New client but scary lesson

They were locked out of their house and called AM:PM locksmith, a sponsored business on the first page of a google search.
Symptoms ? An inexpensive Kwikset knob lock, cylinder was spinning.

Their Locksmith arrived, didn't try to pick lock, charged almost $225.00 for a $25.00 lock, another $239.00 to re-key it to existing top lock, $69.00 for service call and close to another 106.00 for something else we couldn't understand on invoice.
This job was also done during regular business hours.
The locksmith also arrived in an unmarked vehicle, the invoice had no business name on it and he asked that the check be made out to him, not the company the customer called.

Thank Goodness this customers intuition told him to stop payment on his check and call around the next day to see if he was ripped off AND to call another locksmith to change his locks because he was now being harassed for stopped check.

Result?
#1- I called AM:PM and told them they were scam artists and they coughed up an excuse that this locksmith was new and they would contact him. I told them if this scammer called this gentleman one more time they would see themselves in the news.

#2- I explained that original symptoms sounded like a simple broken $5.00 tail piece which would have cost approx $95.00 to repair and worst case scenario, had a new lock been needed it would have cost approx $140.00 including service call, lock, re-key and installation.

We ended up installing a Medeco High security lock when he understood that his existing locks would be easy to pick and we also eliminated the need and cost of re-keying his 2 old locks.

We now have a trusting customer who has 'real' security and can sleep at night. But remember he is one of the lucky ones who could stop a check, most scammers require cash.

By the way, we are still not done reporting companies like this

Vikki Flam