Fraud Alert
Locksmith fraud is being perpetrated on the internet search engines. Names like 24 Hour Locksmith, Locksmith 24/7, Run Local, Local Locksmith, need to be background checked. For that matter, check out A-Best by going to the Tennessee Dept. of Commerce and Insurance. Always ask for firm pricing and demand a Tennessee Locksmith License ID. Locksmith Scam companies are presently dominating the Google banner advertising sites.
Warning Signs To Look For
1. $15 or $19 Service Call Fees. These kinds of low prices are designed to hook you. Your car opening will be $200 when they are done, and they will threaten to sue you if you do not pay. Come on, folks, there is no $19 service call! If you see this listed next to an advertisement, be diligent and check it out.
2. Locksmith cannot give you a firm price. Of course, there are exceptions to this. However, they will purposely evade the subject on the phone because they are trained to mislead you then frighten you when you do not pay. Under no circumstances should you pay a bill that has been jacked up after-the-fact. If you didn't sign anything, call the police immediately. Get the car tag number and a description of the person defrauding you.
3. Fraud company names. Fraudulent locksmiths are mimicking real locksmith company names. I am A-Best. Some are using my name outright. Others may take the name AAA Locksmith and change it to Trip AAA. (Triple A). They may use my reputation by calling themselves AA-Best. Get the picture?
4. Do not accept a handwritten addressed locksmith invoice. They do not, or seldom, use a pre-printed invoice. I sometimes use a blank generic invoice when I am on the road and run out. This happens maybe twice a year. However, I make sure you know exactly who I am.
5. Scam locksmiths are piggy-backing on legitimate Google listings. When you Google a locksmith, click on the locksmith's actual name and go to the site. That is generally safe. Do not click on the Judy's Book, Merchant Circle, etc. listings below the Google result where it has a street address and review. These listing tags are being snatched up by the scammers hoping you will not click on the official locksmith site. They are hoping you will just call the visible number you see below the listing.
6. Google Map Listing. These are being hijacked. My name may appear in the Map search, but the scam phone number will be below; and you will be taken for more money than you can imagine. Do not use Google maps for obtaining services without doing background research.
A-Best Locksmith is owned by David Calvin. He drives an unmarked 2008 Ford Focus, vapor silver with the TN Locksmith License number #0068 on both front quarter panels.
David Calvin also carries a State of Tennessee issued identity card. A-Best Locksmith resides at 345 Bedford Lake Rd, Normandy, TN 37360. He does not reside at a Maple Street address in Murfreesboro, TN.
