Tips to Avoid Being Scammed Dallas Locksmith Locked Up

The Alabama Attorney General recently filed criminal charges against a locksmith Dallas operation for setting up bogus storefronts run by a unlicensed locksmith.Dallas consumers  believed they were dealing with reputable companies. The action was a complete success and the company was ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution, to immediately cease operations, and to no longer do business in the state under a new name or any of the 26 different names that the company had been using in local telephone directories.

All Dallas locksmiths that are facing this same situation are encouraged to go to their state’s Attorney General who can take the appropriate legal action against these fraudulent companies. To contact your state’s Attorney General about locksmith dallas scams like this one, go to http://www.naag.org/ .

Always be wary of fake business names, but remember that legitimate locksmith companies may also use similar names to improve their position in business directories, so use the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help avoid a scam:

1. Be wary of Plano and Dallas locksmith companies that answer calls with generic phrases like “Dallas locksmith services,” rather than a specific name. If a locksmith cannot or will not provide the business’ legal name, find another locksmith.
2. When the locksmith arrives, ask for identification, including a locksmith license where applicable. Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas all require locksmiths to be licensed.
3. Get an estimate before any work begins, including emergency service.
4. Ask about extra charges for things like emergency hours, mileage or service call minimums before you agree to have the work performed.
5. If the locksmith’s on-site price doesn’t match the phone estimate, don’t allow the work to be performed.
6. All legitimate locksmith dallas technicians will arrive in a clearly marked vehicle.
7. If you’re locked out, be cautious of companies that recommend or insist on drilling or replacing the lock up front. Most experienced locksmiths have the skills and tools to unlock almost any door.

Contact the #1 rated Plano, Arlington, and locksmith dallas Company at www.a-1locksmith.com if you have any questions about the locksmithing laws in your area. A-1 has been in business since 1949 and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.