There is a feeling of powerless desperation that seems to overwhelm most people when they realize that they have locked themselves out of their home or car. If you haven't provided a spare key to a relative or friend, your best option is usually to call a locksmith. However, your worst case scenario might just become an opportunity for an unscrupulous locksmith to take advantage of you when you're most helpless. Before you dial that number, be cautious of potential rip-offs.

In Miami-Dade, locksmiths undergo a criminal background check when they register with the County's Consumer Services Department and upon renewal of their license. This is essential due to safety reasons. The tools they use give them access to people's personal property.

The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department lists a few dos and don'ts when it comes to hiring locksmiths.

Common Rip-offs

• Tricks to appear as if they are a local locksmith. Some companies place ads in directories and the Internet using fake local addresses, phone numbers and generic aliases (company names) that ring to a call center in another part of the country. While you think you're dealing with a reputable local locksmith, the company is really located in a different state and sending someone who is not an employee to do the work.

• Overcharge. When you call for a price quote, you're given a reasonable rate. Once the locksmith shows up, he demands a much higher payment. In some cases, they charge as much as four times the quote, citing additional service fees. Some even intimidate you into paying.

Consumer Smarts

• Find a good local locksmith before you're locked out of your house or car. Ask friends or colleagues for recommendations and verify the company's address.

• Check the company's history. Contact the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department at 305-375-3677 for information on complaints about the company and also check the Better Business Bureau's website, www.bbb.org.

• Look out for red flags. If the locksmith arrives in an unmarked vehicle rather than a commercial van, he may not be a licensed locksmith.

• Make sure the business you called is identified on the invoice or receipt. If you have a problem and there is no contact information on the receipt, then you might not have a way of reporting them to the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department.

• The more you know, the better. Locksmiths in Miami-Dade must carry a County-issued photo ID card. If they only have an apprentice license, they are required to work under the supervision of a licensed locksmith. They must also ask the consumer for ID prior to unlocking the door to ensure you are the rightful owner.

For more consumer tips, or to check the complaint history of a company, file a complaint or ask consumer-related questions, visit the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website at www.miamidade.gov/csd or call 305-375-3677.

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