Dear readers:

Since September 11, 2001, American foreign policy has been shaped by the idea that we are at war with radical Islamists. The drunken spending binge that Congress has embarked upon has created a need for foreign bailouts so huge that the American government has been blinded to the reality that Islam’s war against America is not merely one of guns, bullets, and missiles, but also predicated upon the Islamist desire to bring about the financial destruction of the West, and particularly, of the United States of America. It’s about time that Congress and the current administration realize this, and take immediate action to prevent this  looming disaster.

Because of the insane spending habits of Congress (whose moral compass is obviously missing its needle), we Americans are facing widespread economic instability, resulting in an extreme devaluation of our money (goodbye to the dollar-hello Amero), as well as an extreme devaluation of our faith in our government leadership. And so today many people feel that faith is for churches, and for churches alone: I tend to agree in part.  On March 14, in reference to the nearly 100 trillion dollars of American money which  OPEC has pocketed,  President Bush welcomed capital investments from foreign wealth funds saying, “It’s our money to begin with–(and) it seems like we ought to let it come back.”

The Saudis, and the other oil- producing Gulf states, appear to be aggressively pursuing methods of economic warfare against our country, and little- to- nothing is being done about it. American economists, while applauding the fact that our dollars are ‘coming back’,  ignore the fact that the 2-1/$2 billion dollars per day we put into the pockets of Middle East oil producers gives them enormous leverage and unfathomable control over the dollar, and not surprisingly, our economy.

Many of the clients with whom I’ve spoken at express their concerns that the American government leadership, rather than looking to American needs and interests, are quite possibly positioning themselves to be offered and to accept positions with a new world government, happily acquiescing to the homicidal agenda of their masters. I say homicidal because I am convinced they are trying to kill our country dead. The 1/2  mile- wide NAFTA superhighway continues to be built in secret. The border problem is an anarchist’s wet dream. Congress refuses to permit us to drill  in the insanely oil-rich Gulf of Mexico (we don’t want some spoiled billionaire’s penthouse view destroyed by ugly American oil rigs– I suppose they’ll  prefer ugly Chinese oil rigs). The innocuous light bulb is about to be banished from the face of the earth in favor of the corkscrew- shaped carbon fluorescent light bulb (which is highly toxic). I suppose that this fiasco is some type of reward to General Electric for promoting the global- warming scam. In the meantime, the United States teeters between the twin pillars of root rot and financial insolvency.

I be writing more on this topic as things progress, but in the meantime –

Have a great day, ’cause I know I’m gonna–

Val

Well, the word is finally out.  After five years of complaining to my Yellow Pages rep about fraudulent advertising, criminal locksmith rings, ripped- off consumers, and wasted advertising revenues, local authorities are about to institute what, in their minds, is the solution to the phony locksmith ripoff operations which have plagued South Florida area for several years now. The stage has been set with an array of the usual suspects– a local politician or two seeking the usual photo op, a TV reporter or two seeking to validate their usefulness to the South Florida community, and maybe a locksmith company or two seeking to make a name for themselves by standing at the forefront of the proceedings.  And, as usual, authorities are preparing to lean on the wrong people in order to solve the problem.

It’s no surprise that things should have come to this– it’s just the way things are done in this country these days. If Americans react negatively to the flood of illegals in this country, it’s easier to shout ‘xenophobe’ or ’racist’ than it is to fix the problem. If some kid on the other side of the country pulls a gun and shoots some students, it’s easier to demonize  guns and/or legal gun owners than it is to admit that nothing can be done to prevent lunatics from committing acts of insanity anywhere, or at any time. And, now that the country has been plagued by thousands upon thousands of phony locksmiths and criminal ring members, it has been decided that the time has come for the ‘powers that be’ to require me to jump through hoop after hoop in order to proclaim my own legitimacy, and to justify my right to exist in my chosen field of endeavor.

After years of complaining to almost anyone would listen about the extent to which phony locksmith companies were dominating online 411 and the Yellow Book/Pages/Verizon/SuperPages, it is now being decided that I need to be tested, that I need to be fingerprinted, and that I need more documentation (as if a Federal tax ID number, a continuous and legitimate corporate name listed with the Florida division of corporations since 1998, a sales and use tax certificate issued by the Florida Department of Revenue, a Broward County occupational license, and a City of Weston business license are apparently not enough proof of legitimacy). Maybe, as long as they’re at it, they ought to think about hair follicle testing, retina scanning, and voice and facial recognition databases. You can’t be too safe when it comes to ME!

In the meantime, how is any of this going to prevent criminals from committing crimes? Who is going to hold the Yellow Pages’ feet to the fire when it comes to accepting advertising money from people who are blatantly on the wrong side of the law? If you want to talk about ripoffs, let’s talk about the many tens of thousands of dollars that I’ve spent on advertising in the Yellow Pages over the years– don’t I have the right to expect that my advertising dollars are being well- spent?  Do I have the right to expect to compete against others in my trade on a level playing field? Does anyone actually believe that I, as a legitimate tradesperson, can possibly compete against undocumented and unregulated criminals who infiltrate the locksmithing trade, while at the same time paying for no corporate license, paying no taxes, paying for no county or city occupational licensing? The word ‘undocumented’ (in my mind) has come to mean a license to steal, a license to get away with murder, a license to do whatever the heck you want, whenever you want, and to whomever you want (a house near mine is currently occupied by a number of single males who come and go at all hours of the day and night, party like it’s 1999 and yet, barely speak a word of English. The landlord says that they haven’t paid a penny in rent for almost a year now). I find it ironic that, living in a strange land, and speaking little or none of the native language, a person who knows how to play the game can drive a late model car, dress well, wear plenty of bling, and live rent- free. “Give us your tired, give us your poor (give us your sociopathic scam artists) gimme–feed me, feed my kids, pay our rent and doctor’s bills . I don’t care what it costs YOU to take care of ME AND MINE (amoral familialism)! Oh yeah– and let me work off the books, too, ’cause I can’t pay off my Cadillac Escalade on what little I get from you.” And so you and I have been forced into servitude, enslaved by the masses…

There is much more to this topic than a simple licensing issue. Even though America is the land of the free, I have had to get permission from everybody and his mother just to do business to support my household.  As is all too common in America today, law-abiding citizens get screwed to the wall, while lawbreakers get to tip-toe through the tulips. Forget about the war in Iraq — start paying attention to the war against the middle class in this country!  It won’t be long before America is divided into only two classes — the well-to-do (overseeing the middle-class scramble for survival with typical Olympian detachment), and the marginal poor (waiting for their government handouts, chirping like baby birds to be fed by their government masters).

Nothing will be done about the problem of phony ‘locksmiths’ if Government (federal, state or local) addresses only the issue of lost tax revenues. Nothing will be done about the problem of phony ‘locksmiths’ simply by restructuring the membership criteria of trade organizations. Nothing will be done about the problem of phony ‘locksmiths’ if today’s advertising venues are permitted to continue accepting tons of advertising dollars from clearly disreputable sources, and at the expense of their legitimate advertisers.  Phony locksmiths will not cease to advertise just because they’ve received a fine of several thousand dollars (many of them can earn that money back in one or two jobs– clearly no big deal!) These criminals have severed the bond of trust which has historically existed between locksmiths and the public at large, and they’ve been assisted by irresponsible advertising companies, greedy wholesalers, and by (ostensibly) legitimate locksmith companies who, for a price, don’t mind fronting for those who walk on the shady side of society. 

Look at what’s all around you. Ballplayers have shown us that the only way to do well in today’s world is to cheat– to do whatever it takes to get an edge on the other guy. Moms teach their kids to lie and manipulate for ‘Hanna Montana’ tickets, and God only knows what else. Schools waste enormous sums of money building a kid’s ’self-esteem’ and promoting the ‘global warming’ hoax. Self-interested parties collude with government (once they discover that their future profit margins are to be decided by Washington) to the point that it becomes difficult to determine where Government ends and Big Business begins: we once called it ‘Fascism’). The deal goes down like this: the Government promises Big Business a share of the market, further promising to suppress competition, creating a reliable profit stream. In exchange, our ‘progressive’ Corporate citizenry agrees to comply with certain ideological and political agendas, profitably buying into  the global-warming tripe (20,000+ scientists have disagreed with the “consensus”, so where’s the consensus?), buying into diversity, and ‘comprehensive’ immigration reform (enabling Government to capitalize on the woes and tribulations of a newly-minted underclass which will gratefully refrain from EVER biting the hand that feeds them) . What we, as entrepreneurs, get in exchange are punishing economic policies and the inhibition of free markets. HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT?

Let’s hope that the dealmakers in government and in our trade organizations do more than rewrite and administer the upcoming locksmithing business codes to their own advantage. Let’s make sure they don’t– vote sensibly, and often!

Have a great day – ’cause I know I’m gonna.

Valerie Tannenbaum,
Maverick Locksmith, and president,
A2Z Locksmith, Inc.
Weston, Florida

copyright 2008, Valerie Tannenbaum (all rights reserved)

1. Locksmith scam may have hit Tucson – Arizona Daily Star Online (09/03/2007)
2. Man sentenced for fraudulent locksmith scheme – KNTV San Jose (09/26/2007)
3. 2 On Your Side: Bogus locksmiths – KATU-TV, Channel 2, Portland, OR (09/10/2007)
4. 2 On Your Side: More bogus locksmiths – KATU-TV, Channel 2, Portland, OR (09/17/2007)
5. Some Locksmiths Cost Customers More Than They Bargained For – KABC-TV Channel 7, Los Angeles, CA (09/20/2007)
6. Picking a locksmith at random could cost you – KOMO-TV, Channel 4, Seattle, WA (09/02/2007)
7. Unlicensed Locksmith Enters No Contest Plea – KGO-TV, Channel 7, San Francisco, CA (08/30/2007)
8. Common Name Problematic for Locksmith – Fremont Tribune, Fremont, NE (08/23/2007)
9. Some Bay Area People Fall For Locksmith Scam: Scam in New York Could Be Connected – KGO-TV San Francisco, Channel 7 (08/22/2007)
10. The key to picking a locksmith: Deceitful companies abound and a professional license doesn’t mean much. But there are ways to protect yourself – Los Angeles Times (08/05/2007)
11. “I feel like they ripped me off” – KOMO-TV, Channel 4, Seattle, WA (07/24/2007)
12. Locksmith Imposters – WPTV-TV, Channel 4, Palm Beach, FL (07/19/2007)
13. Locksmith scam makes a bad day even worse – KOMO-TV, Channel 4, Seattle, WA (07/19/2007)
14. The Locksmith ‘Mafia’: Making an Estimate You Can’t Refuse – ABC News National (07/18/2007)
15. Out-Of-State Locksmiths Picking Local Customers’ Pockets – WTAE-TV, Channel 4, Pittsburgh, PA (07/17/2007)
16. Locksmith Trial Set – Oakland Tribune (07/14/2007)
17. Locksmiths Pick Your Wallet – Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (07/13/2007)
18. Locked out? Don’t fall for this locksmith scam – MSNBC (07/13/2007)
19. Skepticism The Key To Avoiding Locksmith Scam – Consumer Affairs (07/12/2007)
20. Update: Unlicensed Locksmith In San Mateo County Jail – KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA, Channel 7 (06/28/2007)
21. Investigators Open Up Alleged Locksmith Scam – WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (06/11/2007)
22. CBS 5 Investigates Locksmith Scam – KPHO-TV, Channel 5, Phoenix, AZ (06/10/2007)
23. CBS 46 Investigates: Phony Locksmiths Fined – WGCL-TV Channel 46, Atlanta, GA (05/31/2007)
24. Better Business Bureau Revokes Six Memberships Including Liberty Locksmith – KOTV Channel 6, Tulsa, OK (5/29/07)
25. Locksmith Investigation – KOKI-TV Channel 23, Tulsa, OK (05/26/2007)
26. Putting The Lid On Law-Breaking Locksmiths – Realty Times Online (05/25/2007)
27. Lawmakers Taking Action On Unlicensed Locksmiths – KGO-TV San Francisco, Channel 7 (05/23/07)
28. Investigators: Door Jam – KSHB-TV Channel 41, Kansas City, MO (May 3,2007)
29. Tips for Choosing a Locksmith (KDVR-TV Fox Channel 31, Denver, CO – 4/30/2007)
30. Lousy Locksmiths (WSVN-TV Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Channel 7 – 03/20/2007)
31. Unlicensed Locksmiths Run Rampant In S.F. – The Back Story (KGO-TV San Francisco, CA Channel 7 – 02/28/2007)
32. Don’t Get Ripped Off by Locksmiths (KGO-TV San Francisco, CA Channel 7 – 02/24/2007)
33. Locked Out And Marked Up (WCCO-TV Minneapolis, MN Channel 4 – 02/19/2007)
34. I-Team: Deceptive Locksmiths (Today’s TMJ Channel 4 Milwaukee, WI 01/22/07)
    • Watch the Channel 4 investigative report video!
35. Investigators Open Up Alleged Locksmith Scam ( WCAU-TV Philadelphia – 01/10/07)
36. Locksmith overcharged her, woman alleges (Boston Townonline 12/28/06)
37. Lock Crock – Hank Phillippi Ryan Investigates (WHDH-TV Boston 11/06/06)
38. Blagojevich Administration Suspends License of Dependable Locks for False License Information (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – 9/25/06)
39. Sting Nabs Unlicensed Locksmiths Working in the Bay Area (California Department of Consumer Affairs 09/07/06)
40. Price Line Locksmith License Suspended (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 08/31/06)
41. Valley woman locks horns with locksmith company (KVTV Channel 3 – Phoenix, AZ 08/21/06)
    • Watch the Channel 3 investigative report video!
42. Locksmith Consumer Alert (KGO TV Channel 7 – San Francisco – 08/12/06)
43. Locksmith Again Found Liable for Fraudulent Practices (Chicago Department of Consumer Services 02/28/06)
44. Scum Alert (Cleveland Scene Letters to the Editor 01/18/06)
45. Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves (Cleveland Scene 01/11/06)
46. Scammer Locksmith Alert (KPNX Channel 12 – Phoenix, AZ)
47. City threatens to throw away key on locksmith (Chicago Sun-Times 08/27/05)
48. Out-of-state locksmiths picking on locals (Chicago Sun-Times 08/01/05)
49. Chicago Department of Consumer Services Offers Tips for Hiring a Locksmith (09/09/05)
50. Locksmith Found Liable for Fraudulent Practices (Chicago Department of Consumer Services 09/01/05)
51. Consumer Alert: Unlicensed Locksmiths Strike in San Francisco (California Department of Consumer Affairs 08/12/05)

A flood of complaints to the Better Business Bureau has revealed that more than a few locksmith companies, using methods of 411 monopolization, Yellow Pages advertisement manipulation, and other sophisticated methods, are bilking consumers for a fortune throughout the country.  Aside from significant overcharges to the consumer, and charges for unnecessary services, failure to respond to complaints, and the unbridled use of intimidation tactics have all contributed to a scandal reaching far and wide into this great country.

Just yesterday, I received a call from a woman who was mistaken in her hope that I might be involved with a company called “Dependable Locksmith”. Apparently, the ad to which she had responded indicated that the phony company was located at 1801 North University Drive in Plantation, Florida, and the guy with whom she had spoken had quoted her $45 to unlock her husband’s car. And the reason she called me about it was because I had apparently been listed in either the Yellow Book or Super Pages or somewhere as being located at 1802 North University Drive (an address I had vacated years ago).  What she didn’t know at the time was that 1801 North University Drive is a closed down Fuddrucker’s restaurant. She also didn’t know that her $45 service charge would explode to $159 for some inexplicable reason once the car was opened.

She told me that the guy who opened the car was very intimidating and very large, and that she was too frightened not pay him. I responded by telling her that many locksmiths (why do I even bother calling them locksmiths?) in the Yellow Pages are not locksmiths at all, but rather complete and total frauds who exploit the vulnerable situation of consumers who are locked out of their houses or cars.  I further informed her that many of them may not be locksmith companies at all, but rather  criminal rings which take advantage of consumers’ misfortune. And while ‘phony’ out-of-state companies currently find themselves under the investigative microscope, you need to know that THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO LICENSED, LOCAL COMPANIES WHO ARE ENABLING THESE SCAMMERS TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK (who says crime doesn’t pay?).

Having heard this sad tale before, I then suggested to her that she might not only help herself, but many others as well, by reporting this incident to the advertising arm of the Yellow Pages, or to whomever she had turned to in order to obtain the listing.

There are over 114 Better Business Bureaus serving the US nationwide and, according to their records, complaints about locksmith services from 2005 to 2006 increased over 75%, and they have continued to come in steadily. ’Dependable Locksmith’ appears to be particularly disreputable, and operates under more than a dozen different names.  This company (and others) poses as a local locksmith in cities around the country, using local phone numbers and phony local addresses.  Consumers who call them might think they’re dealing with a local locksmith, but are actually connected to call centers located in the Bronx in New York City.  Other aliases used by this company include Superb Solutions, USA Total Security, Locksmith 24 Hour Inc., SOS Locksmith, Priceline Locksmith, and many variations on these names.

Other phony locksmith contractors are Basad, Inc. (a ring of  Middle-Eastern scammers, I’ve been told),  with very thick foreign accents to match).  This company operates under almost 50 names nationwide, such as A1 Locksmith Service, A1- 24 Hour Locksmith, A1 Lock and Key, AAA Locksmith 24-Hour, Liberty Locksmith, and dozens of permutations of these names. They also work in a fashion very similar to that of ‘Dependable Locksmith’, in that they also pose as local locksmiths, running full-page Yellow Pages ads and/or multiple single-line listings connected to phony business addresses.  Even though the addresses appear to be local ,they either belong to other established businesses in the local area, or are (not surprisingly) non-existent.

As a licensed, insured, bonded, legal and local locksmith, I owe it to myself and to you, my readers, to pound away at this topic until you understand it fully. Because as long as these phony companies have free rein to do whatever they like, every one of us will be vulnerable to their abhorrent practices.

If you have been victimized by one of these companies, make sure you get in touch immediately with the company or companies which published their ad.  Make sure you file a formal complaint, and demand a written response .  Call your Better Business Bureau and complain. Call the Florida Division of Corporations and complain. Tell your sisters and brothers and mothers and fathers and neighbors to complain. Because if we don’t cut the heads off these snakes now, we may all soon expect to see these companies posing as floral delivery services, carpet cleaning services, pressure cleaning services, and God only knows what else.

There you go.  I’ve said my piece and counted to three.  Have a great day, ’cause I know I’m gonna.

Valerie

Scammer Alert ( PDF)