Common name problematic for locksmith

Look up A-1 Lock Shop in the new Dex Fremont phone book white pages and you'll find several entries with a similar name.

“A 1-24 Hour Locksmith” and “A 24 Hour A Locksmith” are listed as well as “A Locksmith.” They all are listed with the same Fremont phone number, 721-9110, but none of them are the real business owned and operated by Ray Phillips for about 20 years.

His business, A-1 Lock Shop, is not listed at all and Phillips said he thinks he is losing business from the other companies not even located in Fremont.

A reverse number search of 721-9110 gives the address of the Qwest building on D Street. Calls to the number are re-routed to a New York answering center and the person answering initially said they are a “mobile company” with no address. Upon further questioning, the person admitted they were located in New York, but if given a zip code they could send out a locksmith who is close to here. The company would not say who they would call, but would accept payment over the phone.

“I think that being the same name, they get a lot of my calls,” Phillips said. “I don't show up and it makes a bad name for me.”

In addition to his business, Phillips said there are only two other locksmiths in town - Fremont Lock & Key and ASAP Locksmith.

“I try to be reliable and my friendly competitors do, too,” Phillips said. “I can't tell you what the other A-1 Lock is doing.”

He did say his wife called the other number about re-keying a house and they wouldn't quote a price, just that they would send somebody out. She continued to question, but was not given any further information.

“You need to consider the quality of work, promptness, price and attitude when you consider a locksmith,” Phillips said. “Your locksmith should be certified and bonded. They should have insurance.”

He said there is no way to be sure if the New York company is insured. The company said their locksmiths are bonded, but the company also said they are licensed. There is no licensing procedure for Nebraska locksmiths.

“(The New York company) tells you it takes about 90 minutes for a locksmith to get there,” Phillips said. “Usually it takes them about 90 minutes to two hours. When I get a call in an emergency, I just drop everything and go.”

Fremont Detective Lt. Greg Chamberlain said he has received no reports of anything criminal.

“It certainly looks deceptive in nature,” Chamberlain said. “They're advertising under different corporate names and advertising with different street addresses.”

A search of the New York City Better Business Bureau revealed the calls are routed to a company called Dependable Locksmith in the Bronx. The bureau has received numerous complaints of deceptive and misleading advertising and sales practices. Its report also said that in markets around the country, Dependable Locksmith places phone book ads with false or non-existent local addresses. People also complained that prices are inflated and work is sub par. The company has an “unsatisfactory” rating with the bureau.

“People want local business people to take care of their needs,” Phillips said. “In my opinion, it should be a flag for them.”

He said he had never seen the other companies with similar names to his before the 2006-2007 Dex phone book.

“Using my same name irritates me,” Phillips said. “If anybody's going to call A-1 Lock, please don't call 721-9110.”

The phone number for A-1 Lock Shop is 721-5655 and the shop is located at the corner of Fourth and Broad streets.