I will NEVER use Dependable Locks Inc again. I locked my keys in the car on 1/15/2009 while at work. In a major panic I went online to find someone to help me. Service Magic sent me a contact in Creve Coeur, MO who provided me with a bid of $65; however it was going to take him 45 minutes to an hour to reach me so I told him I would rather find someone local who would get here quicker. This was not a smart decision on my part.

I contacted Dependable Locks Inc., who clearly had a local St. Louis phone number close to where I was located. They told me it would be about 30 minutes. I waited 15 minutes at work and then walked to my car which took about 10 minutes. After standing in the frigid temperatures for a while, my cell phone rang and it was the locksmith calling to confirm I wanted my car unlocked. I told him yes and he said it will be about 30 to 40 minutes. I could not believe it, but what could I do at this point. Finally, after standing for awhile longer, my phone rang again and a different gentlemen called to tell me that the other driver had a problem with his car and now he would be assisting me. He said I will be there is 30 minutes OR SO. Needless to say it was OR SO.

When he finally arrived, he wanted to know how I was going to pay for this. I said with a check and he said we do not take checks; we either take CASH or they might take your credit card. And I said, well hopefully they will take my credit card how much is it? It will be $39 for the service call and $140 to unlock your door. By this time, there was not much else I could do but sign the form that I would pay.

After he unlocked the door I gave him my credit card. He came back to the car and said this is probably going to take a while because the lines are so busy, do you want me to follow you to your ATM. I answered no I wait. By this time I am really worrying about these people.

I had locked my keys in the car in June of 2008 and the charge was $68 so with this charge and the quote from service magic last night of $65 I was thinking the average price would have to be less then $100. NO their cost was $179.00 to unlock my car.

After reviewing these people on line further and all of the complaints people have given them, how in the world are these people still in business? I can't imagine that someone from the Better Business Bureau doesn't get more involved with these people and shut them down.

I locked my keys in my house. Wasn't told price on the phone. Long wait. Very unprofessional looking guy drives up in a regular car (no buisness logo). Tries to use a food lion card to open the door which doesn't work (of course). Explains if he has to pick the lock it's $75. Oh yeah, just him showing up has cost me $39 service charge + $75 since his food lion card isn't working. If picking it won't work then it's $95+39 if he has to drill it. I show him a window that might be pryed open and turns out he takes an ordinary hammer I help him open the window in less than a minute. So maybe I should pay $39+$5 for use of the hammer and 1 min of effort right? Nope, I paid $39+$45 so $84 total. Guy even said this: "Wow that was easy. . . you woke me up for this?" (it was 9:30 in the morning). Also he had me fill out 2 invoices, one on a blank sheet, so I think he is keeping half of the money somehow to put in his pocket and the rest he turns in to the company. A normal locksmith will charge the service fee and nothing else if it is a simple job that takes a few minutes. After suspecting a scam I called Dependable Locks and immediately they were defensive and rude, I could tell I'm not the only person to question their business practices. I don't want to argue with them any more since they know where I live and I don't trust people who I suspect are involved in criminal behavior.

I contacted a local number and noone ever came until following day. Man was not professional. Truck had no logo, his shirt was unclean looking. I asked for a business card to verify his service. He has nothing ,told me to pay hem $160.00 give hem my DL and to sign an invoice that was uncompleted no work had even taken place he insisted the back gate would be the best way to cut a key. For $120. and $40. for service charge. Well I told hem to please wait until I called office to verify he became inpatient and went to his car wanting to know was I talking to on the phone. He then left and my phone was uncharged unable to complete a conversation.

Lady then called back told me that she was going to call the police if I didn't pay the man his $40.00 for showing up I told her I will pay hem She said that I would be arrested for some kind of theft for not paying a service fee/// He came back I paid cash he drove off. I have recently had a loss of my mother, domestic violence by ex, diagnosed with cancer, house was robbed last week, adt charged me over six thousand dollars never completed job found out was a contractor ADT knows nothing of my home installation, Landscapers scammed me, Concrete workers received half the money never returned I have more to add but maybe you can see why I was skeptic of paying before he even tried to make a key. After he left another locksmith called that I never called very strange. A friend of mine ended up coming by sent his buddy and he said that no key could be duplicated because of the year and make of my truck //gray key head /// Hopefully I can get this threw to someone who cares enough to see that there are so many unhearted contractors out there that when a honest person comes there way rape is just natural to them and they all should be fined or documented by the state they are licensed threw.

My girlfriend and I went to home show just off of downtown Kansas City. When getting out of the car, I made the mistake of locking my keys in the car. We are from a different part of the metro, so I didn't know any tow truck companies or lock smiths in the area. So I simply called 411 and had them contact me with a random lock smith co that was nearby.

They put me in touch with Dependable Locks Inc (based out of Bronx NY... 295 W 231st Bronx NY 10463) They don't seem to have a Kansas City address, when I reverse search their number, I get a number of listings for lock smith companies with different names. The following is the first:
1 24 Hour St Louis A Emerg A Locksmith
street address not available
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 427-9961

Anyways, about my story. I explained to the lady over the phone that I had a 2007 Ford Focus and my situation. She took down my info and said she would send someone out. I then asked her how much it would be and she clearly told me "$39 service charge plus $15 for unlocking". $54 didn't seem so bad and it was cold out, so I decided to go ahead with the service just to get into my car as quickly as possible. She said it would be 20-30 minutes, a full hour later a locksmith showed up.

He then asked for my ID and registration. I told him I had my ID, but my registration was in the car. He said fine, he'll get that later. As I was digging my wallet for my ID, he put a piece of paper under my nose and asked me to sign it. I asked what it was and he said "the work I will be doing". I glanced over, and it said "Waiver of 3 day", had my name, "service call" "unlock" and some numbers that didn't mean anything to me. So I signed it figuring it was code for the work he would perform. At the bottom is says "I expressly acknowledge and waive the right to cancel the sale within 3 business days"

He then stuck my ID in his pocket (he told me he'd keep it until he saw my registration..just seems like a clever excuse to hold onto something of mine). He then spent literally 1 minute unlocking my car. After I opened the door, I showed him the paperwork he needed and he told me he'd be back with my bill.

He returned a few minutes later with a bill for $145.40. I was shocked, I told him there most be some sort of mistake. He said nope, "thats what this job costs". I then told me I was quoted around 55 dollars over the phone. He told I was incorrect that the charge is $39 and *"15 dollars and up"* for unlocking. I told him the lady never mentioned the "and up" part.

I also told him I don't see how $15 dollars can become $96 when it don't take him my job any longer then one if he had to slim jim an 76 Buick. He just told me that is how it was.

We went around and around for several minutes before he told me "Why did you sign the paper if you don't want to pay $145". I asked him what paper and he told me the first paper I signed agreed to that price. I told him nothing on the paper states anything about price. He then pointed to the number 96 (no dollar signs or anything that says price around it) and told me that is the price we agreed on.

I was shocked, this paper is nothing like any other bill, estimate or work order I had ever seen. And nothing on it says I agree to a price. I called the company back and spoke to the same lady as before. She said she didn't take my call and said she had no idea why I would think the price is $15... She said it starts at $15 and goes up. I called her on her lie and she just ignored me insisting I spoke to someone different.

We argued for a long time and finally I paid by credit card (he called it in, I wasn't allowed to myself).

Finally after I paid I asked the guy why didn't the lady just give an accurate quote over the phone. He told me she didn't know what he was unlocking. I pointed out that I clearly told her it was an 07 Focus. He then said, she would have no idea about the price. I explained to him that she should have a general idea of a price and should have been able to tell me something roughly in the ball park.

Do I have any recourse. I'm sure I was scammed. I reported it to the BBB. Is there any way to get my money back? Has anyone had a similar problem? I probably shouldn't have paid him. But like I said, it was cold and I couldn't stand being outside in some parking lot much longer.

I called Dependable Locks on October 13th after discovering I had been locked out of my house. The operator told me I would have to pay a $39.00 service call and a $15.00 fee for picking my lock. I was told that the cost would be no more than $55.00. Once the tech finished, he gave me a bill of $149.00. I asked him why it was so much more than I was quoted and he said I had "good locks". I paid the money, but called customer service on Monday. They fussed and argued with me, even admitting that I might have been told that but I was not overcharged because $149.00 was the cost of the service. The lady I spoke with specifically told me the price I would pay would be no more than $55.00. This company is definitely guilty of deceitful practices and downright theft! I want my $94.00 back!