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A local business has claimed they are being impersonated. Mike's Lock and Key in Widefield said they have had a problem with several people fraudulently posing to be their business.
The person or persons is listed in the Yellow Pages and when called, victims said they charge double or triple the rate Mike's Lock and Key does.
Mike's has been in business for over 30 years. In May, they started receiving angry calls from frustrated customers.
"Supposedly our business was doing things to their locks, and we were like no we have never been at that address, we do not know what you are talking about," Kim Keddington said.
Keddington is the Office Manager for Mike's Lock and Key, the main address the customer's were giving her was in New York. The business' name, Mike's Mobile Locksmith, a spin off Mike's Lock and Key.
"It (business name) is like a trademark, kind of like Microsoft, their name is trademarked," Keddington said.
After receiving a handful of calls, Kim decided to do some research. By simply looking in the phone book she found the same phone number under numerous locksmith names including Alocksmith and an Emergency Locksmith.
"It is the same man coming up under them, and there are other guys who are helping him, but it is the same numbers in the phone book used multiple times," Keddington said.
One of the victim's Fox 21 spoke with off camera said the man with Mike's Mobile Locksmith arrived in a rental car, charged them $115 to open their door and then demanded to be paid in cash.
Keddington said that is just one of many complaints she has received. "Most of them are overcharging and the ruining of locks."
Fox 21 called Mike's Mobile Locksmith. They said they only work under the name "24 Hour Express Locksmith" and that they would correct any problems customers had.
The Better Business Bureau said in Colorado locksmiths do not have to be licensed and there are no regulations. They said the only way to know if a locksmith is reputable is to check with the BBB.
For a complete list of accredited businesses with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado you can pick up their member guide at your local grocery store.
