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The Evolution of
Locksmith Service
The first thing you probably
think of when you think of a
locksmith is getting locked out
of your car. While this is
easily the most common locksmith
service, there are several
instances where a locksmith can
be useful around your house.
Some of the Most common services
provided by a residential
locksmith are: changing the
locks, installing window gates,
installing intercoms, installing
cameras, opening locked doors,
fixing garage locks, inspecting
your house after a burglary, and
plenty more.
Attorney
General Gansler Issues Cease and
Desist Against Maryland
Locksmith Company
Around the Clock Locksmith
Allegedly Overcharged Consumers
BALTIMORE, MD ( April
7, 2010) -
Attorney General Douglas F.
Gansler announced today that his
Consumer Protection Division has
issued a Cease and Desist Order
against a Maryland locksmith,
ATCL-MD, Inc., T/A Around the
Clock Locksmith and its owner
Joseph M. Horton. The Consumer
Protection Division has charged
Around the Clock Locksmith and
Horton with billing consumer’s
exorbitant fees, such as more
than $4,300 to replace a lock
and deadbolt, and fees as high
as $1,400 simply to respond to a
consumer’s request for locksmith
services. According to the
Division’s Statement of Charges,
Around the Clock Locksmith
refuses to give consumers an
estimate of its fees or provides
extremely low estimates. When
consumers balked at paying the
undisclosed fees, the company
allegedly charged the consumers’
credit card without prior
authorization.
In addition to
overcharging consumers, Around
The Clock Locksmith and the
company’s owner, Joseph Horton,
are accused of falsely using a
competitor’s name to steal the
competitor’s customers and
misrepresenting that the company
is a member in good standing
with the Better Business Bureau.
The Consumer Protection Division
ordered the company and Horton
to immediately cease and desist
from engaging in these and other
unfair or deceptive trade
practices.
“You can’t provide a low
estimate to get your foot in the
door and then charge multiples
of that estimate to perform the
service,” said Attorney General
Gansler. “The Order requires the
company to provide realistic
estimates and to stick by them.”
Consumers should always
ask for price estimates before
requesting any service and be
wary of companies that will not
provide estimates. Consumers may
contact the Consumer Protection
Division to find out if there
have been complaints filed
against a business by other
consumers. For more information,
consumers may call the Consumer
Protection hotline at (410)
528-8662 or 1 (888) 743-0023
toll-free.
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