Locksmith Directory local.locksmithdirectory.com 1-844-243-4912 Locksmith service quote scam

10JAN2018

My elderly mother locked herself out of her condo and I was too far away to help her. Our local police & fire wouldn't come to rescue her, so I went online and found Locksmith Directory (local.locksmithdirectory.com  1-844-243-4912).  They took my mother's name, phone number and address and said that there would be a $29 service fee plus a $19 unlocking fee... $48 total.  I asked the man on the phone specifially if there would be any additional charges once the locksmith arrived to my mothers' and I was told that in some cases, depending on the nature of the lock, there may be an additional charge if it is a difficult job.  I explained that the lock in question was just a simple turn-knob style lock and was not a deadbolt.  He assured me that the $48 charge would be the total then, as that is a simple lock. 

They got to my mother within the hour and two men showed up in a white van.  They picked her lock within 5 minutes and then charged her $247.  The men told my mother that the quote over the phone was wrong, that the quote was just for showing up.  She was all alone and felt that if she didn't pay the $247, that it could be dangerous for her since there were two men present.  So she paid by credit card and they left.  She immeciately called me to tell me about the extra charge, and I then called the online service back.  The man I originally spoke with was the same man who answered my callback, and I explained to him that my mother was charged an additional $199 more than what was quoted to me.  He started to stammer and said that he would have his manager call me back. 

It has been 24 hours and I have called back a few times to speak to this so-called manager, and I keep getting deferred.  They keep telling me that I am flagged in their system for a manager to call me and that I should keep waiting.  My mother has since called her credit card company and put the charge on dispute. 

Will update as the case unfolds.