Locksmith
Eli's LocksmithThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Complaints
Customer Complaints Summary
- 9 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 3 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
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Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:10/10/2024
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:UnpursuableMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I called Eli’s Locksmith after someone tried to steal my car so they jacked the ignition. They said that a technician would call me to arrange a time to come and attempt to fix the ignition or replace it. After speaking with the technician he asked me send pictures and after I did he said it would have to be replaced. This should have been a red flag. He said he’d have to order the part for overnight delivery and that the part cost 200 that I’d need to pay for upfront for him to order it which is completely understandable. Then when I asked when it would be delivered he didn’t know. Which should have been the second red flag. He said though again that this is all I’ll pay for the part and when he comes onsite I’ll only be paying for labor. I must include that he spoke very broken English and was very hard to understand. I asked what the hourly rate for labor is and he wouldn’t tell me. Just kept saying he doesn’t know till he gets there and sees what needs to be done. Reg flag number 3 and counting. Then finally the part comes in and he comes to install. Looks at everything and all of a sudden says that the steering column is damaged too. So he has to add that. Then also for a reason he can’t logically explain the ignition is now 325 so an extra 125 on top of the 200 I paid that he said it cost. He would get very angry when I would question him. He said labor is 595! I’m like how much is that hourly?? What is your hourly rate. He wouldn’t tell me. Then he added a bunch of things that made no sense and came up with a total of 1020!!!! I was in tears after hearing this. These people are complete predatory scammers. I’m going to dispute the charge with my bank. They’re violating the Fair consumer act. Fraudulent business practices all day and are a bait n switch operation 100 percent.Initial Complaint
Date:08/05/2024
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:UnpursuableMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
My fiance called because we lost the key fob to our car and it was the only one we had. We had already had the car towed to our house and unlocked. The guy we had couldn’t speak English very well and was not telling me a price for each thing he was doing. I only wanted one key fob programmed to our car. He programmed two fobs charged me $225 each and $60 extra from what he originally said to cut the key and didn’t asked me first. I was home alone with my kids and couldn’t be out there the whole time and he knew that and I think completely took advantage of me since I wasn’t able to sit out there and watch him and let him try to explain everything to me. So $628 dollars later that I wouldn’t have spent and used another business or took it to the dealership. I am furious. My fiance called him back after and was furious he took advantage of me and he told him the dealership would have had to make 2 keys too and he called the dealership and they said absolutely not that he completely scammed us! I want my money back and he can keep the key fobs. We will go to a different company who won’t treat me like this and charge me for one key like we asked! Don’t use this company!!!!!Initial Complaint
Date:06/22/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnpursuableMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I was need of a locksmith company and my partner sends me their website with “FREE QUOTE” all over the ONLY PAGE of a website. (Red flag #1) As I am at work for majority of the day I call to figure out general cost and time. When the phone is answered and I tell them what I need, they immediately ask for my address. (Red Flag #2) I think distance factors into cost and tell them. I’ve explained I need a new key made and that there’s no way into the vehicle. I’m told they would be there in about 20 mins. I ask for the Estimate/Quote from the website to get an understanding and figuring out if this is the service I want. I’m told that they would have to see what’s going on to figure out pricing. (Red Flag #3) So after about an hour the locksmith arrives and my boyfriend explains again what’s wrong and what we need and he asks again how much it will cost, approximately. Again he is told that the locksmith would have to look at it to figure it out. (Red Flag #4) After 2 hours of my boyfriend asking about pricing and a different locksmith comes to help the original locksmith make the proper key we are told the total of the service is $444. After we were given NO information before the locksmiths started touching my car. I have asked to speak to upper management multiple times and I have now been blocked by the business as none of their numbers go anywhere besides a voicemail box or a real estate agent in KS. I am furious that out of the entire experience all I got was 1 key that works, 1 key that doesn’t, and no groceries for my household for a week because I was dealing with shotty businesses scamming their customer base. They also have multiple numbers on the ONE page of their website which I have included below.Initial Complaint
Date:06/04/2024
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:UnpursuableMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
On 6/3/24 I accidently locked myself out of my car. I called the number for Eli's and shared that I was locked out and needed someone to pop the lock on my car. I did not realize until then, that it was essentially a call center. They instructed that I would receive a call soon. I did receive a call within a couple of minutes from someone stating they were 10 minutes away. They arrived within the 10 minutes and asked if I needed to get into my car. I said that I did. He had already begun assessing the door and while doing so, said that it would be (what I thought he said) $95 for the service call and the total to also pop the lock would be $250. I thought at the time that this was very high. I had never used nor needed this type of service before so I assumed that was just the cost of making a mistake. A very simple mistake.
The lock was popped, within 2 minutes, while the techs car was running and someone was inside. Once completed, I was told that the cost was $464.50 and that I had misunderstood. The service call was $195 and then the charge to pop the lock was $250. I was stunned. I had no idea what to do aside from paying, even though I shared that I was shocked and thought that the total was $250.
It looks as though the range for this service is normally $50-$175 depending on time. The entire episode took 5 minutes with drive time being 10 minutes. If a company is planning to charge such an unfair price for this type of service, a quote should be in writing. I would NEVER use such a company again as this was dishonest and unfair. I believe in paying a fair price for services but this was taking advantage of a person who made a mistake. This was not emergent and I would not have used this person/business had I been told the truth about the cost.Initial Complaint
Date:12/12/2023
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
On Friday December7, 2023 I hired this locksmith to cut a padlock from a * **** ***. The agreed upon price was $6.90 for the padlock to be removed and $69 for the service call. When I got into my bank statement that night they had charged me $785. I called immediately and reached the answering service. They were going to send the message to management. I got a call from management on Sunday. After a series of texts they only refunded $500. I believe I am owed a total of $706.50. I am 72 years old and on a limited income. This charge overdrew my bank account. I am also undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. I was unable to purchase medication to treat my cancer and will have to wait until I get my social security check. Please help me get the additional money I am owed.Customer Answer
Date: 12/12/2023
Refund was paid in full. Thank you for your help.Initial Complaint
Date:09/19/2023
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Services to be rendered for 150 dollars, once complete they charged 350, then refused to offer receipt. Number on file will not give manager information out, claim they are a call center but also give out quotes. Manager is not reachable and they don't have a physical address nor will they provide contact info. The listed number is ************Initial Complaint
Date:08/05/2023
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I hired this company to create a second key for my daughters car. They required a deposit up front to create the key. They came out on 5/14/2023 to program the key . They could never get the key to work so they told me to go to the dealership. They charged me $167.14. The dealership said that what they gave me would not work and I would need to buy a different key. I have called the company multiple times and they always tell me they will call me back and they never call me back. They can keep the deposit I think it was @ $100, but I would like the $167.14 back since what they gave me never worked.Initial Complaint
Date:07/11/2022
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
On June 29th, 2022 I had locked my keys, phone in my car. I was able to contact my boss ***** ****** with my watch and he contacted Elis Lock Smith and told them I needed them to go to my address and unlock my car door. The guy came out and unlocked my car and when he left I got in and headed to work. I heard air coming in my door so when I got to work I looked at my car door and saw he had caused a half an inch gap on my door from when he had stuck the tool inside it. I have called them several times and all I keep getting is someone will call you back shortly but no one has.. I also have the technicians phone number, ************ from when he called my boss(*****) and told him when he was on his way to my place.
No one has returned my call and all I keep getting from the dispatch office is I will send them a message and have them call you shortly. This cost me $250 to get my door unlocked and now I have damage on my door to get fixed. Which is says on their website they are Secure & Insured.
Please help... Thank you, ********
Eli's Locksmith is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.
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