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.
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legislation. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Florida locksmith services law dies in House and Senate committees
The 2010 Locksmith Services law (House Bill 301 and Senate Bill 658) died in committee on April 30, the last day of session. While Florida locksmiths are safe from the burdensome regulations for another year, it was closer to passing this year than last.
The bills passed favorably through 2 of the 5 Senate committees and 2 of the 4 House committees. By mid-April, with only 2 weeks left in the session, the bills looked all but dead. Then former Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) President Ken Kupferman sent out an urgent email asking Florida locksmiths to call House Speaker Larry Cretual and Majority Leader Adam Hasner and “ask them to bring our bill to the House Floor for a vote.”
What was going on? Had something been missed? How could asking Cretual and Hasner to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote have helped when it still had so far to go in the Senate? What would that have accomplished?
Plenty, as it turns out!
According to Jaryn Emhof, Communications Director for Senate President Jeff Atwater, “when a bill in the House and the Senate is identical (as was the case with HB 301 and SB 658) , and, if a deal has been made between the sponsors, should the bill pass one Chamber, it can automatically be passed in the other Chamber.”
Did Rep. Thomas Anderson (R) and Senator Victor Crist (R), (both sponsors in 2009 and 2010), reach an agreement either before or during the 2010 session? It’s possible. If it had been brought to the floor for a vote, in all likelihood, it would have passed, sidestepping the 5 remaining committee hearings.
So that may be the reason for Kupferman’s final urgent emails. It’s also a good reason why those who oppose legislation, any legislation, need to travel to Tallahassee to speak at committee hearings at the beginning of March to stop any unwanted legislation.
I did take Kupferman’s email seriously and called and sent faxes to Cretual and Hasner, but not in support of the bill. This course of action, however, was frustrating, and, I believe, not very effective at this point in the process. When I asked legislative staff answering the phones how they verify that those calling in to express their opinions are Florida residents, they said there was no way they could do that. Since ALOA has about 4,000 to 5,000 nationwide members, it was very disconcerning especially knowing what I already knew about their approach to this legislation.
Knowing how the system works empowers constituents
So how does a bill get started? Generally, interested Floridians approach their representatives in the Senate and the House to suggest a new regulation. Things usually begin happening far in advance of the March to April 60-day session when legislators actually vote on bills.
Bills are filed in November and then referred to councils or committees for discussion. November through March is the best time for constituents to visit their representatives in their district offices and voice their opinion about pending legislation. The second best opportunity for the opposition to voice their opinions is when the committee meetings begin in March. Until then, it’s possible that Representatives and Senators only know what the proponents of the bill have said.
Proponents are usually better organized and funded and are able to hire lobbyists. They and their lobbyist have already been visiting legislators in their districts offices and at campaign events. They even hold events packed with supporters of the bill and invite legislators to attend “to hear what the average locksmith thinks about the bill.”
If no one speaks against the bill at the committee meetings in Tallahassee, as happened in this case, then the bills are favorably passed by majority vote on to the next committee to await the next hearing and vote.
So what did the proponents of the bill have to say about Florida locksmiths and the Florida locksmith industry? You’d be surprised. I know I was.
My next post will reveal how the proponents of the bill answered the 14 questions of the “Sunrise Questionnaire for Groups Seeking New Regulation.” Exactly who are these proponents? How accurate was their assessment of the locksmith industry in Florida or did they over-inflate the problems and their representation of the industry? Did they mischaracterize Florida locksmiths or were they spot on? More importantly, what did they neglect to mention?
The next post is a long one because not only are the questions and answers listed, but interviews with legislative staff and investigative research has been provided as to the validity of the proponents’ claims.
If you haven’t signed up for this blog by email, please do so now. Watch for this next post, print it out and take time to read it. Then be ready next November to take a stand should a new bill be filed. Visit your representatives when they hold campaign events this summer or in their district offices – it’s a much shorter trip than driving to Tallahassee.
The bills passed favorably through 2 of the 5 Senate committees and 2 of the 4 House committees. By mid-April, with only 2 weeks left in the session, the bills looked all but dead. Then former Associated Locksmiths Of America (ALOA) President Ken Kupferman sent out an urgent email asking Florida locksmiths to call House Speaker Larry Cretual and Majority Leader Adam Hasner and “ask them to bring our bill to the House Floor for a vote.”
What was going on? Had something been missed? How could asking Cretual and Hasner to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote have helped when it still had so far to go in the Senate? What would that have accomplished?
Plenty, as it turns out!
According to Jaryn Emhof, Communications Director for Senate President Jeff Atwater, “when a bill in the House and the Senate is identical (as was the case with HB 301 and SB 658) , and, if a deal has been made between the sponsors, should the bill pass one Chamber, it can automatically be passed in the other Chamber.”
Did Rep. Thomas Anderson (R) and Senator Victor Crist (R), (both sponsors in 2009 and 2010), reach an agreement either before or during the 2010 session? It’s possible. If it had been brought to the floor for a vote, in all likelihood, it would have passed, sidestepping the 5 remaining committee hearings.
So that may be the reason for Kupferman’s final urgent emails. It’s also a good reason why those who oppose legislation, any legislation, need to travel to Tallahassee to speak at committee hearings at the beginning of March to stop any unwanted legislation.
I did take Kupferman’s email seriously and called and sent faxes to Cretual and Hasner, but not in support of the bill. This course of action, however, was frustrating, and, I believe, not very effective at this point in the process. When I asked legislative staff answering the phones how they verify that those calling in to express their opinions are Florida residents, they said there was no way they could do that. Since ALOA has about 4,000 to 5,000 nationwide members, it was very disconcerning especially knowing what I already knew about their approach to this legislation.
Knowing how the system works empowers constituents
So how does a bill get started? Generally, interested Floridians approach their representatives in the Senate and the House to suggest a new regulation. Things usually begin happening far in advance of the March to April 60-day session when legislators actually vote on bills.
Bills are filed in November and then referred to councils or committees for discussion. November through March is the best time for constituents to visit their representatives in their district offices and voice their opinion about pending legislation. The second best opportunity for the opposition to voice their opinions is when the committee meetings begin in March. Until then, it’s possible that Representatives and Senators only know what the proponents of the bill have said.
Proponents are usually better organized and funded and are able to hire lobbyists. They and their lobbyist have already been visiting legislators in their districts offices and at campaign events. They even hold events packed with supporters of the bill and invite legislators to attend “to hear what the average locksmith thinks about the bill.”
If no one speaks against the bill at the committee meetings in Tallahassee, as happened in this case, then the bills are favorably passed by majority vote on to the next committee to await the next hearing and vote.
So what did the proponents of the bill have to say about Florida locksmiths and the Florida locksmith industry? You’d be surprised. I know I was.
My next post will reveal how the proponents of the bill answered the 14 questions of the “Sunrise Questionnaire for Groups Seeking New Regulation.” Exactly who are these proponents? How accurate was their assessment of the locksmith industry in Florida or did they over-inflate the problems and their representation of the industry? Did they mischaracterize Florida locksmiths or were they spot on? More importantly, what did they neglect to mention?
The next post is a long one because not only are the questions and answers listed, but interviews with legislative staff and investigative research has been provided as to the validity of the proponents’ claims.
If you haven’t signed up for this blog by email, please do so now. Watch for this next post, print it out and take time to read it. Then be ready next November to take a stand should a new bill be filed. Visit your representatives when they hold campaign events this summer or in their district offices – it’s a much shorter trip than driving to Tallahassee.
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