masterlocksmithco.com Blog

Speak to anyone who has been victimized by the illegal locksmiths and you will know why(if it is not intuitively known already) regulation of locksmiths, which includes background checks and testing, is desperately needed in Georgia. I want to believe that an issue like protecting Georgia’s citizens is important to house representatives of both parties, but after watching our bill languish in a committee for two years and die, I have to wonder. The committee chairman, Roger Williams is a Republican. He sets the tone and agenda for the committee. I spoke to a Democratic member of the committee and he told me that he had never heard of our bill.(HB 107) Would the chairman of the committee dare to keep this buried and hidden from Democratic members of his committee? Or maybe he is an equal opportunity kind of guy who kept it from everyone ? Am I to believe that a Repulican committee chairman does not want Georgia locksmiths to be licensed because of his deeply held belief in no government involvement in business? The Republican party is the party of “small government”. I would say to a fault. Surely, the idea of prudent government regulation, as needed to protect the public from abuse, being needed for the orderly function of society, is an idea that the Republicans can embrace? I was assured today by Representative Geisinger, the bill’s sponsor, that partisan politics will not stand in the way of getting this bill passsed. Well, what has stood in it’s way for the last 2 years? He had no answer that satisfies me. I will stay a thorn in the flesh of the Georgia Legislature until this gets done. The people of Georgia need to know that when they call a locksmith, this unknown person is at least known to a government oversight agency and that this agency has tested and investigated this person who has access to  the knowledge and tools to open their house,business, car, or safe.  You can help by calling your state representative and demanding that they strongly and publicly support HB 107. I want you to care now, before you become a victim. It’s far too easy for us to sit back and think that something like this is not our problem, until we have been hurt. So, how many people have to be hurt before enough of us care enough to get involved. How many Georgians will be ripped off by these scammer locksmiths before our legislators get pissed enough to do something about it? Which party wants to be known as the Party that doesn’t care? These questions need to be answered, and soon.

Keep it real.

One of my church clients called today and told me that people were duplicating the key to the food pantry and returning to take things! I suggested that we replace the  regular cylinder with a Multi Lock high security cylinder and replace the lever with one that required a key every time to open. After doing this I cut and numbered 10 keys for him so that he can assign them by number. Now the keys cannot be copied and noone can return without permission. Multi Lock locks and cylinders can solve so many problems for home owners, business owners, even churches.

Last night I had a man call me to make a key to his Ford truck. After giving him a very good price because he was right down the street I put him on my schedule. I was right in the middle of preparing dinner so I had to get to a break before I could leave. As I was approaching his location I called him  but he informed me that he had left! After having spoken to him extensively about the scammer locksmiths and giving him a good price because of his sob story, he had taken off to go downtown. He even spoke rudely to me because I was not there exactly on time. Well we both agreed that I was not going to be the one to help him with his keyWell, today dawns and guess who is calling again. Seems he tried to work with the $29.00 locksmiths and soon realized that I represented  his best chance to get a key for his truck at a fair price so he calls back and makes all sorry etc.  and he even tried to get me to do it cheaper! Not happening; so once we got past that  I once again agreed to help him.  I was in Lithonia at the time so he was told that it would be awhile. So what happens? I’m almost to his location and I call him again and he said he had to leave!! Should have been more polite and had more patience the night before…

If you have been vicitimized by the illegal locksmiths, call SoS Brian Kemp at 404 656 2881 and tell him to support bill #107(locksmith license law) at the upcoming GORRC (Georgia Occupational Regulation Review Council)meeting. It is important that the council give it’s approval of the need for a locksmith license before the law goes to committee or it will die there.

“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new”. from The Prince by Nicolo’ Machiavelli. Pres. Obama faces this very challenge as he tries to wrest power from the corporate aristocracy and return it to the people. He has to fight the established old guard AND those in his own party who have their own best interest in mind and not that of the people whom they are suppossed to represent.BTW “new order” in the context that I am using it DOES NOT MEAN SOCIALIST OR COMMUNIST!! So don’t start that crap with me. “Prudent government regulation, as needed to protect the interest of the common people from abuse by the elite, is necessary for the orderly function of society” Those are my words.

Just finished making a key for a man’s truck. He had been quoted “$39.00″ by one of the “$39.00″ locksmiths. When they arrived they tried to make him sign a blank work order; he refused and pressed them to tell him how much was the  key. After much bs and fast talk they told him that his ignition had to be replaced at a cost of  $385.00. Well luckily this man called us back(he had previously thought our qouted price of $165.00 was too much) and we indeed went out and disassembled his switch and made him a key. I even gave him an extra copy for free. Needless to say, he was grateful and apologetic for his previous rudeness and mistrust.” All’s well that ends well” I told him and that there was no need to apologize. I am glad everything turned out OK for him.

Would you like to buy google reviews?? That was the phone call that Master Locksmith Company Inc. received the other day! Isn’t that great, if you can’t provide quality and honesty to your customers, don’t worry, just buy google reviews and lie!!! Master Locksmith Company has served over 28,000 customers and we have few reviews. That is because people have a tendency to complain more than compliment. If you see a locksmith site with dozens of GLOWING reviews, beware!!! The illegal locksmiths use this tactic EXSTENSIVELY!!

I am going back to St Vincent de Paul today to finish installing  some Multi Lock high security locks on their warehouse and office. Seems someone who had been suspended came back into the building using an unauthorized copy of their key. By installing Multi Lock we can keep people from obtaining copies of the key; only authorized persons in management can order more keys and a record is kept in our office of every key made. This should help them keep control of  illegal entry into their building. If you want more security, you need to have Master Locksmith Company Inc. install Multi Lock on your home or office. We are the best Atlanta area locksmith. You simply cannot go wrong in hiring us. I promise.

I speak out about the illegal locksmiths every chance I get. Yesterday I was working on a safe at the local IRS office and I was telling the agent there about the illegal locksmiths and their cash business. You know, they make most of their victims go to the atm for cash. They are probably not reporting millions of dollars every year. I also teazed him about the Postal Inspector getting all the credit for going after the company in Florida; surely the IRS would want to get in on the action! If we all keep speaking out every chance that we get, we will bring these thieves down.

I’m not making this stuff up!! Last night,while preparing dinner, I received a call from a man who needed me to let him into his house. As I worked we talked and I told him about the criminal locksmiths and how they would charge 3-4x more for a similiar service. Later, on the 11pm news, this  story was aired:

Locksmith: ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If He Charges Too Much

Uncertified LocksmithsOvercharge Customers

DULUTH, Ga. — A CBS Atlanta undercover investigation exposes so-called locksmiths without basic skills, overcharging customers. Investigative reporter Jeff Chirico caught three men working as locksmiths who charged two to four times more than they should.”I trust he would give me the right information,” said Caye Carscallen, office administrator of Cornerstone Church in Duluth. Carscallen hired a locksmith to replace locks after the church was burglarized in August. Carscallen said the locksmith charged her $4,113 for a job that she later learned should have cost less than a $1,000.”He’s smart and sneaky,” said Carscallen of the locksmith.Jack Wynn, president of the Georgia Chapter of the Associated Locksmiths of America said when you call a locksmith found in the yellow pages or an online search, “you never know what you’re going to get.” He said the majority of locksmith listings are for untrained professionals.CBS Atlanta hired three locksmiths to unlock a door to a home. None of the three picked the lock –the cheapest solution to a lockout. Two locksmiths said drilling out the lock was the only option. It is also the most expensive option.When Chirico asked one worker named Joseph the Tough Questions, he admitted that “I can’t pick the lock. I usually drill because it’s much more easy.” When Chirico mentioned that it also costs the homeowner more, Joseph responds “It doesn’t matter.”Kevin Wilson a master locksmith, said Joseph makes all locksmiths “look like bumbling idiots when we’re actually highly trained professionals.”Joseph admits he’s not a professional, but also maintains there’s nothing wrong with overcharging customers. He responded to Chirico, “I didn’t force you. I didn’t hold you hostage or hold a gun to your head.” Chirico responded, “But you weren’t honest and say you didn’t know how to pick a lock so it’s going to cost you more.” Joseph angrily replied “look into my eyes. I’m very honest. And I’m going to look into the camera, and I’m very honest.”State representative Harry Geisinger introduced legislation that would require licensing of locksmiths. It was not considered before the legislative session ended in April.