American Key & Safe - #1 Phoenix Locksmith: Arizona locksmith

Showing posts with label Arizona locksmith. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

07/02/2013 | Mul-T-Lock High Security Locks for Mesa, AZ - Security blog for Mesa, Arizona

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

06-04-2013| Closed Circuit TV Security Systems in Mesa, AZ - CCTV Systems for Mesa, Arizona Residential and Commercial

We, a local Mesa Locksmith Company, offer a full line of security camera systems, each customized to your security needs.

Friday, April 26, 2013

04-26-13 | Keyless Entry Locks in Mesa, AZ Locksmith Blog for Mesa, Arizona

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

3-1-13 | Phoenix, AZ Gun Safes - Info for City of Phoenix, Arizona Residents

We offer a wide variety of safes for all of your security needs. Everything from cash boxes to safes to store your jewelry all the way up to a safe large enough to hold the most impressive gun collection! Stop on by any time and we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Monday, February 18, 2013

2-18-2013 | Lock Bumping Locksmith - Mesa, AZ - Blog for Mesa, Arizona Residents

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fraudulent Locksmiths Illegally using Logos to Confuse Unknowing Consumers

We all have experienced it, you arrive home to find the latest edition of the local phone book has been delivered, sometimes wrapped in a plastic bag, sometimes just thrown in the general vicinity of your house. As the owner of a reliable, trustworthy local mesa locksmith business, I open it, fearing the worse; that the fraudulent locksmiths have again multiplied in number and/or increased their ad sizes to try and further suffocate local, reliable locksmiths out of our own market. And there it is - several more fraudulent locksmiths trying to look like local businesses. What makes them fraudulent? See below for the very concerning, very long list of reasons.

I'll leave the name of the business that prints this particular phone book that I just received out of this post as we are still in discussions with them about their blatant lack of policing who they allow in their book, even allowing these scam artists to claim to be part of their guaranteed business programs indicating to a consumer that that particular business has been verified as trustworthy. I would laugh if it wasn't so absolutely ludicrous at how many scammers are "verified" in this particular book.
On top of the increased amount of fraudulent listings and that the amount of full page ads for the fraudulent locksmiths now far outweighs the large ads for real local locksmith companies, these fraudulent scammers have now sunk to an all new low - they are illegally using logos in their ads to look more trustworthy to unsuspecting consumers. Why? They are counting on consumers not being in a position to be able to cross check all the different websites required to ensure that what a company claims is actually the truth.
One such fraudulent locksmith ad is using the ALOA logo, which is an organization of verified American Locksmiths that are doing business legally, that pay to be members and take an oath to abide by the organizations by laws, upholding the locksmith industry's good reputation. Cross checking the company's name on the ALOA's business listing website, http://www.findalocksmith.com/search.aspx confirms it, they are NOT ALOA members. Sadly enough, ALOA has a contracted advertisement contract with this book to ensure only verified, legal locksmith companies are associated with their logo and name. Unfortunately, that did not stop the phone book company from not checking the authenticity of the company claiming they were members. ALOA told me that they have filed a cease and desist with the fraudulent companies and are contacting the book publisher for legal recourse.
Among the fraudulent locksmith company ads are fake business names where they claim to be corporations and limited liability companies but the names are not registered with the state. The most shocking of the new ads is that these so called locksmiths are actually using the local chamber of commerce logos as well as the Better Business Bureau logos in their ads leading consumers to believe that they are members. Of course, when cross checked - none of the companies were actual members of those organizations.

How are you supposed to know who to trust when these illegal tactics are being used so frequently? See our website for consumer tips on avoiding being taken by one of these price gouging scam artists, http://www.americankeyandsafe.com/FAQs.html, but the MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO - is find a LOCAL, RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY locksmith TODAY - go to their location and make sure they are who they say they are! Then you can program their info into your phone now to use when you need them. Put some of their business cards in your car, your wallet, your desk, at work and on your fridge. If you use Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Linked In or any of the multitudes of social media sites, link to the company now, then accessing their info is as easy as logging in at work, home or on your cell. It's a lot easier to think clearly now and plan ahead than it is to make an informed decision when you're locked out of your car, in a dark parking lot in the middle of the night.

Peace and blessings!

They're fraudulent because they are guilty of one, but usually all, of the issues that make them unreliable, untrustworthy, price gouging wanna be locksmiths. They are more accurately classified as scammers.

-They advertise under business names that are not legally paid for or registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Arizona Secretary of State offices. They even use names that are almost identical to reliable local companies, but because they don't register them and phone book companies don't always enforce policing business names, it slides by. Then one book sells their printed list to the next book and the number of fraudulent locksmith listings has just been multiplied many many times over!

-They are almost ALWAYS out of town, by this I mean that they have a local phone number, and sometimes even a local address. If you Google map this address you'll find it's either a fake address, a residence or a different business that is in no way affiliated with the business using it. You call but their "local" phone number rings to an out of state call center where they dispatch a local so called locksmith to you.

-Usually this person they call an employee has no real training, is not actually employed as a locksmith or by a real locksmith company (they are subcontractors), and has not been professionally trained in any locksmith techniques. He has been trained on how to price gouge, take advantage of innocent consumers and then given the chance to buy lockout tools through them along with the "right" to say they work for them.

-This "locksmith", I use the term loosely, arrives usually in their personal vehicle, not a company supplied vehicle clearly marked with the company's name on it. They usually are in normal attire, not a company supplied uniform. -They attempt to help you, but it most cases, they are forced to drill out your lock or do so much damage while trying to open your lock that replacing your lock is the only option, as they do not have the proper tools or posses the proper training to know what they're doing.

-The one thing they are trained on and know how to do, is defraud consumers. Their ads say $35 plus labor, or they quote you a similarly low amount "plus the opening" or "plus a service call". They get you into your car or home, either by damaging your lock or drilling it out all together, and then you are handed a bill for usually HUNDREDS of dollars more than you were quoted. Now, there's nothing you can do. If they did the work, it's illegal to not pay them. This is what they build their businesses on! More people are willing to empty their wallets than report this fraudulent activity, as they are fearful of the embarrassment and lack of anyone doing anything about it.

These companies have one call center, out of state usually, but saturate phone books in every state with fake business names, fakes addresses but phone numbers that link to the one call center. Low overhead = HIGH PROFIT, but at your expense! These unscrupulous individuals even have the audacity to use actual local locksmith company names, again adding in a fake address and their rolling phone number. We have been victimized by this in almost every phone book in the state at one time or another. We, at one point, even had one of our websites stolen by one of these companies. They eventually went under but by then the damage had been done.

Monday, August 10, 2009

FREE LOCK OUT SERVICE on your birthday!

Birthdays are for family, friends and fun. Nothing would ruin the celebration quicker than locking yourself out of your car or home - but we are here with your best birthday present!

We are the only Arizona Locksmith that offers free lock out service on your birthday!

Call us at 480-668-7233 for immediate auto or home lock out service!

*ID proving proof of actual birthdate and proof of auto ownership or home ownership/residence required

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Channel 3 KTVK Gary Harper 3 On Your Side - Locksmith Undercover Investigation

Gary Harper is back at it, catching the phony locksmiths at the only thing they know how to do, rip off unsuspecting Arizona residents! Unfortunately for all of us good guys, they are really good at it.
Here's an excerpt from the article, full story is at the bottom...

3 On Your Side has a consumer warning just in case you decide to call a locksmith.
Let me say right off the bat that there are a lot of good, reputable locksmiths out there.
But, by the same token, there are just as many unscrupulous locksmiths and, given the chance, they will take you for a ride.
Ulinger is in the health care industry and pretty much works out of her car.
"Somehow I managed to lock my keys in my trunk," she said.
So Ulinger did what most people might do and called a locksmith.
"They quoted me $35 for the trip out here and $15 to get into my car," she said.
Ulinger says after hours of waiting, the locksmith did show up.
"He looks at me and says, 'OK, it's gonna be $125,'" Ulinger said. "I'm like, 'Excuse me? It's been three hours, you're late and you gave me a quote of $50.'"
Ulinger's issue has been an ongoing complaint in the locksmith industry.
In fact, two years ago 3 On Your Side confronted a locksmith after quoting our undercover producer over the telephone one price to unlock her car but had a much higher price when he actually showed up to the scene.
Since that report aired, 3 On Your Side decided to see if the locksmith industry has changed its ways.
Our same producer called several locksmiths saying her keys were locked in her car, but she always received the same standard answer: "You're looking at a $35 service call to get the technician out there and a minimum of $15 to open the vehicle, depending on the locking mechanism and how the technician opens the vehicle."
But chances are it will be more -- a lot more. Locksmiths cover themselves by saying a minimum $15 labor charge. But when they arrive, that minimum charge is frequently jacked up and in most cases, consumers are in no mood to negotiate.
By the way, just because you call a locksmith with a local area code, don't be fooled. Many local numbers are transferred out of state and then they'll dispatch some fly-by-night locksmith here in Phoenix to your rescue.
For tips on how not to be ripped off, visit www.ftc.gov.

You can find our list of Consumer Tips to hiring a safe and reputable locksmith on our website and on previous posts here. If you've been taken by one of these criminals please feel free to share your story with us so that we can educate others of the real danger out there. You're welcome to stay anonymous!

The full story: http://www.azfamily.com/ontv/teased/stories/phoenix-3oys-news-071609-locksmiths.490b138b.html

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Our Company's 5 Point 5 Star Mission

1) Guaranteed Superior Service
- want every customer to feel they received 5 star service
- 100% customer satisfaction money back guarantee
- goal is to exceed customer expectations every time

2) All Inclusive Estimates and Fair Prices
- the estimate you receive is the price you pay
- the estimate you get for that job is the price you pay for that job
- fair & competitive prices

3) Legitimate Local Company
- local family owned and operated locksmith shop
- convenient location fully stocked to meet all the customers needs

4) Right to feel secure with the company you’re entrusting your needs to
- all technicians are background checked to ensure the top level of customer safety
- all technicians agree to an anytime drug testing policy
- offer an option of an unmarked company van to keep your business your business

5) Keep On Top of the Leading Edge in our Industry
- keep current on all recent technological advances in our industry
- become informed and trained on all new advances so that we are able to offer the latest services to every customer at anytime

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Fraudulent Locksmiths - Rip Off Report "Dependable Phony Scam Locksmith"

Another very interesting link on the these idiots....

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/321/RipOff0321544.htm

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Fraudulent Locksmiths - MSNBC "BBB urges consumers to protect themselves from 'nationwide swindle'"

For additional information and further reading on the hot topic of fraudulent locksmiths please see the following link...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/321/RipOff0321544.htm org/AGMap/AG.htm

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Fraud in AZ - 3 On Your Side, Gary Harper "Valley Woman Locks Horns with Locksmith Company"

Right here in the valley, unsuspecting citizens are being victimized by these unscrupulous thieves. Here is an excerpt from an article where Gary Harper, of 3 On Your Side from Channel 3 KTVK here in Phoenix, Arizona did an undercover sting on a so called locksmith....

Remember Lisa Mendez? She was prepared to pay $55 plus labor for a locksmith to unlock her front door. She wound up paying $300.
So, 3 On Your Side went undercover and called the same locksmith.
Locksmith rep: "Locksmith. How can I help you?"
Producer: "Yes, I locked my keys in my car. How much would it cost to unlock, say, our car door?
Locksmith rep: "It's a $55 service charge."
Producer: "Fifty-five dollars, that's it?"
Locksmith rep: "That's the service charge for the technician to come out."
Producer: "OK, are there any additional charges?"
Locksmith rep: "To open up the lock, it could be $20 to $50 more.
So, according to the verbal quote, we're prepared to pay up to $105. That includes the service call.
Within 20 minutes our locksmith pulls up in a brand-new unmarked Honda and before he ever pulls out a tool, he talks money.
Locksmith technician: "It's a $189 credit or debit or $175 cash."
Harper: "One hundred eighty-nine dollars?"
Turns out he says he's not even with the company we called. We called Lock and Key, but he claims he's with a company called 24/7.
Regardless, he stands firm on the $189.
Locksmith technician: "Every car is different. Some cars are more expensive than that. But we go by what it costs to break a window. To break a window on any car can be twice as expensive."
I never had him unlock our car door, but I did go ahead and pay the $55 service charge for coming out. You could call it a $55 lesson.
As for Mendez, she wants you to learn from her mistake
"This has got to stop because this is a rip-off," she said.
By the way, I called the company numerous times looking for comment on my report. They never called me back. I even went to their address, the one listed in the Yellow Pages, but the address doesn't exist.

State to state, city to city - this is same story time and time again, only thing that changes is the amount you're overcharged and their so called justification for doing so!

We here at AMERICAN KEY & SAFE offer ALL INCLUSIVE pricing, meaning the price we quote you is the price you'll pay, there are no hidden fees or charges! Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!!!!

http://www.azfamily.com/news/3oys/stories/KTVK3OYS20060821_locksmith.21b44d9b.html

American Key & Safe - #1 Phoenix Locksmith

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

07/02/2013 | Mul-T-Lock High Security Locks for Mesa, AZ - Security blog for Mesa, Arizona

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

06-04-2013| Closed Circuit TV Security Systems in Mesa, AZ - CCTV Systems for Mesa, Arizona Residential and Commercial

We, a local Mesa Locksmith Company, offer a full line of security camera systems, each customized to your security needs.

Friday, April 26, 2013

04-26-13 | Keyless Entry Locks in Mesa, AZ Locksmith Blog for Mesa, Arizona

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

3-1-13 | Phoenix, AZ Gun Safes - Info for City of Phoenix, Arizona Residents

Monday, February 18, 2013

2-18-2013 | Lock Bumping Locksmith - Mesa, AZ - Blog for Mesa, Arizona Residents

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fraudulent Locksmiths Illegally using Logos to Confuse Unknowing Consumers

Monday, August 10, 2009

FREE LOCK OUT SERVICE on your birthday!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Channel 3 KTVK Gary Harper 3 On Your Side - Locksmith Undercover Investigation

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Our Company's 5 Point 5 Star Mission

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Fraudulent Locksmiths - Rip Off Report "Dependable Phony Scam Locksmith"

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Fraudulent Locksmiths - MSNBC "BBB urges consumers to protect themselves from 'nationwide swindle'"

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Fraud in AZ - 3 On Your Side, Gary Harper "Valley Woman Locks Horns with Locksmith Company"

MESA'S #1 FULL SERVICE LOCKSMITH SHOP

Blog Archive

About Us

Phoenix's #1 Locksmith

Facebook Badge

Follow Us

Links

Search This Blog

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

We, a local Mesa Locksmith Company, offer a full line of security camera systems, each customized to your security needs.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

Monday, February 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Monday, August 10, 2009

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Thursday, June 7, 2007

MESA'S #1 FULL SERVICE LOCKSMITH SHOP

Blog Archive

About Us

Phoenix's #1 Locksmith

Facebook Badge

Follow Us

Subscribe To

Links

Search This Blog