Complaint Review: RELIABLE LOCKSMITH AND DEPENDABLE LOCKSMITH

10:41 PM EST on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

By ANNA CROWLEY / WCNC

Consumer Connection confronts illegal locksmiths CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When Consumer Connection viewer Ronald Ritch got locked out of his car, he "went back into the house and started looking in the Yellow Pages and saw big ads from this company," Ritch explained.

He called Reliable Locksmith. The locksmith came, opened the car, then, "I was ready to pay him the amount of money they told me on the telephone that it would be, he comes out and he wants almost twice as much," said Ritch.

Stories like Ronald's and reports of damaged property are the main allegations against a group of locksmiths operating across the country and now here. Our investigation found two locksmiths with a string of complaints operating in Charlotte illegally.

First, my investigative producer and I took on Reliable Locksmith.

Their locksmith called to our lockout did not have a license. I confronted him about that. "Why don't you have a North Carolina license?"

His name is Eli Ivgy. This was his answer: "I just moved here from California as you can see.

Anna: "You are required to have a license in North Carolina. Why don't you have one?

Eli: I don't have a license..I..I, my company have a license but I did not know that I have to have a license. But if I have to I will change it from Washington to North Carolina."

We checked with Washington State and California and Eli doesn't have a license there either, even though it's required in those states, too.

The company Eli works for, Reliable, does not have a locksmith license.

Not only is a company license required by state law, the license number should be visible in every ad -- that's the law.

The law also requires each individual working as a locksmith to take an exam and undergo a criminal background check looking for convictions that range from sex offense to kidnapping.

The North Carolina Locksmith Licensing board says they told Reliable's owner Reuven Gigi back in June that his company needs a license along with any employees doing locksmith work. According to the board, the owner asked to take the required test in a foreign language, a request they denied.

You have to take the test in English. The board made it clear to me that they believe Reuven Gigi and Reliable Locksmith are well aware that they are continuing to operate here illegally.

Tom Bartholomy of the Better Business Bureau says, "Just because someone has a big ad in the Yellow Pages doesn't mean they are a good business to do business with."

Reliable isn't the only one advertising without its license number. Another -- One Hour Emergency Locksmith, also known as Dependable -- has prompted a nationwide warning from the Better Business Bureau.

So we put Dependable to the test, too.

The locksmith tells our investigative producer his name is Stephan Ivanoff.

You guessed it -- he's not licensed and neither is Dependable.

"You are pretty much at their mercy and that's what they like to take advantage of," Bartholomy said.

The BBB calls Dependable particularly disreputable and says the company operates under a dozen different names.

As for Ronald - he's filed complaints with the state board and the attorney general's office.

"I wasn't the only one, not near the only one," Ritch said.

He says getting the word out is critical.

Neither Reliable nor Dependable returned our calls for comment.

Complaints against locksmiths shot up 75 percent between 2005 and 2006. So how can you avoid being the next person with a bad experience? Don't wait for an emergency to choose a locksmith.

Search for a locksmith now -- check their record with the BBB. Talk to them about prices and have their number on speed dial for when you have a lock out.

Leland
Montrose, New York
U.S.A.

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!