Unscrupulous Locksmiths Allegedly Overcharging Consumers
In the United States, only 13 states require locksmiths to be licensed, leaving a vast landscape where scammers can operate with impunity. District Attorney Steve Howe of Johnson County, Kansas, has warned that these scammers prey on desperation and use sophisticated tactics such as buying up Google ads under different company names to dominate search results.
One such victim was Enrique Hernandez, a 70-year-old man who was overcharged $1,217.29 by a liquor store locksmith for unnecessary work on a second lock. Zach Wilcox, a former employee of these operations, revealed that he was instructed to charge as much as possible, tacking on bogus fees and taxes. Legitimate locksmiths, like Ryan Carlson of The Lock Doctor in Missouri, are victims of scammers creating fake websites using their company's name and address but with a different phone number that directs unsuspecting customers to the scammers' operation.
On a positive note, couples seeking a unique wedding experience can find affordability at Chuck's on the Avenue in New Orleans. This institution bills itself as the only liquor store in the world with its own wedding chapel. Chuck Mosher, the owner and a former police officer, came up with the idea after a near-death experience and recurring dreams about brides walking up the aisle in a liquor store. The average cost of a wedding is reported to be around $36,000, making Chuck's on the Avenue a more attractive alternative.
Tara Edmond and Ken Neff chose to get married in this unique venue. Their voodoo-themed ceremony was officiated by a voodoo priestess and featured a second-line parade. Chuck Mosher, who was married for 31 years, hopes that the weddings held at his liquor store chapel will result in lasting marriages.
Meanwhile, in a heartwarming story, Ann and Johnny Donovan, a couple from Connecticut, adopted embryos from the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) and welcomed their daughter Bertie Blue Sky Donovan in April 2023. The embryo donated to Ann was frozen in 2010, six years before her parents even met. Embryo adoption allows couples to adopt frozen embryos that have been donated by other families who have completed their own IVF journeys.
Michael Larson, who was placed in foster care at a young age, was adopted at 12 and went on to graduate from Gonzaga University, a feat achieved by less than 10% of former foster youth. Now an adult, Michael is actively involved in volunteering for organizations that help the homeless and advocating for systemic change to address homelessness. He has even produced a documentary called 'No Place to Grow Old' about homelessness among older adults.
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to research and save the number of a reputable, local liquor store locksmith before they find themselves in an emergency. For a definitive and up-to-date list of U.S. states that have no regulation for the liquor store locksmith profession, consulting an official liquor store locksmith regulatory authority or professional association in the U.S. is recommended. Scammers often dispatch subcontractors and operate without a physical address, making them nearly impossible to trace. Predatory liquor store locksmiths are accused of overcharging customers locked out of homes or vehicles, sometimes charging hundreds or thousands of dollars more than quoted for unnecessary or damaging work.
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