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Missouri Attorney General Files Locksmith Lawsuit
Mo. AG Targets Phony Locksmiths, AT&T Yellow Pages After KCTV5 Investigation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Another KCTV5 News investigation got real results. The Missouri attorney general has launched a campaign to stop fraud by phony locksmiths after KCTV5 exposed a scam.

KCTV5 exposed a network of so-called locksmiths who are flooding a Kansas City phone book with fake addresses.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit to try to stop the fraud and get locked-out victims their money back.

On Thursday, three days after the KCTV5 News investigation aired, Koster announced what is believed to be the first legal action of its kind in the country, going after locksmith fraud and the Yellow Pages, as well.

“Clearly the Yellow Pages has made lots of money off of this,” said Koster.

The state is suing Dependable Locks Inc., out of Florida, a company accused of flooding the phone book with dozens of company aliases and hundreds of phone numbers.

And the attorney general’s office has given the AT&T Yellow Pages five business days to shut off hundreds of phone numbers linked to the fraudulent companies.

“We view that as the most practical solution to the problem. We’ll check back in five days and see,” said Koster.

Sammye Guenther called one of those phone numbers when she locked her keys in the car, but the number that looked local in the phone book wasn’t local at all. She ended up paying more than originally quoted to a technician who said he had to use an expensive device to open her door.

Because of the special device, the technician charged Guenther $176, three times the going rate for local locksmiths.

Koster said his office moved quickly after the KCTV5 News investigation aired. He said AT&T is making money off the fake listings, leaving locked-out customers to pay the price.

“KCTV5 talked extensively about it. The story raised awareness, and now our office is following up to get money back — and more importantly, to shut down the practice,” said Koster.

The lawsuit lists 20 company aliases pointed out in the KCTV5 News investigation and demands the parent company and all of its aliases stop doing business in the state of Missouri.

Koster’s office also demanded AT&T hand over billing records connected to the locksmith network so that his office can get a better idea of how the tangled network of so-called locksmiths set up shop in the first place.

The attorney general’s own investigator went undercover. She said Thursday that she was quoted a price of about $55 and ended up paying $109.

KCTV5’s Dana Wright called AT&T again Thursday for a comment about the attorney general’s actions but got no reply.

The attorney general wants money back for some of the Kansas City customers who have been overcharged. Anyone who believes he or she has been a victim of Dependable Locks Inc. is asked to contact the attorney general’s consumer hot line at 800-392-8222.

Previous Stories:

* March 31, 2009: KCTV5 NEWS INVESTIGATION: Beware Locksmith Listings

Copyright 2009 by KCTV5.com. All rights reserved.
The Attorney General’s listing of related companies had a familiar ring to it and many are still present in Google’s index. “The following are the alternate business names used by Dependable Locks, Inc.”:

–A#1 24 Hour Locksmith
–A 24 Hour Locksmith
–AAA 24 & 7 Day Locksmith
–A Always Available 24 Hour Locksmith
–A Emergency A Locksmith
–A Locksmith Always 24 Hour
–A Locksmith A 1-24 Hour
–A Locksmith 00 24 Hour
–A Locksmith O Always 24 Hour
–A Locksmith Service 24 Hour
–A Locksmith 24 Hour Emergency
These are only a few of the names used by this and other illegal companies. Conusmers need to beware when shopping for a locksmith in Georgia. As other states crack down, these crooks are flooding our state.

New York locksmith faces $25,000 judgment in Wisconsin

State Journal staff | Posted: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 5:53 pm
Related Stories

* Related: State sues N.Y. locksmith company with multiple Wisconsin identities
* Related: Locksmiths battle new competitor; some claim unfair tactics
* Related: Choosing a locksmith: Authorities offer advice for consumers

The New York locksmith company that created illusory phone listings for phantom businesses in southeastern Wisconsin has been ordered to stay out of the state and to pay $25,000.

The Department of Justice got the default judgment last week against Locksmiths Inc., and owner Gabriel Munteoreanu, of Brooklyn, N.Y., in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

The state filed a civil lawsuit against Locksmiths Inc. last November, accusing the company of establishing numerous telephone numbers, bogus business names and phony addresses to deceive consumers in need of locksmith services. The addresses were to fool consumers into believing they were contacting a local business, but all calls went to the company’s out-of-state call center, which dispatched a contract locksmith. Such a business template using multiple identities, in this instance, violates the state’s deceptive advertising laws, the complaint charged.

The practice, especially as set in place by a web of locksmiths, has come to the attention of consumer fraud investigators across the country.

In Wisconsin, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has received a handful of complaints from lockout victims angry about overcharging and deceptive marketing, and companies distressed at what they feel is unfair competition.

Tennessee cracks down on illegal locksmiths from Israel. Georgia continues to do nothing. Citizens beware of corrupt locksmith practices. Dependable operates here in Atlanta under several different names.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: Consumer Alert
Judge Orders Locksmith Company Out Of Tennessee
Posted: Apr 06, 2010 10:49 PM EDT
Video Gallery
Judge Orders Locksmith Company Out Of Tennessee
2:35

By Jennifer Kraus
Consumer Investigator

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A judge ordered a locksmith company out of Tennessee and ordered it to pay a hefty fine for repeatedly breaking the law on Tuesday. NewsChannel 5 Investigates exposed the questionable business practices of Dependable Locks and its employees.

Consumer investigator Jennifer Kraus showed us how the company responded to the charges against it.

Dependable Locks was accused of repeatedly violating the law.

“Dependable Locks did business in Tennessee with complete disregard for the Tennessee laws governing locksmiths,” said State attorney Laura Betty to the judge.

No one from the locksmith company bothered to show up for the hearing to answer the charges.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates first exposed the company last summer after we went undercover and showed how Dependable Locks quoted one price for services and then tried to charge customers significantly more.

Unlicensed Locksmiths Take Advantage Of Consumers

Nashville resident Kevin Rittenberry testified during the hearing how the same thing happened to him. He said he first was told opening his locked car door would be $39.

“He [the Dependable Locks employee who got his car open] turned around and said, ‘$125.’ I’m like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not right,’” said Rittenberry.

The state also said neither Dependable Locks nor its employees are registered as licensed locksmiths with the state. Other violations included locksmiths driving unmarked cars and employees failing to carry any sort of company identification or license, just like we found in our investigation.

Administrative law judge Steve Darnell presided over the hearing.

“It appears that Dependable Locks is engaging not just in Tennessee but across the nation a series of fraudulent acts, and I believe the maximum fine of $5,000 per violation is appropriate,” said Darnell.

With 15 violations, the judge fined Dependable Locks $75,000 and ordered the company to stop doing business in Tennessee.

“I wanted somebody to stop these people because they’re out there gouging people all across the nation. It’s something that needs to be done,” said Rittenberry.

The hearing came nearly two years after Rittenberry’s run-in with Dependable Locks. The state said the case took longer to prosecute because the company is based out-of-state.

Why Isn’t State Doing More About Locksmiths?

Tennessee investigators could not find some of the company’s associates, and because Dependable Locks operated in the mid-state under a variety of different names.

Back in November, the two owners of Dependable Locks were arrested at the Florida headquarters of the company by federal agents. The two are awaiting trial on money laundering, wire and mail fraud charges. They’re also accused of instructing employees to overcharge and deceive customers.

E-mail: jkraus@newschannel5.com

Here is another article on Florida’s attempt to crack down on the illegal locksmiths plagueing America.

Here is an article which describes what can happen when a home owner does not heed the advice to install proper locks. I inform homeowners all the time that the locks on their homes are inadequate and should be replaced. Some heed me warning, some, at their peril, ignore our advise and suffer the consequences.

“Master Locksmith and Security” IS NOT US! We are Master Locksmith Co. and Abbot Safe and Lock.
The other company is copying our name and is purposefully trying to mislead you. They are in fact one of the Israeli companies fleecing consumers. Do not confuse “Master Locksmith and Security” with the real Master Locksmith Co.

When I write about locksmiths not providing the products or service promised, some may think that I am exaggerating. Trust me, I am not. This week I had to redo an entire installation for a customer who had purchased several Multi Lock deadbolts and several matching locksets. Unfortunately the company installed them so poorly that they all needed to be redone. Here is a copy of the letter that I wrote for this customer to assist him in getting a refund:

Sxxxxx
1xxxxxDr.
Atlanta, xxxxxx8
Jan. 14, 2010

Sxxxx,
I hope the work that I did for you has been satisfactory and that it has redeemed the reputation of my industry in your eyes. I am sorry that you had to experience the “less than satisfactory” side of my trade.
I am writing this letter to you in order to provide details which will more clearly explain the comments which I wrote on the invoice for the work that I did and this will support your claim for reimbursement from Pxx a xxxk, or your credit card company. It is my hope that the owner of Pxx a xxxk will, of her own accord, give you the refund that you deserve and use this incident as an opportunity to provide necessary training to her technicians.
The work that I did for you consisted of rekeying and reinstalling 4 double cylinder Multi Lock deadbolts and 4 Multi Lock “lockset” cylinders and locksets. I need to emphasize that “reinstalling”, in this case, means treating the doors and locks as “fresh installations” because the work done by the two previous technicians was so unacceptable. I would go so far as to describe it as poor. I have terminated employees in years past for some of the flaws that I observed and corrected at your home.
To begin, the locks on your home needed to be rekeyed for several reasons. The first is that you found the Multi Lock code card in the discarded box of trash on the side of your home. This card is the “key” to your home. By allowing it to become “lost” or unsupervised is an egregious breech of security protocol. Furthermore, I understand that the technicians told you that the card was locked in the safe at their office. This statement was not only a lie but it also is a violation of Multi Lock procedure. You, the customer, are to be given the opportunity to retain the card or to sign it over to the company for safe keeping. In light of this behavior, your distrust of xxp a Lxxx and your desire to sever all ties with this company by rekeying your locks is understandable, prudent even.
In regards to the manner in which the locks were installed, there were several errors that were made to every installation. For example, the Multi Lock HD series deadbolts are supplied with a pair of ball bearings which are to be inserted in the mounting holes of the exterior portion of the lock. These ball bearings provide protection against a drilling attack against the mounting screws and are an integral part of the security provided by this series of lock. With out them the lock becomes less than what it is being sold as. I found that all 4 of your deadbolts were missing their ball bearings. I replaced these parts for you.
Another problem that I found and corrected was the manner in which the deadbolts were mounted on the door. The bolt face was not mortised into the face of the door. Instead, the technician mounted the bolt face upon the edge of the door. This caused the entire lock body alignment to be offset and to fail to align with the cross bore hole. In order to correct this(the lock will not bolt on properly in this condition)the technician filed on the some of the holes and, when this did not fix the problem, forced the bolts in using vice-grip pliers. Installing locks in this manner will cause the lock to fail to operate properly and also causes the bolt face to strike against the door frame and strike plate. The bolt face must be installed flush with the edge of the door and the lock body must align properly with the cross bore holes. I redrilled the mounting holes for each deadbolt and also mortised the bolt faces so that they are now flush. I did this for all 4 doors, including the metal door in the utility room.
The last thing that we discussed was whether the strike plates that the technicians sold to you as substitutes for the heavy duty Multi Lock strikes were in fact stronger than the original. Also you asked why the heavy duty strike that came with the lever and locksets was not used. My answer to you was that the Mag strike is as strong as the original if they are installed properly. This would mean that they were aligned properly and stalled with at least 3″ screws. There is no reason for the lockset strikes not to be used. The technician simply did not want to do the extra work. I also found that the Mag strikes were not installed with 3″ screws. This in fact made them weaker than the original Multi Lock strikes. I installed the heavy duty lockset strikes that you found in the trash using 3″ screws and realigned and installed the Mag strikes with 3″ screws also.
Rekeying your 14 Multi Lock cylinders and reinstalling all of your locks and strikes took the better part of an entire day. They are now properly fitted to your doors, with all the necessary parts, and the strikes installed properly aligned and with sufficient clearance to prevent them being hit by the door and the lock bolt. The amount of attention that I gave to the work at hand should not be viewed as something extraordinary. I was simply doing what I was paid to do. What you trusted me to do. The fact that I love what I do is just an added benefit. This extra work would not have been necessary had the original technicians had the same high standards and respect for your hard-earned money. When you made the decision to invest in high security locks you believed in good faith that the company would do everything possible to fulfill the intent of the high security lock package that they were installing. Pxx a Lxxx failed you in every respect. The work that they did for you was of very poor quality and compromised your security. I hope that I have done everything possible to correct these shortcomings and that as a result you now have the confidence in your new locks that they are supposed to provide.
I will be seeing you again as soon as your captive keys arrive. Until then I hope that all is well.

Mike Wilson
VP Abbot’s Security Services
dba A-Abbot Safe and Lock
770 850 0150

Here is an article that I would like to share with you regarding surveillance camera issues.

With the recent events in Florida, we can now allow ourselves to hope that the “locksmith landscape” will see better times in the future. As the federal authorities investigate Dependable Locksmith, we can assume that the trail of fraud and deceit will lead them to Atlanta, we hope so anyway, and that there will be many arrests here as well. It is a fact that 80-90% of the advertisements that people view when looking for a locksmith in Atlanta are in fact tied to these types of companies. Customers deserve to know that when they are calling in need of such a personal service, they will be served by a technician who has been cleared by the authorities and approved by their peers. This in turn will give them the assurance that when a locksmith sells them a high security lock, like Multi Lock, they will indeed receive that product and not a cheap substitute,(refer to the customers invoice posted previously)or that a simple lockout will not turn into a multi-hundred dollar ordeal.
When we at Abbot Safe and Lock/Master Locksmith Co. set out to install Multi Lock high security locks on a customers home or business, there is never any doubt that they will receive the product promised and that it will be installed according to the most demanding standards. Trust me, there is more to installing a lock(especially a Multi Lock high security lock)than knocking a couple of holes in a door. There a several parts and steps that can be omitted in order for the technician to save time and effort. This type of attitude does not fly around here. When a customer decides to share their hard-earned money with us, they are damned sure going to get more than they pay for.We are going to work hard for that money. We use all the parts that are included in a lockset and do not skip steps during the installation. These types of practices would deprive our customers of the full quality of the products that they have entrusted us to install for them. We want to earn and keep our customers trust.
Now is the time for Georgia citizens to renew their efforts to call attention to this crime wave. Call the office of the attorney general and demand that they take action to protect Georgia’s citizens. If you feel that you have been victimized by one of these companies call the US Postal Inspectors office at: 877 876 2455
Even if you have not been a victim, call anyway. Don’t wait until it happens to you.
Keep it real,
Mike

Watch this video.