If I had a dollar for every time someone told me what a hard time they had in finding a good locksmith, I’d have enough money to wallpaper my bedroom in hundreds. I’ve had clients tell me that the first company they’d called had sent out a pair of disheveled slobs who either showed up extremely late, or who had improper tools, or who apparently had NO tools, or who had either tripled or quadrupled the original telephone quote, or whatever! What all these clients had in common was the fact that, under stress and at the worst possible time, they had decided to call God- knows- who to come out to their home or business and help them with their dilemma.

As almost everyone in the country should know by now, phony, unlicensed scammers posing as locksmiths have been running rampant throughout our society, charging customers an arm and a leg, cutting themselves extra keys to the customer’s house for later, destroying locks that were otherwise perfectly functional, threatening the more mild-mannered customers with physical harm, and vandalizing the personal property of customers who refused to pay the outrageous fees they were charged.  The litany of the scammers’ wrongdoing is a long one, and extremely profitable, to boot.

It won’t be anytime soon before we have rid society of these lowlifes. They’ve tightly wrapped their tentacles around all of the major advertising venues in the nation: online 411, Yellow Pages online, Yellow Book online, Super Pages, etc., and all of these advertising venues have shown little or no interest whatsoever in straightening out the problem. All of which leads to your problem and mine– getting what you need when you need it, and without becoming a rape victim, if possible.

You can cut through a lot of baloney by following the steps I outlined in my free report “5 Dangers in Choosing the Wrong Locksmith (and how to avoid them) listed on this website’s home page. Follow your instincts, and feel free to tell me what you think of what I believe is a very simple solution– finding a reliable, trustworthy locksmith before you need one! If you don’t feel comfortable with a woman locksmith (I’m talking about me, of course), then make as many phone calls as you need to make in order to find a locksmith who answers the phone in a courteous manner (some locksmiths have their wives or girlfriends answer the phone for them because courtesy is not one of their strengths). See if the locksmith answers your questions in a straightforward manner, with minimal side-stepping. Be like a hummingbird– if you land on a flower which leaves a bad taste in your mouth, move onto another flower. My reason for saying so is that, after you’ve sucked on a few lemons, a phone call to me will taste 10 times as sweet. Once you find the right one–   

ENTER THAT LOCKSMITH’S NAME AND PHONE NUMBER INTO YOUR CELL PHONE’S SPEED DIAL ! (As much as I hope that name and number will be mine, I’m almost as happy just knowing that you’ve taken the time to reward an actual, legitimate locksmith with your trust). Like all other tradespeople, my greatest hope is that all my potential clients will come to like what they hear from me on the phone and reward me with their patronage. But this, however, isn’t my only wish. I also wish and hope that all others in my trade who work hard to stay ahead of the criminal curve will be able to hang onto their businesses, while enduring the scourge these scammers have inflicted upon them. My hope and wish is that what is good and true will continue to be valued in our society, and that those who prey upon the innocent will get what’s coming to them in spades!!

Good luck to everyone who works hard at living a decent, honest life. And have a great day, too, ’cause I know I’m gonna…

Valerie Tannenbaum, president
A2Z Locksmith, Inc.

copyright 2008, all rights reserved

1. Define Your Puchasing Criteria Before You Call

Over the years I’ve received countless calls from potential clients who’ve asked me right off the bat “How much do you charge to—?”, and while I agree that price is of some importance, it is foolhardy and potentially dangerous to hire anybody just because they’ve quoted the cheapest price over the phone. Decide ahead of time whether or not you care if the locksmith you call can prove he’s licensed, or how long he’s been in business, or whether he’s done full background checks on his employees. Ask about warranties, or even guarantees (which are extremely rare). Ask if the employee they’re sending is licensed, experienced, or bonded. Ask how long he’s been with their company. Try to remember that all locksmiths are NOT created equal, and act accordingly.

2. Make Sure the Locksmith Company You’re Calling is Legal

Most people have no idea that the Yellow Pages and other advertising media make no effort whatsoever to confirm whether an advertiser has a legally obtained business license. When I first started out in business I was told that I needed to advertise in the Yellow Pages if I wanted my company to be considered as legitimate. Well, those days are long gone, friend. Today you are just as likely to reach some guy watching Judge Judy in New York City as you are to stumble upon a real, live, honest-to-God locksmith down here in South Florida! The techniques used by these companies are complicated and confusing by design, and they succeed in ripping you off by dominating the 411, the various Yellow Page- type ad companies, and internet search engines. The trick for them is to take advantage of your wish to get “something for nothing”—they quote you a very low price to come out to your home or business, ONLY TO SLAP YOU WITH MIND-BOGGLING, BOGUS FEES WHEN IT’S TIME TO PAY! There’s much you need to know about about this scandal, and you can read all about it in an article entitled “SCAMMERS DISCOVER THE LAND OF THE FREE”. Feel free to read the entire story on my website at: www.AFemaleLocksmith.com . And spread the word—the next person these predators scam might be someone you really care about!!

3. Make Sure the Locksmith Company You’re Calling is Local

It’s really all up to you to ask the person who answers the phone to tell you the company name of the ad you called (many phony out-of-state companies have multiple fake names and addresses and can’t answer this simple question, so they just answer the phone by saying the word “Locksmith” ). Ask if they’re familiar with your local area (fraudulent companies tucked away up in New Jersey can’t name the main roads leading to your home or business, or describe any key local landmarks). Ask for the listed business address of the number you called (I seem to remember once seeing MY mailing address listed on SOMEONE ELSE’S PHONY AD!) And try to keep in mind that a business isn’t necessarily illegitimate merely because they don’t rent a storefront–A2Z Locksmith (my company) is strictly mobile, and I’m as legitimate as can be!

4. Make Them Prove They Told You The Truth on The Phone

Always ask to see a copy of their business license when they arrive. If they refuse, send them away. Ask the person who shows up for the job to produce an ID card with the company name and logo printed on it (no sensible employer is going to give a company ID to someone acting as a subcontractor—that’s how they can deny any responsibility if he screws up the job, steals, or even worse, cuts himself an extra key once your plasma television catches his eye). It’s a sad thing, but it’s true—SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVEN’T CALLED THEM!           

5. Make Sure You Receive A Fully Itemized Sales Receipt

Always insist they provide real invoices and sales receipts (not the little receipt pads you can buy at Office Depot or Staples). If the receipts are numbered, so much the better for you—an honest company can’t afford to risk a government audit when their numbered sales receipts are either missing, or in disarray. And don’t forget you have a perfect right to have a complete record of the work performed in case you need to call the locksmith back for warranty work, OR WORSE YET, IF YOU NEED TO SUE. Don’t put yourself at risk by not doing your homework!

Summary:

It’s becoming more and more difficult these days to find a tradesperson who takes the time and trouble to work at a high level of expertise, and even more so when it comes to locksmiths. A dishonest plumber might leave you with a leaky faucet. A dishonest woodworker might leave you with squeaky flooring. But a ‘rogue’ locksmith could possibly leave you without much of anything worth having! Think it over for a second:

Even If the price you paid for a truly talented and knowledgeable locksmith were $100 greater than what you might have paid for so-so work, that may sound like a lot of money. But what if that work were so superior that it held up for 5 years or longer, the extra cost would break down to about 40 cents a week, or less than 6 cents a day. Wouldn’t you agree that the difference between real security and questionable safety is worth 6 measly cents a day? If you do, you’re smarter than an awful lot of people, and you’re exactly the type of client an honest businessperson will always appreciate the most – the sensible type!

If you’ve found this information helpful, I’ve done my job. Everyone is entitled to the best locksmith they can possibly afford, and no one ever deserves to be screwed. Call Valerie at (954) 382-2200, and you never will be! Or type www.AFemaleLocksmith.com into the address bar of your computer and see what else your locksmith never told you.

Warmly.
Valerie Tannenbaum, President
A2Z Locksmith, Inc (a female owned and operated firm)
“Because sometimes the best man for the job is a woman.”
Copyright 2007, Val Tannenbaum

SO BEWARE OF THESE UNSCRUPULOUS OPERATORS AND , IF YOU FEEL YOU’VE BEEN TAKEN BY ONE OF THEM , REPORT THEM TO ALOA.ORG .

07 7 Day Emergency 24 Hr Locksmith – Jupiter, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)

• 1-800 LOCKSMITH – Brooklyn, NY – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (November 4, 2008)
• 3 1/2 hr locksmith co. – Woodstock, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 7 Locksmith or Pro Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 A Hour A Emergency Locksmith – San Diego, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Folsom, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Sacramento, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour 101 Locksmith – Temple City, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Always Locksmith Services – Los Angeles, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – Cypress, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith, LLC. (A) – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Falls Church, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 hour locksmith – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Oakland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Severn, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hour Locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 Hours Emergency Locksmith – Henderson, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• 24 HR Locksmith Inc. – Honolulu, HI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• 24 Towing & Locksmith – Westwood, CA – BBB Rating D (February 16, 2009)
• 24/7 Locksmith, A – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A & A Locksmiths – San Rafael, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A-1 ABC Door & Lock Specialist – Sarasota, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A-1 Auto Reconditioning & Locksmith – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• A-1 Safe & Lock Co. – Columbus, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A-fast locksmith of Georgia – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A1 24 Hour Locksmith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Emergency Locksmith – Arlington, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 1 Competitive Lockout & Key Service – Indianapolis, IN – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• A 1 Emergency Locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Emergency Locksmith Inc – Fairfax, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A1 Locksmith – Burlingame, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Always Available Emergency Locksmith – Philadelphia, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith – Tacoma, WA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Hour Locksmith – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A 24 Locksmith The Woodlands – Spring, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• A A Absolute Lock & Security – Hanover Park, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith a/k/a 24/7 Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith Las Vegas Inc. – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AAA LockSmith Service – Miami, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• AAA Locksmith Service of Memphis – Memphis, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AAA Pop-A-Lock – Crystal River, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A Absolute Best Locksmiths – Tomball, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• A Advantage Safe & Lock, LLC – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• AA Lockserv II – Wallingford, CT – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• AA Security Inc – Schaumburg, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• ABAC Safe & Lock – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• ABC Lock & Glass, Inc. – Sparks, NV – BBB Rating D- (April 16, 2009)
• ABC Lock & Key – Warner Robins, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Abe’s Locksmiths – Pleasanton, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Bonded Locksmiths Of Arizona LLC – Sedona, AZ – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• Accurate Locksmith Service – Wilmington, DE – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• Ace Lock & Key – Nashville, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• ACE LOCK & KEY SERVICE INC – Independence, MO – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Ace Lock and Key – Nashville, TN – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Ace Locksmith – Encinitas, CA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• AC Locksmith – Ellicott City, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• A Kwik Key Locksmith – Sugar Land, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Alief Memorial Locksmith, Inc – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• All American Locksmith – Hercules, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Locks & Locksmith 1 A 1 24 Hours – Woodland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Locksmith – Pittsburgh, PA – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• A Locksmith – The Colony, TX – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• A Locksmiths – Omaha, NE – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• Always Available Locksmith – Garden Grove, CA – BBB Rating D (February 27, 2009)
• America’s Locksmith, Inc. – Hayward, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• AM PM Locksmith – Livermore, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• A Plus Lock & Safe – Sarasota, FL – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)
• A Re-Key Locksmith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Armor Locksmith and Security Solutions – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Arrow Locksmith Service, Inc. – Oak Park, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 27, 2009)
• A Team Locksmith, Inc. – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• A Team Locksmith – Atlanta, GA – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• Atlanta Lock & Key – Marietta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Atlanta Solution Locksmith – Norcross, GA – BBB Rating D+ (April 7, 2009)
• A to Z Locksmith – Jacksonville, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Basad, Inc – Englewood, CO – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• BMY Locksmith – Somerville, MA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Chida Key & Locks – Fremont, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Coast Lock + Safe – Santa Cruz, CA – BBB Rating D (February 24, 2009)
• Daves Lock & Safe – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Davis Locksmiths – North York, ON – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• DC Discount Locksmith / AAA Locksmith and Hardware – Fairfax, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locks, Inc – Clearwater, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locks Inc. – Brookfield, WI – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• Dependable Locksith – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Bronx, NY – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (November 4, 2008)
• Dependable Locksmith – Colorado Springs, CO – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Kent, WA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Dependable Locksmith – Orlando, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Dependable Locksmith – Seattle, WA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Desert Locksmiths – Reno, NV – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Emergency Locksmith – El Sobrante, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Flat Rate Locksmiths – Beltsville, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Golden Key Locksmiths, LLC – Waukesha, WI – BBB Rating F (March 25, 2009)
• Houston Locksmith 24/7 – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Houston Safe and Lock – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 30, 2009)
• Jack’s Lock and Key – Adrian, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• King Locksmith – Calumet City, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 26, 2009)
• King Locksmiths – South Holland, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 26, 2009)
• Laredo Lock Co. – Chicago, IL – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 25, 2009)
• Lockmann – Salem, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• Locksmith – Greendale, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24 Hour Inc. – Grand Prairie, TX – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24 Hour Incorporated – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith 24hr Incorporation – Hollywood, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• Locksmith Masters – Pomona, CA – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Locksmith of Kissimmee – Kissimmee, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Locksmith Superior – Milwaukee, WI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Metro Lock & Key – Detroit, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Mobile Locksmith – Silver Spring, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Neighborhood Locksmith – Laurel, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Neighborhood Locksmith – Pittsburgh, PA – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (March 10, 2009)
• O & O 24 Hour Locksmith – Rockville, MD – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• On Guard Lock Smith – San Francisco, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Pick ‘n’ Pull Locksmith – Oakland, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• POP-A-LOCK – Dallastown, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Pop-A-Lock – Friendswood, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Pop a Lock – Brandon, MS – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock – Louisville, KY – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock – Panama City, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Pop A Lock of Louisville – Shelbyville, KY – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Prestige Business Solutions Inc. – Hackensack, NJ – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• Professional Locksmith – El Cerrito, CA – BBB Rating F (February 24, 2009)
• Reds Safe & Lock Service, Inc. – Pasadena, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Reliable Locksmith, LLC – Dania Beach, FL – BBB Rating F (November 4, 2008)
• Reliable Locksmith LLC – Cooper City, FL – BBB Rating F (April 7, 2009)
• Reliable Locksmiths – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Right On Time Locksmith Services – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Run Local Locksmith – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Secure Lox – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• ServiceEverywhere – Houston, TX – BBB Rating Unsatisfactory (February 16, 2009)
• Speedy Key Lock Service – Newark, DE – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb locksmith – Washington, DC – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Locksmith Solutions – Sterling, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Solution, Inc – Arlington, VA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Superb Solutions Locksmith – Philadelphia, PA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Super Locksmith – Owings Mills, MD – BBB Rating D+ (February 16, 2009)
• The Lock Doctor – Corvallis, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• The Original Mt. Clemens Lock & Key – Mt. Clemens, MI – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Tri-City Lock & Key – Loughman, FL – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• Tri County Locksmith Services – Portland, OR – BBB Rating F (April 16, 2009)
• U.S.A Locksmith – Boca Raton, FL – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• United Lock Company, Inc. – Warwick, RI – BBB Rating D- (March 10, 2009)
• U S A Locksmith – Las Vegas, NV – BBB Rating F (March 10, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Carrollton, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Garland, TX – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• USA LOCKSMITH – Golden, CO – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• USA Locksmith – Marietta, GA – BBB Rating F (February 16, 2009)
• USA Locksmiths.com – Lemon Grove, CA – BBB Rating F (February 27, 2009)
• Village Lock & Home Repair – Grosse Pointe Farms, MI – BBB Rating D- (February 16, 2009)

Please note that BBB ratings change daily and what may be an “unsatisfactory” report yesterday may not be “unsatisfactory” today. This list is not all-inclusive.

As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.

BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time.

More information and A Detailed Overview of the BBB Rating System.

A2Z LOCKSMITH, INC. WAS FOUNDED BY ME, VALERIE TANNENBAUM.

MY VEHICLE IS CLEARLY MARKED AS FOLLOWS:

A FEMALE LOCKSMITH. COM

A DIVISION OF A2Z LOCKSMITH, INC.

NO SUBCONTRACTORS ARE EVER SENT ON MY BEHALF !

ANYONE ELSE WHO ARRIVES AT YOUR HOME IS A FRAUD.

PERIOD. 

Go to ‘You Tube’, and look up ‘Copycat Locksmiths’.

You are at risk where these people are concerned !   

This Congress and the staff members who draft this garbage are truly out to destroy the middle class of the USA.

A LICENSE REQUIRED FOR YOUR HOUSE !

Thinking about selling your house? Take a  look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and Trade bill) This is unbelievable! Homeowners take note and mobilize your friends and relatives now!

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won¡t be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act. H.R. 2454, the ‘Cap & Trade’ bill passed by the House of Representatives. If also passed by the Senate, will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year.

NO ONE IS TO BE EXCLUDED.

However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure these voters get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America will have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else.

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this:

A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO SELL YOUR HOUSE !  

The caveat is (there always is a catch!) that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes (mobile homes) are included.

In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured.

Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is, and you will be forced to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act, in order to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements.

Then you will have to get your home measured AGAIN, and obtain a license (called a ‘label’ in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is– sort of like the ‘Energy Star’ efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner.

If you don’t get a high enough rating, you cannot sell ! And the EPA administrator is also authorized to raise the standards every year, even above and beyond the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act !

The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the ‘American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009) and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he alone determines to be in the government¡s best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress; then the Administrator can set much tougher new standards every year.

The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings.
However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time.

SECTION 202

Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America .

Beginning 1 year after enactment of the Act, you won¡t be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this Act.

You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (i.e., ex$pen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody! The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements if you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants.

You should expect requirements such as ‘can’t have an income of more than $50K per year’, ‘home selling price can’t be more than $125K, or anything else to target the upper middle class (THAT MEANS YOU),  preventing you from qualifying for ANYTHING!
Most of us won’t get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more of that ‘change you can believe in’ …

SECTION 204

Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help enforce the labeling program. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year.

Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label.

And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often (maybe annually).

But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time.

Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started: that in California it would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate; a 333% increase. Expect the same from the home labeling program.

SECTION 304

Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d), Application of National Code to State and Local Jurisdictions, that 1 year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

H.R. 2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act

of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

THE MASTER NIGHTWATCH SECURITY DEADBOLT

A BURGLARY IS COMMITTED EVERY 14 SECONDS IN AMERICA !!!!!!

IF YOU CAN’T PROTECT WHAT’S YOURS, IT WON’T BE YOURS FOR LONG !!!!

SEE THE VIDEO ON THIS AMAZING PRODUCT ON THIS WEBSITE !!

GO TO THE HOME PAGE, CLICK ON ‘VIDEOS’, THEN CLICK ON THE MASTER NIGHTWATCH VIDEO (IN ENGLISH OR EN ESPANOL ) !!!!

CALL FOR INFO @ (954) 382-2200, M-F, 8:30AM- 5PM, SAT, 9-2PM

ENJOY, AND FEEL FREE TO COMMENT.. (FORGIVE THE CAPS   – I’M NOT SHOUTING, I’M HARD OF HEARING …….)

VALERIE

*very personal items missing with little actual cash value
*more items that would normally fit into a pickup truck or van (most are one load, or less)
*NO OBVIOUS FORCED ENTRY!!!!!!!!!! (limited number of keys)
*alarm system or security, not in operation
*loss occurred during the three-day weekend when insured out of town
*insured in no hurry to “get back to normal”
*older items taken and new items left
*more items taken than would fit in the remaining space
*neighbors report a number of items brought in or removed just prior to loss
*insured claims large amount of cash taken
*lack of receipts for big-ticket items
*insured provides detailed inventory list immediately after loss
*recent bankruptcy
*recent divorce.
*items reported to police are different from reports to insurance company
*items reported to insurance company much more than to police
*recent suits or judgments against insured
*recent partner split or dissolution of the corporation
*manufactured, altered, or replacement receipts
*financial problems — job loss, business failure, uninsured medical problems, overdue payment deadlines
*new policy, or one about to expire with no renewal
*insured not available, sends others to provide insurance information
*insured recently arrested — needs attorney fees
*property for sale
*business merchandise with no potential.

You may be wondering exactly why I chose to put this list among all the other information found on this website, and now I’ll tell you why –

Because Key Bumping Is One of the Most Underrated Threats To Peaceful Existence and Our Society Today! And Because Key Bumping Leaves Little or No Evidence Of the Illegal Entry! And Because “No Obvious Forced Entry” Is the Third-Highest Ranked Reason For an Insurance Company To Investigate More Deeply or to Deny a Claim !

Those of you have been here before know that I’ve told you about this many times over — and now I’ve told you again.  You do the math…

Buy some good deadbolts for your house, and have a great day, ’cause I know I’m gonna…

Val

What would you say if I asked you to pay me break into your place of business? You would think I was absolutely crazy. Would you think that you’d have to be absolutely crazy to agree to it? Obviously so. Now, what would you think if I asked you to let me pay you to break into your place of business? Which one of us would have to be the crazy one in order to agree to that? The answer to that question is — neither one of us ! 

From a business standpoint, my offer to pay you to break into your place is a smart move, in that I would have an opportunity to show you what your previous locksmith should have shown you. I would obviously then have an opportunity to advise you on a number of possible upgrades, at varying price levels, to fit your budget. The benefit to me is that I gain a new client whose patronage will help me to remain in business. The benefit to you, once these upgrades have been implemented , is that you get to remain in business, too! Now, let me tell you a little story–

I once had a client who I will call Jim (a very nice man, by the way). He was a reasonably successful businessman, and he leased a nice little storefront in DaXXX, Florida. With a half dozen well-trained employees and a wide selection of high-end consumer electronics, and keeping in mind that what he didn’t know about computers wasn’t worth knowing, he should have been poised for a fairly large measure of success. It’s what he didn’t know about security that killed his business.

I first met Jim after he had called me regarding a break-in at his store. It was his misfortune at the time that the rear door of the storefront he had rented was secured with nothing more than a rinky-dink deadbolt sold by (insert the name of your least favorite box store retailer here). Another problem was that the person who had previously installed this deadbolt did so in such a way that the bolt couldn’t be fully extended. I’m sure that the lucky thief who noticed this (thieves are good at spotting cheap locks) was thrilled that the opportunity to merely fish back the bolt and scoot out of there with several thousand dollars worth of computer equipment . Unbeknownst to me, this had been Jim’s second break-in. At the time, I recommended and installed Medeco high security cylinders on both the front and rear doors, with a nighttime security bar in the back (Grandpa used to say that anything worth doing is worth overdoing). And that was the end of that.

Everything seemed fine for awhile, and I would receive calls from Jim to rekey the store after the occasional employee termination. It was at this point that the you-know-what hit the fan. Someone had bypassed the cheap box store deadbolt on the vacant storefront adjacent to his, breaking through the half inch drywall divider, once again traipsing off with many thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment (it was a stunning revelation that nothing separated the two storefronts from each other but a half inch of drywall). Jim’s insurance company was not happy, and neither was Jim.

When I answered the call regarding this unfortunate turn of events, I took a great deal of time in advising him as to how to best protect his inventory against any and all future burglary attempts. I mean, he and I walked every single square inch of that store as he dutifully scribbled down every single one of my suggestions. Afterwards, I told them that I could take no further steps to protect him until these steps had been taken. He thanked me for my time, only to later dismiss my recommendations (even though his insurance company had informed him that his next burglary claim would be declined. I received another call from him sometime later and found that, instead of lining his inventory storage room with solid block, he had decided to have two handymen protect the storage room with a flimsy steel cage inside it.

I protested to him that this cage would be exceptionally easy to defeat, also pointing out that it was only 7 feet high (in a room with 10 foot ceilings), also pointing out that the storage room still had a flimsy door and a flimsy frame, making it unlikely that the store could survive another break-in blitz. But Jim’s handymen had convinced him that their handiwork would stand the test of time. Jim then asked me to put a Medeco deadbolt on the cage (which I did, under protest), and that was the end of that. I believe, however, that he eventually did go so far as to line the side walls of the store with 3/4″ plywood in order to prevent easy access by breaking through the drywall again.

In any case, it was only a matter of time before someone else took a crack at the store. The Medeco deadbolt and nighttime security bar on the rear door kept them from getting in that way. The adjacent storefront had also been leased , and was now protected by an alarm system. The thieves were left with no other choice but to hook up a chain to a truck hitch, and to rip the front door right out of the frame. The inventory, being sorely underprotected, became easy pickings. And Jim’s store is now no more.

Admittedly, one would be hard pressed to protect against such an extreme method of break-in. What could have been prevented, however, was the massive hemorrhage of inventory which forced the store to close forever.

The moral of the story is this:

You can spend money intelligently. You can save money stupidly. The law of the jungle is that, if you can’t protect what’s yours,  it probably won’t be yours for very long. I know it. Thieves definitely know it. And now you know it, too!

The point of the story is this:

I WILL DEDUCT $20. FROM YOUR SERVICE CALL CHARGE TO LET ME SIZE UP YOUR COMMERCIAL SECURITY SITUATION, AND TO MAKE SENSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF!  AND YOU CAN HIRE ME TO ACT UPON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, OR, IF YOU WISH, YOU MAY THEN HIRE ANYONE ELSE YOU WISH TO IMPLEMENT THEM.

At the very least, you are being given a golden opportunity to access the expertise of someone who has dealt with security issues numbering in the thousands over a period of many years, and to do it at a very reasonable cost!

This offer will remain valid until midnight, 14 February 2008 (Valentine’s Day). So don’t buy your store a box of candy to show how much you love it, protect it from those who would do it harm instead.

Here’s hoping that your life will be filled with peace of mind.

Warmly,

Valerie