Conclusions and suggestions for locksmiths

The time for locksmiths to become involved, stay informed and unite against any attempt to license them is now. The effort to stay free from licensing will require infinitely less effort than complying with all the licensing rules should another attempt be successful. But if locksmiths can show they are alert, united and working to solve problems within their industry, any future assault to licensing will be lessened.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Continue to strengthen networks - socialize, stay in contact with other locksmiths. Build a database of all the locksmiths in you county or city and get to know each other.

2. Continue to stay vigilant against any assault to your economic freedoms or attempts to enslave you to continual taxes, fees or unnecessary training.

3. If not in an association, join one or start one in your local area.

4. This is a biggie: Do NOT vote for leaders in local associations who are in favor of locksmith legislation. To do anything else is unwise.

5. Educate the public wherever you go about genuine locksmithing, your business and your association. Associations could print cards or fliers for members to hand out. Educating the public that all businesses are already required to display their business tax ID or occupational license (at least it’s true in Florida) and to ask to see it is important. “Locksmiths” who refuse to answer simple identity questions are hiding the fact that they are not locksmiths. They don’t want their victims to know who they are or how to contact them.

6. Educate your representatives during their campaign events or visit them in their district offices. Develop an “elevator speech” whereby you can state your opinion briefly and clearly. Provide them with information they can read later. Find out how local representatives can strengthen anti-fraud laws by requiring all businesses (including locksmiths) to give a written estimate for work over a certain amount of money. Also, emphasize that the state has to take a stronger stand in educating the public.

7. Visit your local news media to educate them about your association and what your members are doing to thwart the scammer issue. Ask for the local association to be listed as a news source for local locksmith stories. Associations should develop a list of items reporters can use to correctly discern whether the person showing up for a lockout job is a scammer or a genuine locksmith and post it on their website. Emphasize that scammers are not locksmiths and ask them to please put quotes around the word “locksmith” when writing about them. At newspapers, speak to the Managing Editors. At television stations ask for the Assignment Desk Manager. Leave information.

8. Work together and find ways to legally stop scammers that are working in your call areas. They are not too hard to find if you need a lock job done.

Here’s what I did recently concerning another industry and it may be something 2 or 3 locksmiths can do together:

Recently, I got tired of the annoying phone calls by a bogus “survey” company trying to set up appointments for an “educational” home energy audit. Energy Conservation Group was the new name they were using this month and as usual, was not listed as a valid company with the State of Florida. The callers wouldn’t give me their address or any other information. I did the only thing I could. I went on the offensive and booked an appointment.

When the representative got to my house, I asked for ID and he gave me an ID from Energy Labs – name, picture, phone number. No address. While my husband distracted him by showing him our hot water heater in the utility room, I rifled through the notebook he left on the coffee table and got the name of the actual company behind the scheme and checked it and Energy Labs online.

Now the only thing I had to do in order to report the company to the consumer protection agency for violating telemarketing laws was to listen to his spiel. Was he really here just to conduct an energy audit and educate me as the telemarketer said or would he put on the hard-sell? For the next few minutes I listened to him talk about the benefits of his product, but challenged him on every point about his company’s credibility or why he was truly there.

“Our company’s been in business 27 years…”

“Really? Energy Labs is not even a valid company in the State of Florida.”

“Oh, well, Energy Labs is just the manufacturer. Solar First has been in business for 27 years.”

“Really? The State says it was first incorporated in 2008.”

He ignored my remarks and continued with his hard sell explaining to me the easy financing and how I would save $90+ a month in energy costs. It will only cost me a payment of $135 a month – but I’d be saving energy!

“Well, if you buy the $13,000 solar hot water heater you get all these tax credits, plus, you get your attic insulated for free – a $1,500 value.”

“Really? I just checked with Lowe’s and it’s only $200 if I do the insulation work myself using their machine. Besides, I thought you were just here to educate me. I didn’t know you would actually try to sell me something. I have to think about all this.”

“Of course, we’re here to educate you,” he said as he handed me two energy solution tip sheets. “We only sell to people who want to be sold.”

The persistent rep continued to try to sell me and finally gave up only after I told him I scheduled the appointment under false pretenses to find out who he really worked for and that I wasn’t buying or financing anything. The only thing I forgot to do as he left was to walk him out to his car and get his tag number.

Locksmith networks in each community could go on the offensive together as well. Call the scammer numbers and schedule a lock job. Ask for ID when they get there. Wait to see if they pull out the only “locksmith” tool they have – a drill. Remember the purpose of the call is to gather information (car tags, photos, etc.) to turn into consumer protection agencies or local law enforcement agencies. Just be sure not to get physical. Local locksmith associations can also post the results of their “stings” on their websites with photos of the perpetrators (check with legal counsel first). I’ll tell you how it works out with the “telemarketing sting” I conducted.

In summary, locksmiths must continue to inform and strengthen their networks, must go on the offensive with scammers, must make contact with their representatives and must stay alert to the next assault on their freedom.

Update: The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and local police fraud agencies are investigating this group. The company keeps calling me using various names (Power Saver Association, National Electric Advisors, etc.). I make appointments every time, but they refuse to come out. Apparently, I’m blacklisted. Since they won’t come out to my house but continue calling me, now I explain to the “survey taker” what I’ve found as an investigative journalist. The company is using unethical business practices and they need to find another job. Since if their employer requires them to lie and cheat to get into people’s homes, they will lie to and cheat them. In addition, God will hold them responsible as if they did the wrong deeds themselves.

Summer's over, back to work

Well, it’s been interesting having the summer off instead of just the two weeks I had planned. I really did have some conclusions to that big investigative story I had written, but when I submitted the article to my editor, Carol, it wasn’t pretty.

“Call me right away before you post anything,” was the urgent message she’d left on my voice mail.

I had written conclusions for both ALOA (Associated Locksmiths of America) and for locksmiths in general. Carol felt the ALOA conclusions I wrote could be potentially libelous. Okay, so I guess I really didn’t have to state the obvious – that some of them can be a bunch of stinkers and maybe their members should consider voting them out of both the local and national organizations. Since the investigation was so well-documented, I believe it spoke for itself.

Instead of taking the time then to rewrite the conclusions article, I put it aside and did some ghost writing for my former publisher, David. After all, he did drive in from out-of-state and sit right in my office. Gotta take care of what’s in right front of me. I’d get back to the conclusion article soon enough, I thought.

The summer was busier than I expected and getting back to it just wasn’t that easy. Vacations, helping both sons move – one to Colorado to go to college, the other to another town closer to hubby and I, then the sad, but not unexpected passing of Will Leff, Carol’s husband of 52 years. We all needed some time off especially Carol. She’s in Colorado to visit family, friends and my son, and I promised to behave while she’s gone.

Tomorrow, I’ll post my revised conclusions article.