Comments on: Federal Bust of Dependable Locksmith in Florida Strikes at Heart of National Locksmith Scams

By: Tania J.

Tania J. — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:30:42 +0000

This scam is alive and well–I just fell victim. Was locked out of my house in San Diego, picked a listing from Googling “San Diego Locksmith,” was quoted $39 over the phone, and was charged $204 for the service. I did a little digging and found that almost the entire first page of Google results from a search for San Diego Locksmiths leads to this fraudulent company: different company names, web addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses, but the exact same company nonetheless. Did locksmith searches in other major cities and found the same company operating with the same tricks: different names and web addresses, but identical content in the pages. This is a HUGE scam, people, and it’s as alive now as it was years ago. Who are these people? This must lead back to one major overseas corporation, raking in billions in this fraud.

By: Dependable Locksmith Back in The Business of Deceit | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:44:53 +0000

[...] of Deceit Category: Google Places (Maps & Local) – Mike – 5:00 pm I was surprised to learn that Dependable Locksmith, raided in late 2009 by the Feds and sued by the attorney general in [...]

By: Larry

Larry — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:26:26 +0000

Dependable Locks is still in business. Our local TV station (WFTV) just did a scam report on them.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/action-9-exposes-national-locksmith-network/nFWNL/#comments

By: calvin

calvin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 23:46:30 +0000

forgot to add i can let people know what to look for when dealing with a true locksmith

They will ask for proof of ownership so do not be alarmed if this happens a true locksmith will ask for this credentials it covers the owner of the home or vehicle and it also covers the locksmith

also ask for a price a true locksmith will say so much for making a key so much for labor and so much for a service call

before they even go on the road

thats what i did for many years someone ask me how much do i charge for a lost key for a auto i told the customer depends on the year and make of the vehicle most the times i told them anywhere between 75.00 to 125.00 for a key make it would not go over the 125.00 sometimes i spent hours on doing a key by the hard way taking the lock apart cause no code was found on the vehicle

but me being honest i did not charge any extra when i set a price i stuck to it even if it did take me longer

ALOA is a great place for locksmiths to be members of i plan on joining them when and if i ever redo this trade again it did have the stress but i loved doing it but it did keep me up half the night

most of my work was getting police calls needing assistance

By: calvin

calvin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 23:32:44 +0000

just sharing with everyone i use to be a locksmith had my own company since march of 1994 had many nice times and had some bad days to one time i did a job for a customer who told me they called this company in the phone book and they had a attitude towards them well i told the customer they do not have to wait on them so i unlocked her car door for $ 45.00 which took me less than a minute to open i told her to get the name of the company that she called cause i never heard of the company came out i think it was the dependable company they had a small ad in the phone book

i did some checking on things so i called the # myself and acted like i was locked out yep they love to swindle people but i was good at getting the info i needed from them at the time i not practicing locksmith service at this time due to bankruptcy and my license ran out but my mom on her death bed and when the time comes im moving to a new state and re open or work for another locksmith at night and my small engine shop in the day

nice talking to you all

calvin

By: guesswho

guesswho — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:19:11 +0000

Doug-
“to be initiated by the National Locksmith’s Association”?? The NLA is a defunct group that is owned 100% by the National Publishing Group. They have no meetings, no agendas, and no chance of helping us with this one. They have ads in the back of thier mags advertising help wanted ads for groups like these.

ALOA is the only true (inter)national association.

There are enough laws for DAs to throw at these guys without lawsuits or licensing.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:59:53 +0000

usa locksmith of HackenSack New Jersey is the same Israeli group
also known as Prestige Business Solutions, P.O. Box 1140 Hackensack NJ 07602, Phone 800-721-5131, Fax 866-766-9677.
They use Level III communications supplied phone numbers
Most Seattle WA locksmiths are out of business, the Dex yellow pages has 2000 fake locksmith listings, the Google fraud is huge $29.Locksmith listings everywhere.
We need a nationwide Google classaction lawsuit, to be started by the National locksmith association.

By: LP

LP — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:12:26 +0000

On April 7, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler’s Consumer Protection Division issued a cease and desist order against Around the Clock Locksmith over fees charged for services
NEWS STORY BY: BY NICK REES

April 7, 2010

BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler’s Consumer Protection Division has issued a cease and desist order against a Maryland locksmith over fees charged for his services.

ATCL-MD, Inc., known as Around the Clock Locksmith, and Joseph M. Horton, its owner, were alleged to have charged more than $4,300 to replace a lock and deadbolt and fees as high as $1,400 to respond to a consumer’s request for locksmith services.

In its statement of charges, the division alleges that Around the Clock refuses to give an estimate of its fees to consumers or only provides extremely low estimates. When customers balked at paying the company’s undisclosed fees, their credit cards were then allegedly charged by the company without prior authorization.

“You can’t provide a low estimate to get your foot in the door and then charge multiples of that estimate to perform the service,” Gansler said. “The Order requires the company to provide realistic estimates and to stick by them.”

The Division also alleges that Around the Clock and Horton falsely used a competitor’s name to steal the competitor’s customers and misrepresented that the company was a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

Around the Clock and Horton were ordered by the Consumer Protection Division to immediately cease and desist from further engaging in unfair or deceptive trade practices. Restitution, penalties and costs will be determined following a June hearing.

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:44:04 +0000

In regards to Dependable still being in business. Based on information and belief they still are. Some of these phonys and I believe Dependable also which uses tons of names to hide behind are just shell corporations that are set up to hide behind. Dependable was once Priceline and when authoritys got to close It suddenly became Dependable aka all the other names that are out there. They claimed they purchased the assets of Priceline even though they were using all the Priceline Phonelines with phony addresses attached and they still acted if they had done nothing wrong. I believe they are still in business. I actually think that David Peer and the other ones busted are only front men for someone much bigger from Israel. One of the articles mentioned that money was being sent to a real estate in Israel. Just to let everyone here know I was sued by David Peer for 1,000,000.00 basically for being a whisle blower and exposing this phony locksmith scam early in the game. This lawsuit was a pack of lies and twisted truth. The federal Judge has dismissed me from the lawsuit But a few state of Illinois officials are still involved. I dont expect the lawsuit to win in any way but everyone is going thru hell defending themselves. One thing Dependable did was to scare of state officials from persuing them in fear of they might get sued. I personaly hope David Peer rots in prison. The last I heard he was extradited from florida to Missouri. This is by far not the end of the problem. The people at the top need to be dealt with. Just like I believe they are, Organized Crime. It is hard to get to the top of the ladder when you deal with organized crime. There are layers of protection and no one talks. They need to follow the money.

One thing I believe might quell this problems is to hold all advertisors responsible. Yes, Charge them with aiding and abedding. It can be done especially in the states that are licensed. The licensed states would only have to prove that they were enabling unlicensed individuals and companys break the law, and in unlicensed states it would be a little harderer because one would have to prove much more. I am one that is not a big fan of licensing but I do recognize it as a tool for enforcement. If you ever noticed all of the phonys advertise they are licensed when truly they are not. Even where licensing is not required they say they are licensed.

Anyway the Bust of these Few what I consider total sleaze bags is really nothind as I believe they are only lower level pawns. The money being made is mind boggling. I dont have an exact figure but I believe it is probably hundreds of millions by now nationwide and collectively.

Google needs to address this problem as they are taking money from these types of companys also. Google run-local locksmith the 29.00 service locksmith that does not charge 29.00 locksmith service but much more. They will not give an exact quote and suprise the victim/consummer of the real charge many times after they do an opening. In Northern Illinois they are the top google sponsored ad in every community. Is Google responsible? I say yes. Will they Listen? I think a class action lawsuit will do the trick. I know that this is already being discussed between some attorneys who are licking their chops.

This is far from over and like a forest fire every ember of this problem needs to be doused. To the ones out there who are actively fighting this please keep up the good work.

Mike Bronzell
Keyman424@aol.com

By: Elle Wood

Elle Wood — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:11:36 +0000

What is sad is that we lose more and more freedom as the government gains and takes more of that freedom from us. The other side of the coin is that people behaving like this leaves no room for doubt as to why they take it away.