Existing Consumer Protection Laws Proven Effective - Locksmith Licensing Proven Ineffective

8/15/2013

Written By: Barry Campbell, Managing Director SOPL

The latest (August, 2013) National Locksmith magazine rehashes a scammer investigation by an Atlanta television station from earlier this year. Anyone who has watched the original video for the story (http://www.11alive.com/news/article/292516/320/Undercover-Locksmith-Investigation) may have noticed something odd. At about 1:38 into the video, a van belonging to one of the “legitimate” locksmiths consulted for the story is seen. Clearly displayed on the van is the word “Licensed”. But, Georgia does not license locksmiths. In a story about fraud and misrepresentation by scammers, you would think someone might have asked how a locksmith could claim to be licensed in a state that does not issue locksmith licenses.

Meanwhile, also in Georgia, the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection (GOCP) has fined a scammer operation almost $112,000 (http://www.coosavalleynews.com/np103415.htm). Can any locksmith licensing board match that? The GOCP effectively demonstrates that scammers posing as a locksmtih can be attacked under existing laws, whereas licensing laws have proven themselves ineffective (http://www.sopl.us/4/post/2013/06/definitive-proof-that-locksmith-licensing-is-a-con-job-what-your-not-being-told.html).

And, unlike what was stated in the article copied in the National Locksmith - “Warnings have been placed on the Associated Locksmiths of America's website about mobile locksmiths masquerading as local companies.” - the Atlanta scammer was NOT a mobile locksmith. They had a physical location in Atlanta (http://www.bbb.org/atlanta/business-reviews/locks-and-locksmiths/atlanta-solution-locksmith-in-atlanta-ga-27247383).

Despite seeing how to effectively deal with scammers, the local Georgia locksmith association and politicians still want to add regulations that will be enforced on the legitimate locksmiths (http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/22934119/state-lawmaker-wants-to-regulate-locksmiths).

Some folks just refuse to learn! Or, as seen in a popular meme making the rounds on Facebook – a horse stating that, “You can lead a human to knowledge, but you can't make him think.”

Barry Campbell, owner of Altic Lock Service and Managing Director of the Society of Professional Locksmiths. Barry is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He has worked in private security, investigations, and loss prevention. He is the author of A Homeowner's Guide to Residential Door Security. barry also is a former Professional member of the International Conference of Building Officials and a current Building Safety Professional member of the International Code Council. dit.

2 Comments

Tom Lynch link

8/15/2013 15:07:21

Good article Barry, and good observations. I have a few of my own.

I find it odd that we see an entry lock being installed using a passage latch. It is troubling to hear "This is how you pick a lock" and yuk yuk about it as being so easy, when the lock itself is specifically "setup" to be picked. It is also troubling to see a passage latch being used and then trying to make it appear to be a "scammer thing" when loiding a latch rather than trying to pick.

I contacted the news reporter and he got a little huffy when he asked me if I would have tried to pick the lock and I said NO. I got the impression he was assuming I must be a scammer, but I fixed that thought real quick. I asked what type of weather stripping the door frame had and the fact that his expert installed a passage latch, Why would any professional waste their time picking when we can bypass the lock?

He had no answer about the weatherstripping but was hell bent that lock picking should be the first thing you do and if you don't your not a pro, and we all know this is not accurate. Every professional knows that you inspect the entire site and examine all entry points for the best possible way in with the least resistance. You also look for certain weatherstrip in a residential setting which can allow a door to be pulled to you enough to allow a latch to be loided, especially when the proper deadlatch is not used.

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/index.php?cPath=288_291

So why make such a big deal that a guy used an Air Wedge? Fire department, EMS and others use frame spreaders to exploit the flexibility of the frames. Why are these valid techniques suddenly a bad thing for the locksmith? If they are, then they should never be used on a car either. Although loiding is typically done using a flexible shim, they make it seem so outrageous not to pick first.

I asked why the police were not called if the homeowner felt "unsafe" or threatened. What made her feel this way? No answer given. I asked what was the reasoning of the original call since it was not a lockout. No answer provided. It is odd that we hear remarks about someone being fearful but they don't call the cops?

The continued hype in these news reports of making it seem that lock picking in the field is so easy all the time and all other methods of entry are cause to label even the best locksmiths as scammers if they can't pick or chose a bypass method. This is exactly the harm being caused to our professional locksmiths as a result of this type of activism reporting, and acting by those trying to force failed locksmith licensing which has nothing to do with consumer protection.

There is no need for licensing since those targeted in these news stings are already licensed across the country! It's a Con Job.

http://www.sopl.us/4/post/2013/06/definitive-proof-that-locksmith-licensing-is-a-con-job-what-your-not-being-told.html

The Georgia State Consumer Protection Agency did not need a license to exercise their power. They already have the mechanisms and existing laws in place to do what they need too.

I did speak with Rick Casper of Lock Doctor in Sugar Hill, and he was a decent guy who explained his position but Carl Hinson didn't return my call. I wonder if he went back to change that passage latch?

Jim Mullins

8/16/2013 02:46:15

I stopped using "Licensed, Bonded, Insured" in our advertising about 15 years ago in protest of their being no license requirement and because it was, in my mind, false advertising. Now that Maryland has a licensing requirement, I'll just post my license number.

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Existing Consumer Protection Laws Proven Effective - Locksmith Licensing Proven Ineffective

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