CONSUMER ALERT

Locksmith Swindle on the Rise

· Untrustworthy locksmith companies are ripping off consumers in Memphis

· A local phone number doesn’t always mean a local locksmith

· TN enacted a locksmith licensing program in July 2008

April 9, 2009 – The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be wary of untrustworthy locksmiths operating in the Mid-South. Some “local” locksmith companies are not physically located in the area, but are simply distant call centers that farm the jobs out to unlicensed and unprofessional locksmiths who may end up doing more harm than good.

According to Kara Peifer, West TN Locksmith Association Secretary/Treasurer, a consumer who searches for a locksmith in a yellow pages directory or online may not end up with the local business they think they are contacting. “The local yellow pages directories list over 150 locksmiths in each book,” said Peifer, “and if you search online, you may end up with as many as 850 names of reputed locksmiths in the Memphis area. Many have no physical location here.”

Peifer says that the proliferation of unlicensed locksmiths is one reason that states are beginning to enact locksmith licensing laws. “Nine states have already passed these laws,” Peifer stated. “The TN Locksmith Licensing Program was enacted in July 2008.”

“Unlicensed locksmiths tend to move from state to state, leaving when the heat gets turned up in one location,” said Peifer. Pam Smith, Administrative Assistant with the TN Locksmith Licensing Program agreed.  “We’re seeing this problem all over the state,” Smith said. “It’s everywhere.”

The State of TN requires individual locksmiths to be licensed and locksmith companies to be registered with the state. Additionally, either the license or registration number must be printed on all business cards and advertising. The State of TN has both education and experience requirements for each level of licensing. And persons convicted of fraud or theft are not eligible.

“Because locksmiths are able to access secure areas and data, they could potentially be a Homeland Security threat,” Peifer said. She hopes that public awareness of the locksmith licensing requirements will help protect both consumers and her profession.

The Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South offers the following tips for hiring a reputable locksmith:

· Check out the company with the BBB, preferably before you need a locksmith’s services.

· Ask the locksmith who shows up for identification and his TN license or registration number.

· Find out if the locksmith is insured to cover any damage incurred during a repair.

· Expect the locksmith to ask you for identification. A legitimate locksmith will confirm your identity and make sure you are the property owner before doing any work.

· Be wary of locksmiths who answer the phone with generic sounding names like “locksmith services”. Always ask for the legal name of the business and its physical location.

· Be wary of locksmiths who arrive in unmarked vehicles. Most legitimate locksmith companies will have vehicles that are clearly marked with the company’s name.

· In case of a lock-out, be cautious if you are told up front that the lock has to be drilled and replaced. An experienced, legitimate locksmith has invested in the tools and education to be able to unlock almost any door.

· If you are a victim of an unscrupulous locksmith, file a complaint with the BBB at bbb.org. Complaints should also be filed with the State of TN Locksmith Licensing Program by calling Pam Smith at 615.532.9170 or online at www.tn.gov/commerce/boards.

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Nancy Crawford | Director of Marketing & Communications

Tel: 901-757-8627

Cell: 901-827-6128

Fax: 901-757-2997

Email: ncrawford@bbbmidsouth.org

www.bbb.org | Start with Trust

BBB of the Mid-South

3693 Tyndale Drive

Memphis, TN 38125

I received this the other day, and wanted to pass on this very valuable info!

Watch out & be safe!

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
Sherwood Locksmithing

http://www.personalsafetyebook.com

Help a single Dad defray the cost of his daughter's winter travel volleyball. Thanks!

Tags: locksmith, personal security, personals safety, Sherwood Locksmithing

Greetings,

For the past week or so, we have been writing and
discussing ID Theft, how it happens, how to prevent it etc.

Today I bring you the immediate steps one should take
should you fall victim to identity theft,
and I hope it never happens to you

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the
following four steps as soon as possible, and
keep records of your conversations and copies
of all correspondence.

You also should get a copy of the FTC publication,
Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,
a comprehensive guide that describes what to do,
your legal rights, how to handle specific problems you
may encounter on the way to clearing your
name, and what to watch for in the future.

The guide also includes the ID Theft Affidavit
to help you report information to many
companies. For more information, see
www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports,
and review your credit reports.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief
from opening any more accounts in your name.
Contact the toll-free fraud number of any
of the three consumer reporting companies
below to place a fraud alert on your credit
report. You need to contact only one of the
three companies to place an alert. The
company you call is required to contact the
other two, which will place an alert on their
versions of your report, too.

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285;
www.equifax.com;
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742);
www.experian.com;
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289;
www.transunion.com;
Fraud Victim Assistance Division,
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Once you place the fraud alert in your file,
you’re entitled to order free copies of your
credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last
four digits of your SSN will appear on your
credit reports.

Once you get your credit
reports, review them carefully. Look for
inquiries from companies you haven’t
contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and
debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.

Check that information like your SSN,
address(es), name or initials, and employers
are correct. I

f you find fraudulent or inaccurate
information, contact the consumer reporting
companies to get it removed. Continue to check
your credit reports periodically, especially for
the first year after you discover the identity
theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity
has occurred.

Help a single Dad defray the cost of his daughter's winter travel volleyball. Thanks!

Tags: Credit Card safety, credit report, ID theft, Identity Theft, personal security, personals safety, stolen credit cards

Good morning,

I’m trying something different today, I am posting via video,
my Home Security Quiz.

Thanks for watching, let me know what you think.

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
Sherwood Locksmithing
Personal Safety Resource

Help a single Dad defray the cost of his daughter's winter travel volleyball. Thanks!

Tags: bump keys, home, home security, house, personal security, personals safety

Greetings everyone,

Today’s post actually does not deal with personal safety
or personal security as much as it just deals with wanting
to help out as many people as I can.

In my travels throughout the day in my locksmith
business, I have come across many people concerned with
the upcoming elections, the economy, war, in other words,
just about everything under the sun.

I share their concerns and their worries.

Because of these worries, I have noticed something, and
also because most folks have told me, they are losing sleep.

Losing lots of sleep!

It got me wondering how I could help.

Yesterday while driving and listening to the clearing audios
by Dr. Joe Vitale & Pat O’Bryan, my divine inspiration came
to me.

Pat and Dr. Vitale speak often about giving, and that’s what
I am doing.

Right now, and until November 12th, 2008, you can grab
yourself a copy of the much talked about book
“The Sleep Secret” for FREE!

This book has personally helped me as a business owner
and single dad stop losing the precious sleep we need and
value so much.

So, if this crazy world is causing you to lose sleep,  and
you would like a FREE copy of this outstanding ebook,
please visit   http://is.gd/4BbY

Sincerely,
Trapper

PS…Just trying to help, please tell all of your friends!

Help a single Dad defray the cost of his daughter's winter travel volleyball. Thanks!

Tags: clearing audios, Dr. Joe Vitale, election, insomnia, losing sleep, McCain, obama, Pat O'Bryan, personal security, personals safety, politics, war