Okay I'm not as smart as I think! (condo, buyer)

[MAtheBanker]

You can dispute if services were not rendered.

[SeaG]

Originally Posted by MAtheBanker

You can dispute if services were not rendered.

I know I don't have much hope of disputing, but I will never know if I don't at least try.

SeaG

[khuntrevor]

Originally Posted by kdog

I don't see how you can dispute the charges. You hired them to replace the locks, and they did that.

I tend to agree. The post is a good wake up call to folks about using locksmiths and other services--be extra careful.

[MAtheBanker]

Originally Posted by SeaG

I know I don't have much hope of disputing, but I will never know if I don't at least try.

SeaG

Eh, I think you do. I handle every single debit card dispute that comes through at my bank. I would know!

[kdog]

Originally Posted by MAtheBanker

Eh, I think you do. I handle every single debit card dispute that comes through at my bank. I would know!

On what basis? The OP said the company did the work, and he paid them. If he retracts payment for the job, who is committing the fraud here?

[kdog]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

I tend to agree. The post is a good wake up call to folks about using locksmiths and other services--be extra careful.

I think the OP did two things wrong here. First, he should have gotten multiple quotes. Anyone getting substantial work done around a home should get multiple quotes. Otherwise one has no frame of reference to know if they're getting a good rate, screwed over, or what. Second, any contractor you hire should be able to give references, or should otherwise be well known. The comment above about dealing with a locksmith that has shop in town is spot-on. A brick and mortar presence establishes credibility.

[SeaG]

Originally Posted by kdog

On what basis? The OP said the company did the work, and he paid them. If he retracts payment for the job, who is committing the fraud here?

I signed the work order on the basis I was dealing with a "...licenced, bonded, insured..." locksmith with many years experience. Office located at an address within my city, phone number also right area code.

Turns out the 'locksmith' wasn't qualified, messed up a couple of the locks, gave a different company name and an East Valley number. The quoted price came back higher based on how 'complicated' my locks were - not true they were normal locks.

The email link to contact the company came back as non-existant. The address of the office is a farmers field, the number is likely forward to Florida or some other state.

So you are saying because I agreed to work done improperly by a non-existant company whose office is in a field, that I take all responsibility?

Maybe, but I will try nonetheless.

SeaG

[SeaG]

Originally Posted by kdog

I think the OP did two things wrong here. First, he should have gotten multiple quotes. Anyone getting substantial work done around a home should get multiple quotes. Otherwise one has no frame of reference to know if they're getting a good rate, screwed over, or what. Second, any contractor you hire should be able to give references, or should otherwise be well known. The comment above about dealing with a locksmith that has shop in town is spot-on. A brick and mortar presence establishes credibility.

First as I researched 'brick and mortar' places those with posted prices - I thought they were too low. Then I was behind a schedule I had set for myself. I had read to avoid companies that didn't have a local address or number, but failed to check this companies 'address'.

I would have done multiple quotes but I thought this was going to be < $ 150 to do (it actually was with the real locksmith).

However, not all reputable locksmiths have 'brick and mortar' - there are a number of real locksmiths in the West Valley who provide mobile only services or their 'brick and mortar' is for sales of big items such as safes.

The real locksmith I ended up dealing with is ALOA certified, BBB A+, bonded and insured. He basically told me what had happened with my first experience without telling him.

He arrived and asked for proof of ownership of the home, showed me his credentials, gave me a business card and his van is well marked with his company name - all things that were absent with the first 'locksmith' - but I just didn't clue into it.

So I do agree that I made several errors, and the lesson to be passed on to all readers of these posts is because locksmith fraud is so prevalent that it pays to spend the extra time to find a real company.

SeaG

[kdog]

Originally Posted by SeaG

I signed the work order on the basis I was dealing with a "...licenced, bonded, insured..." locksmith with many years experience. Office located at an address within my city, phone number also right area code.

Turns out the 'locksmith' wasn't qualified, messed up a couple of the locks, gave a different company name and an East Valley number. The quoted price came back higher based on how 'complicated' my locks were - not true they were normal locks.

The email link to contact the company came back as non-existant. The address of the office is a farmers field, the number is likely forward to Florida or some other state.

So you are saying because I agreed to work done improperly by a non-existant company whose office is in a field, that I take all responsibility?

Maybe, but I will try nonetheless.

SeaG

A lot of what you're saying is "neither here nor there". You agreed to pay the bill based on the work done. So the fact that you're having buyer's remorse afterwards is not justification to stop his payment in its entirety.

Email is worthless in the business world. People change email addresses all the time, spam filters eat email, etc. If you had a problem with the lock installation, you would have certainly been within your rights to call the locksmith back in. Did you actually try that? How were you able to contact the locksmith in the first place, but now are unable to contact him after the fact? You say you have a receipt with a phone number of a different locksmith company. Did you call them, and ask about the guy who came to your home? Maybe he was a subcontractor? There are so many questions in this story, I'm amazed that people can advise you one way or another. Sure, you're free to file a fraudulent charge-back proceeding with your credit card company. But don't be surprised if this flies back in your face if the guy who did the work turns out to be legit.

[kdog]

BTW, the guy can't be a total impostor if he takes credit cards.