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The Chamber of Labour of Upper Austria (AK OÖ) has issued a sharp warning about dubious locksmith services that exploit people in stressful situations. When someone is locked out of their home, the urgency and panic often make them vulnerable to dishonest providers who demand excessive fees and use questionable practices.
According to the AK, many complaints involve so‑called “emergency services” found online. What appears to be a local company often turns out to be a mailbox firm registered abroad. Customers report long waiting times, only to be met by vehicles with foreign license plates and confronted with inflated bills once the job is done.
The AK advises consumers to protect themselves by:
- Asking for a fixed price during the initial phone call.
- Refusing to be pressured into cash payments; a payment slip is the safest option.
- Contacting the police immediately if subjected to aggressive demands or intimidation.
Preventive measures are considered the most effective. The AK recommends saving the number of a trusted local locksmith in your phone or posting it in the stairwell. Consumers can also use the app meinaufsperrdienst.at, which lists certified providers with a quality seal. And perhaps the simplest safeguard of all: leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor.
This warning highlights how easily stress can be exploited by unscrupulous businesses—and how a little preparation can prevent costly encounters with internet scammers.
- source: heute.at/picture: Image by Schluesseldienst from Pixabay
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