Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich apparently did something right in 2006 when his administration suspended the locksmith license of Dependable Locks and its owner, David Peer for giving a fraudulent address on its license application, for failing to provide a list of its licensed staff and for failing to cooperate with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) in its investigation. The company was then based out of New York, but has since relocated to Florida.
The Department also suspended Price Line, based out of New York as well. Both companies listed their businesses with Illinois addresses, advertised their businesses in phone directories and used local phone exchanges and business names in their ads.
Consumers called a local number not realizing the companies had set up Remote Call Forwarding (RCF) numbers with the local phone company that forwarded their calls to call centers in New York.
The call centers then dispatched a sub-contractor to do the work. Illinois law prohibits unlicensed sub-contractors to work as locksmiths. Locksmiths must carry their locksmith license and the agency must also be licensed. Both companies complied with getting a license for their businesses but not for their employees. Not only must the employee pass a background check, they are also required to pass an exam to prove competency as a locksmith. I guess it was too much of an investment for the companies.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Birds of a feather lock together
Dealing with tax collectors and their staff getting the needed information on registered locksmiths has been interesting to say the least. Different counties have different ways of listing or not listing the information.
My all-time favorite site thus far has to be Hernando County. Talk about user-friendly. They have only 19 locksmiths and besides the business name, and address and owner’s name, they list the business phone number – one of the few counties I’m come across that’s done that. The whole list can be easily printed out and stuck in the glove compartment of a car.
Will have to make some calls to see how accurate the listings are. While every listing has a business start date, renewal dates range from 2004 to 2007 when it should be 2009 or later.
There was, however, one suspicious-looking listing – Fancy Feathers & Friends in Brooksville, Fla. I called the owner Frank Haucke who said the business name was correct.
Since I assumed he had a pet shop full-time, I asked if he was doing locksmithing on the side. “No,” he said, “It’s a full-time job. At one time we owned a pet store and when we applied for the license for both businesses the county said we only needed one license.”
“When we closed the pet store, we didn’t change the name,” Haucke said.
Haucke said he had been locksmithing for more than 25 years and all his customers know him.
My all-time favorite site thus far has to be Hernando County. Talk about user-friendly. They have only 19 locksmiths and besides the business name, and address and owner’s name, they list the business phone number – one of the few counties I’m come across that’s done that. The whole list can be easily printed out and stuck in the glove compartment of a car.
Will have to make some calls to see how accurate the listings are. While every listing has a business start date, renewal dates range from 2004 to 2007 when it should be 2009 or later.
There was, however, one suspicious-looking listing – Fancy Feathers & Friends in Brooksville, Fla. I called the owner Frank Haucke who said the business name was correct.
Since I assumed he had a pet shop full-time, I asked if he was doing locksmithing on the side. “No,” he said, “It’s a full-time job. At one time we owned a pet store and when we applied for the license for both businesses the county said we only needed one license.”
“When we closed the pet store, we didn’t change the name,” Haucke said.
Haucke said he had been locksmithing for more than 25 years and all his customers know him.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
New Find-A-Legit-Locksmith site is up
Finally, the new http://www.find-a-legit-locksmith.com/ site is up. I needed a place to begin posting the lists of legally registered or licensed locksmiths and the blog was just not going to be able to handle it.
Did I say in a previous post that I would do this over the weekend? I forgot how graphically challenged I am. I needed grace, grace and more grace. Praise the Lord for templates! Even then it was tough going.
I did have some disappointments along the way gathering information. Most of the agencies have been forthcoming, but I am still waiting on a response from Miami-Dade. The only county in Florida that requires a locksmith license and there is no online access to check someone out before you call them. I was told to email them, which I did 10 days ago but as yet no response. Will follow up with a letter this week and if that doesn’t work I’ll download a sample letter from the Society of Professional Journalists and file a Freedom of Information letter. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of those – need to brush-up on the procedures. The last time I filed one I was trying to obtain information from ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement). It was pre-9-11 and it took forever. I can imagine what it’s like now. Well, an FOI letter is a last resort. I think they are just busy, so I’ll keep plugging away on completing the other 60+ counties in Florida while I’m waiting.
Did I say in a previous post that I would do this over the weekend? I forgot how graphically challenged I am. I needed grace, grace and more grace. Praise the Lord for templates! Even then it was tough going.
I did have some disappointments along the way gathering information. Most of the agencies have been forthcoming, but I am still waiting on a response from Miami-Dade. The only county in Florida that requires a locksmith license and there is no online access to check someone out before you call them. I was told to email them, which I did 10 days ago but as yet no response. Will follow up with a letter this week and if that doesn’t work I’ll download a sample letter from the Society of Professional Journalists and file a Freedom of Information letter. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of those – need to brush-up on the procedures. The last time I filed one I was trying to obtain information from ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement). It was pre-9-11 and it took forever. I can imagine what it’s like now. Well, an FOI letter is a last resort. I think they are just busy, so I’ll keep plugging away on completing the other 60+ counties in Florida while I’m waiting.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
National locksmith association changes ethics code - almost
When the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) issued a press release Tuesday to explain a recent change in their Code of Ethics concerning deceptive advertising, I began to wonder exactly how many of their 8,000 national members were violating the code. The previous code stated that members should "abstain from using improper or questionable methods of soliciting patronage..."
According to the press release, the new language added directs all members to “advertise and conduct business in a non-deceptive manner.”
ALOA President Ken Kupferman said the association does receive a lot of complaints daily but not about members. He wasn’t certain if members were using deceptive advertising practices, but said the change puts any members doing so on notice.
“We don’t want to be associated with people like that,” Kupferman said. He suggested I speak to Attorney Tim McMullen, ALOA’s legislative manager who handles complaints.
McMullen could cite only one case – a woman in Washington, D.C. who called to complain that a member locksmith was using her address on his website and wanted it removed. McMullen said they notified the member and they are waiting on a response.
One out of 8,000 members. I’d say that’s a pretty good record in anyone’s book.
To see the entire code go to: http://aloa.org/pdf/ethicode.pdf, but wait a few days. The change hasn’t made it to the website yet.
According to the press release, the new language added directs all members to “advertise and conduct business in a non-deceptive manner.”
ALOA President Ken Kupferman said the association does receive a lot of complaints daily but not about members. He wasn’t certain if members were using deceptive advertising practices, but said the change puts any members doing so on notice.
“We don’t want to be associated with people like that,” Kupferman said. He suggested I speak to Attorney Tim McMullen, ALOA’s legislative manager who handles complaints.
McMullen could cite only one case – a woman in Washington, D.C. who called to complain that a member locksmith was using her address on his website and wanted it removed. McMullen said they notified the member and they are waiting on a response.
One out of 8,000 members. I’d say that’s a pretty good record in anyone’s book.
To see the entire code go to: http://aloa.org/pdf/ethicode.pdf, but wait a few days. The change hasn’t made it to the website yet.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
New locksmith website update
Wow! I forgot how much time and effort it takes to create a new website, but I am making progress. I have several states ready to go and will post locksmiths in about 5 counties to begin with.
Will keep you posted.
Will keep you posted.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Registered locksmith listings to begin with Florida locksmiths
As promised in my April 2nd blog – Investigating Locksmiths? Moi?, I will start listing registered locksmiths, but not on the blog. This blog just doesn’t have the functionality I need to list the locksmiths by state and county.
So I had to create a new website at and will be working on it over the weekend. Hope to have it up and running by then.
I’ll begin with Florida’s 66 counties plus list links to states that do have locksmith laws. Even with locksmith laws, the scam artists are still working. I’m hoping that will change as problems with bogus phone directory and online listing are addressed.
So I had to create a new website at and will be working on it over the weekend. Hope to have it up and running by then.
I’ll begin with Florida’s 66 counties plus list links to states that do have locksmith laws. Even with locksmith laws, the scam artists are still working. I’m hoping that will change as problems with bogus phone directory and online listing are addressed.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Locksmiths, Florida and the Russian mob
The New York Times has a blog called The Board written by a group of journalists on their editorial board. Last August I happened to read board member Verlyn Klinkenborg’s post entitled “A Bad Day.” It was a litany of exasperating experiences that piled up all in one day.
Klinkenborg’s bad day began as he left for work. He found he was locked in his apartment with a deadbolt that wouldn’t retract.
What originally intrigued me about the story was Klinkenborg’s next sentence:
“If you’ve ever called an emergency locksmith on a Sunday, you know what followed – a visit from the Russian mafia, which accepts only cash on weekends, a whopping bill, and a grudging drive in the locksmith’s van to a nearby ATM.”
“Hum, so the Russian mafia is probably controlling the whole locksmith industry in New York City,” I thought. “Glad we don’t have that problem in Florida.”
I didn’t think about it again until ten days later when I received a call on our business line from a man with a heavy Russian accent and broken English.
“Hello. What is Martin Security? You a locksmith?”
“Yes, Sir, we are,” I replied. “How can I help you?”
“I find you online. Craig’s List. This is Locksmith 911. I lost a man in your area and need someone to take care of a lady. You do Orlando?
“Yes, now, what did you say your name was?” I asked. “Are you in Central Florida?”
“This is Russell with Locksmith 911. We work all over Florida. I lose a man. You do the job? Yes?”
“Yes,” I said. Since I was at my computer I did a reverse phone number search on the name and number listed on my digital display. His name and number matched, but he was calling from a landline in Manhattan, NY.
As Russell gave me the particulars of the job, I searched the Florida Department of Corporations website, but a company by the name of Locksmith 911 was not found. A dozen businesses were listed under Russell’s name, but all were medical industry companies (medical supplies, doctor groups, HMO’s). Russell must have a common Russian surname.
“I give you this one free,” said Russell about the financial arrangements. “Next time you pay me 30 percent and you get to keep 70 percent. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said. “But where do I send you the money? What’s your address here in Florida?
“Next time I call, I give you my address and you mail me a business check.”
“Right,” I thought, “I’m going to send my check with my bank account numbers on it to someone who may be in the Russian mafia. No way!”
I assured Russell that if for some reason we couldn’t do the job, I would get another locksmith to do it. We hung up and after thinking about what transpired, I decided to toss this hot potato to Jerry, a fellow locksmith, who accepted the job after I explained the situation.
Russell’s Florida business must have slowed down or he discovered I passed the job on. In either case, he’s never called again.
Klinkenborg’s bad day began as he left for work. He found he was locked in his apartment with a deadbolt that wouldn’t retract.
What originally intrigued me about the story was Klinkenborg’s next sentence:
“If you’ve ever called an emergency locksmith on a Sunday, you know what followed – a visit from the Russian mafia, which accepts only cash on weekends, a whopping bill, and a grudging drive in the locksmith’s van to a nearby ATM.”
“Hum, so the Russian mafia is probably controlling the whole locksmith industry in New York City,” I thought. “Glad we don’t have that problem in Florida.”
I didn’t think about it again until ten days later when I received a call on our business line from a man with a heavy Russian accent and broken English.
“Hello. What is Martin Security? You a locksmith?”
“Yes, Sir, we are,” I replied. “How can I help you?”
“I find you online. Craig’s List. This is Locksmith 911. I lost a man in your area and need someone to take care of a lady. You do Orlando?
“Yes, now, what did you say your name was?” I asked. “Are you in Central Florida?”
“This is Russell with Locksmith 911. We work all over Florida. I lose a man. You do the job? Yes?”
“Yes,” I said. Since I was at my computer I did a reverse phone number search on the name and number listed on my digital display. His name and number matched, but he was calling from a landline in Manhattan, NY.
As Russell gave me the particulars of the job, I searched the Florida Department of Corporations website, but a company by the name of Locksmith 911 was not found. A dozen businesses were listed under Russell’s name, but all were medical industry companies (medical supplies, doctor groups, HMO’s). Russell must have a common Russian surname.
“I give you this one free,” said Russell about the financial arrangements. “Next time you pay me 30 percent and you get to keep 70 percent. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said. “But where do I send you the money? What’s your address here in Florida?
“Next time I call, I give you my address and you mail me a business check.”
“Right,” I thought, “I’m going to send my check with my bank account numbers on it to someone who may be in the Russian mafia. No way!”
I assured Russell that if for some reason we couldn’t do the job, I would get another locksmith to do it. We hung up and after thinking about what transpired, I decided to toss this hot potato to Jerry, a fellow locksmith, who accepted the job after I explained the situation.
Russell’s Florida business must have slowed down or he discovered I passed the job on. In either case, he’s never called again.
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