DEPENDABLE LOCKS INC

It was after 5 pm when we called for help, but they sent someone right away. We were concerned because an elderly person was inside and unresponsive. The locksmith worked quickly and within an hour had gained entry to the home and finished the work. Fortunately, the person inside was OK, but we couldn't ascertain that until we got in. The quick response was really appreciated. The locksmith left the work area neat and clean, too.

We arrived home to find that our front door key did not work. The lock was jammed due to a key being in the hole on the other side of the door. We couldn't get in the house any other way, so I tried (unsuccessfully) to contact the "The Lockman" who I've used before and was very happy with. Unable to reach him, we tried a few locksmith phones number that we could get, and got an answer from Dependable Locks. The dispatcher told me that there would be a $39 service call and the locksmith would arrive within 45 minutes. The locksmith arrived within the alloted time, quickly assessed the situation, and then told me that the $39 was only for the service call, and there would be an additional $60 charge to open the lock. This price was unreasonably high, but since my wife and baby were stuck outside all this time, I agreed to it. He opened he lock within 30 seconds, and the entire service call, costing $99, took less than 10 minutes. The locksmith would only take CASH, had no ID on him, and drove a vehicle without identification on it either. Overall, a bad experience. This company is a rip-off. They're a national operation (based in Clearwater, FL) and have numerous complaints against them reported online. Definitely avoid them.

When I called them and asked a quote on a price to open the door, I was told fifteen and up,so I told them yes to come out because I had called another company and they had quoted me at ninety dollars. I ended up having to call them again and also wait for an hour and a half. When he did arrive it only took him around ten second to open the door. On the bill it stated there was a thirty nine dollar service charge and then they charged me one hundred and ten dollars just to open the door. When I asked him why the charge was so high, he stated he was a hard door to open but it only took him around ten second to open.

I was grossly overcharged for a service performed. I called for a someone to come out to my building and let someone in their apartment who's lock had broken. I asked when I placed the call how much the charge would be and was told that I would be $39.00. A technician came out, ( that I believe is subcontracted with the company since this is in Los Angeles and the company I've found out is located in the Bronx, NY ) and after he let in my tenant, presented a bill for $174.00. I did have him remove a broken latch mechanism that was broken and I see a change for that of 25.00 labor but the additional $110.00 that I was charged is extortion. My tenant paid the bill and when I tried to contact the company to resolve the issue, was giving the runaround from the supposed Customer Service department who's says they have no contact with the company. I called the gentleman who I placed the order with, and he said he never took the order. This was a lousy company to work with from top to bottom and I hope no one will ever have to do business with them again. No ethics, corrupt, and dishonest in all regards.

However this man did not even bring tools to fix the door, there a service charge of $39 dollars. and then he wanted to charged me $69 dollars for no services preformed.

The locksmith company is apparently a nationally owned corporation. When I called, I specifically asked if they were familiar with or could dispatch someone familiar with Baldwin hardware (a specialty high end hardware lock). When the locksmith arrived, he had a toolbox that was insufficient, in his personal car, at the wrong address, and I found him at the neighbors house. He claimed to be capable, again, on inquiry of replacing a Baldwin mortise. After one hour, he returned to inform me that he could not get the door to work, because its a complicated door system, and the door must be broken, and I should have the door replaced. I was charged for a service call and half labor. In calling the door company the recommend a reputable contractor that works with the locks and stated that had he read the instructions, that any qualified locksmith could have easily replaced the lock. The person that showed up could not have even re-keyed had it been required because he had not tools.

Company DRASTICALLY changed terms from start to finish, and we would never recommend anyone utilize this company.

We called the company just before 9 PM and the locksmith did not arrive until after 11 PM to unlock our house. We had to use a neighbor's telephone to call the company, and since we were not sitting by that phone when the company called back they canceled the service call. We were told this after an hour, when we called to check the status. They agreed to send someone out again. The locksmith then could not find our home, and called the neighbor five more times to get directions. When he finally arrived there was no apology for keeping us out of our house for so long.

The problem came not with their service, which was prompt and fixed the issue, but with the charge. $263 bucks seems to be a huge charge for what appeared to be very little work. When questioned, Jack, the guy from Dependable, said that it was too late to dispute the bill, since Jerry had signed a waiver giving up his right to cancel the sale. Jerry acknowledge signing the form, but was never told the significance of what he was signing when Jack showed up initially and asked him to sign it. These guys seem to have this M.O.: they show up to a homeowner who has called for their service; they get the homeowner to sign the waiver; then they stick them with a huge bill, all out of proportion to the service they have rendered. The charges on the bill broke down as follows: service call $40 (seems reasonable); tax $12 (again, not outrageous); "deadbolt fix" $165 (whatever that means??!!) and "lock ins" $45 (what the *expletive*l is that???!!!)