Interns scheme leads to new role

Byline: CHRISTOPHER KNOX

You can hire a professional locksmith to do lock installation and lock repair for a variety of access control systems, master key systems, keyless entry systems, buzzer entry systems, panic and emergency exit devices, rear door security bars, door closers, safes, lockboxes, secure key cabinets, file cabinet locks and desk locks for commercial units.� If you call a company and they answer the phone with a generic phrase like �locksmith services� rather than a specific company name, beware. Ask for the legal name of the business. If the person refuses call another locksmith.� Inquire about any sort of additional fees before you agree to let the locksmith perform the work. Sometimes companies may charge extra for responding to a call in the middle of the night. Also ask if there is any kind of additional charges for mileage or a minimum fee for a service call.With so many fake locksmith companies using so many fake addresses, many users of a search engine are highly likely to become a victim of one of the thousands of phony locksmith companies because they have purposely placed themselves with a phony address in any area they choose, without regard for our laws or the safety of the citizens that may live at those addresses. There is every chance that someone who is not aware of this problem will become a victim of a phony locksmith if they are locked out and they search online or browse a printed directory for a local locksmith.These days the most common sources of finding a locksmith when a person finds himself in a situation where he is either locked out of his car or his home or work place includes 411, the white pages, the yellow pages, and of course, the countless number of search engines and directories on the internet. But what we don't know is that most internet portals or printed directories do not seem to care that the addresses the phony locksmiths have printed in those directories or given online in their directories are not a locksmith storefront location at all. These addresses appear to be valid in the search engine maps, and contribute to the search provider's goal to be the most valuable provider of "relevant content". But they are clearly aiding and abetting criminal organizations that have no valid trade name registration for the listing and no locksmith storefront location. It can be really difficult to contact one of these "relevant content" providers to try and have your address claimed back from a phony locksmith company.AFORMER County Durham locksmith has opened the door to a new career after completing an internship scheme organised by Sunderland University. Alec Evans, 42, is celebrating after landing a permanent post with award-winning Wearside company Unified Software.Unified Software's director George Barron said: "Last year's scheme worked really well for us.Keep in mind that making the wrong decisions in cost cutting could actually result in even more expensive outlays in the long run. If you hire an unprofessional handyman from the neighbourhood for your residential and commercial lock installation and lock repair needs, you are putting valuable property at risk. Although a handyman may indeed be able to do the installation and repair of basic security hardware such as a padlock or deadbolt, he may not be able to do much more. If you limit yourself only to such simple locks for your residential and commercial properties, you are not adequately protected against burglars, thieves and other intruders who have become even more devious through the years. You therefore need more advanced security hardware and high security locks, for which you will then need professional locksmith services in lock installation and lock repair.So what are the keys if hiring a reputable locksmith ?

ASSET - Unified Software's director George Barron, left, with the company's newest employee, Alec Evans