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Rip-Off Alert: BBB warns about Las Vegas locksmith

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Updated: 2/27 12:45 pm
LAS VEGAS — According to a pattern of consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau, 24/7 Las Vegas Locksmith quotes consumers an initial price for locksmith services, and upon completing the services, increases the price by hundreds of dollars.

One Las Vegas consumer reports being quoted an initial price of $14 for locksmith services: “The man took two hours to get to my home, wouldn’t give me an estimated cost, spent approximately one minute picking the lock and then handed me a bill for $295.”

The consumer reports the technician had a “cash-only” policy and followed the consumer to her bank while she withdrew the funds.

The company’s website states that each lock is unique and that initial price quotes are a minimum estimate. However, it also states that any unforeseen complications and price changes will be explained by the technician before any work is done.

According to consumers, the technicians fail to explain both the process of unlocking the doors as well as the associated charges before any work is done.

“Due to the urgency of a ‘lock-out’ situation, consumers may not be able to do the proper vetting of a company before requesting their services,” said George Cartwright, president and CEO of BBB serving southern Nevada. “A good locksmith will be licensed, have passed a background check, provide you with an estimated quote before performing the job, accept all forms of payment and have a reputable rating with BBB.”

On Thursday, BBB called 24/7 Las Vegas Locksmith posing as a consumer, inquiring about its license status. The company claimed they were licensed and bonded, yet failed to provide us with their license number over the phone, claiming that if they provide their license over the phone, someone might use it maliciously. They stated it could be found on their website, yet to our knowledge, it cannot.

Nevada is one of 14 states that requires a locksmith license as well as a background check.

At this time, BBB cannot confirm this company is licensed.

24/7 Las Vegas Locksmith has an F rating for failing to respond to complaints. Consumers are requesting that their initial quotes be honored and are seeking refunds for the difference.

-- From news release
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Here are the most recent story comments.View All

amphoenix - 3/1/2013 4:44 PM
0 Votes
I have no idea who would possibly say such things about such a wonderful company. Honestly. This is the only non-scamming lock smith company in Nevada. I completely believe that all these comments are bogus. It's not 24/7 Lock Smiths fault that you got locked out - don't blame them, blame yourself! I'm from Phoenix, and I was so happy to find 24/7 Locksmith when I was locked out of my car one evening! I called Pop a Lock and waited 4 hours for them! After that long, I called and cancelled. I told the nice, polite man on the phone for 24/7 about the situation and he said that they would help me out on the price because he felt bad. Pop a Lock quoted me that it would be 65$ just for a service call, and that it would probably be over $300 out the door! 24/7 lock smith was to me within 10 minutes, and charged me under $300, which I didn't think was that bad after reading other fares online. The lock smith also let me know that my insurance would reimburse it, which they did (every single penny!). I would definitely recommend 24/7 lock smith to any friends/family members. Unlike these other biased, angry commenters on here, I am sincere. They shouldn't be angry at 24/7 Locksmith,they should be angry with themselves!

amphoenix - 3/1/2013 4:43 PM
0 Votes
I have no idea who would possibly say such things about such a wonderful company. Honestly. This is the only non-scamming lock smith company in Nevada. I completely believe that all these comments are bogus. It's not 24/7 Lock Smiths fault that you got locked out - don't blame them, blame yourself! I'm from Phoenix, and I was so happy to find 24/7 Locksmith when I was locked out of my car one evening! I called Pop a Lock and waited 4 hours for them! After that long, I called and cancelled. I told the nice, polite man on the phone for 24/7 about the situation and he said that they would help me out on the price because he felt bad. Pop a Lock quoted me that it would be 65$ just for a service call, and that it would probably be over $300 out the door! 24/7 lock smith was to me within 10 minutes, and charged me under $300, which I didn't think was that bad after reading other fares online. The lock smith also let me know that my insurance would reimburse it, which they did (every single penny!). I would definitely recommend 24/7 lock smith to any friends/family members. Unlike these other biased, angry commenters on here, I am sincere. They shouldn't be angry at 24/7 Locksmith,they should be angry with themselves!

amphoenix - 3/1/2013 4:42 PM
0 Votes
I have no idea who would possibly say such things about such a wonderful company. Honestly. This is the only non-scamming lock smith company in Nevada. I completely believe that all these comments are bogus. It's not 24/7 Lock Smiths fault that you got locked out - don't blame them, blame yourself! I'm from Phoenix, and I was so happy to find 24/7 Locksmith when I was locked out of my car one evening! I called Pop a Lock and waited 4 hours for them! After that long, I called and cancelled. I told the nice, polite man on the phone for 24/7 about the situation and he said that they would help me out on the price because he felt bad. Pop a Lock quoted me that it would be 65$ just for a service call, and that it would probably be over $300 out the door! 24/7 lock smith was to me within 10 minutes, and charged me under $300, which I didn't think was that bad after reading other fares online. The lock smith also let me know that my insurance would reimburse it, which they did (every single penny!). I would definitely recommend 24/7 lock smith to any friends/family members. Unlike these other biased, angry commenters on here, I am sincere. They shouldn't be angry at 24/7 Locksmith,they should be angry with themselves!

amphoenix - 3/1/2013 4:42 PM
0 Votes
I have no idea who would possibly say such things about such a wonderful company. Honestly. This is the only non-scamming lock smith company in Nevada. I completely believe that all these comments are bogus. It's not 24/7 Lock Smiths fault that you got locked out - don't blame them, blame yourself! I'm from Phoenix, and I was so happy to find 24/7 Locksmith when I was locked out of my car one evening! I called Pop a Lock and waited 4 hours for them! After that long, I called and cancelled. I told the nice, polite man on the phone for 24/7 about the situation and he said that they would help me out on the price because he felt bad. Pop a Lock quoted me that it would be 65$ just for a service call, and that it would probably be over $300 out the door! 24/7 lock smith was to me within 10 minutes, and charged me under $300, which I didn't think was that bad after reading other fares online. The lock smith also let me know that my insurance would reimburse it, which they did (every single penny!). I would definitely recommend 24/7 lock smith to any friends/family members. Unlike these other biased, angry commenters on here, I am sincere. They shouldn't be angry at 24/7 Locksmith,they should be angry with themselves!

Heatherbee - 2/28/2013 2:35 PM
2 Votes
I was so pleased after calling around for so long that an actual company worked 24/7 and was so pleased with their professional service over the phone.They arrived just like they quoted within 15-20 minutes and also told me about my insurance I was so pleased to here and was very relieved by the news. I was charged 350$ now I didn't have enough cash and the technician was more then happy to work with me and help me out. So I ended up doing 50 cash and 150 on 2 different credit cards. I was reimbursed the same week by my insurance company for the full amount with no questions asked. I WOULD DEFFINTLY CALL 24/7 LOCKSMITH AGAIN FOR ANY OF MY LOCKSMITH NEEDS!

muffins2 - 2/26/2013 7:02 PM
2 Votes
This just happened to us on Sunday night...my husband called this company 24/7 LockSmiths at a little past 8 PM because of a lock-out of his car (with the car running). He was told that someone would be there in 15-20 minutes and that the call would be $25 and probably $35 for the service. Once completed, he was told it was $145 and that their portable credit card machine wasn't working. The technician stated that my husband would have to go to the bank and withdraw some cash and that he would follow him there. He also told my husband that he shouldn't be concerned about the price, that it is law in NV, that the cost of a lock-out is totally reimbursable. PLEASE EVERYONE... do not call this company to help you ever, they are not honorable, they WILL rip you off! JC

Dominiator - 2/26/2013 12:49 PM
0 Votes
Why is this just coming to light now. Locksmiths in this town have been thieves for years, specially the licensed ones! I once called a locksmith for my front door when we bought our house. They refused to give me a quote over the phone to just replace the front entry knob and deadbolt but happily said they would come out and give a quote. They came out and quoted $190 complete. I even asked if that was the total price! He said yes and I was in a hurry so I said OK. When he was done, he handed me a bill for $280.00 and when I asked him why, he stated he forgot to include the Service call. I told him to take his crap out and go or just accept the $190.00 He chose to take his stuff out and left damaging my door purposely in the process! I bought a lock-set for $30 and a door reinforcement plate for $20 from Home Depot and put it in myself in less then an hour! It was easy and anyone can do it. No one really needs a locksmith unless they are just plain lazy. Even rekeying locks is simple, the kits are $14 and you can do 6 locks in less then an hour!

myusername - 2/26/2013 12:00 PM
0 Votes
Hard to do your homework when you're locked out of your home!

worromot - 2/26/2013 11:31 AM
0 Votes
If any business is cash only, go elsewhere. Cash only is a way illegal and dishonest people get away with their practice because there is no paper trail. These businesses are also avoiding taxes.

timothy - 2/26/2013 11:30 AM
1 Vote
Anyone who thinks a professional is going to come out for 14 dollars and isn't gonna rip them off, is crazy. I recently had to get some work done on my van for transmission work. I spent almost 2 hrs on the internet reading reviews and looking for BBB ratings. I finally found a company who looked pretty good. I had a great experience and this man went out of his way to get my van fixed. I had other issues and asked him if he could take care of those also. He took care of everything and his prices were very reasonable!!! Don't just call the company with the biggest ad. They have to pay for those ads. Read the reviews and the BBB ratings. Do your homework!!!!


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