, professional, and certified locksmiths, that proudly display the ALOA logo on their web site and not just a Master Card or Visa logo.

 Anyone can swipe a credit card, but you should only trust a professional to secure and protect your home, auto, and business!

Call me for all of your locksmith, and safe and vault needs.