how and where I can get bonded?

[Reggiereg]

Hello all. I am in the process of starting a small locksmith service company here in Manning, South Carolina. It is a very small town and I am having a serious problem getting bonded. I had plans to get bonded through the Locksmith Ledger's bonding program but they sent me my payment back and said they had temporarily suspended there bonding program as they are upgrading the process at this time. I stopped at our town’s City Hall and asked them but they said that they didn't have a clue. I even called a local insurance company that does surety bonds and an agent there said that he would have to make some phone calls on the matter himself and get back with me. I am reluctant to ask the two local locksmith that live in our town as I do not think that they are ready to help more possible competition come aboard right now. Anyone have some advice as to how and where I can get bonded?

Thank you much in advance.
Awaiting someone’s expertise.
Reg. Jr.

[Eyes_Only]

I think you can still get bonding through The National Locksmith magazine. That's where I got mine a few years ago when I still had it.

[Reggiereg]

Thanks for the reply but like I said in my previous post, they sent my payment back to me last week. Question, how come no one else will tell me anything.

Reg. Jr. We need more like you my friend.

[Reggiereg]

Hi this is Reggie again perhaps no one is answering my request for bonding info out of concerns that I may not be a real locksmith. If you go to the South Carolina Secretary OF State's website and enter my company's name just as you see it here (Advance Lock-out Specialist llc.) you will find that my business is legitimately registered with the sate of South Carolina. You can also visit my website at [urlhttp://www.advancelockoutspecialist.com/index.html[/url]. Or email me at www.infodesk@advancelockoutspecialist.com. I understand that we as locksmiths need to be on continuous alert when it comes to exposing our highly guarded secrets of the trade with the general public. However I’m only asking for some direction here and I can assure you that I‘m not the general public as far as locksmiths are concerned. I'm not asking for anyone to bond me. Again all I need is some direction. About a week or so ago, (thinking that my bonding situation was taken care of by The Locksmith Ledger) I ordered my company shirts. But now I can't wear them because my shirts state that I'm bonded on the front of them and I'm not. Wearing the shirts with a false declaration on them would be both unethical and illegal. And in my opinion working without a uniform makes me look like I’m on the level of the scam artist that are out there destroying the image and integrity of the entire locksmithing industry one scam at a time. No offense to my fellow locksmith friends who don’t wear uniforms. However if there is some other reason that no one is telling me anything, please at least tell me why all the secrecy both online and off.

PS. I also state that I’m bonded on my website and will be forced to remove it if I cannot get bonded soon.

PS. You can also respond by leaving your message in my guestbook at my website.

Thanks again
Reg. Jr.

[Evan]

I stopped at our town’s City Hall and asked them but they said that they didn't have a clue. I even called a local insurance company that does surety bonds and an agent there said that he would have to make some phone calls on the matter himself and get back with me. I am reluctant to ask the two local locksmith that live in our town as I do not think that they are ready to help more possible competition come aboard right now.

So call to other larger insurance companies and inquire with them... Phone Book full of opportunities there... As to not inquiring with your local competition, look on the internet and find a big well established locksmith shop far enough away from your local area and see if that shop will discuss the issue with you or recommend a good insurance company...


~~ Evan

[yng_pick]

"I had plans to get bonded through the Locksmith Ledger's bonding program but they sent me my payment back and said they had temporarily suspended there bonding program as they are upgrading the process at this time."


"I think you can still get bonding through The National Locksmith magazine. That's where I got mine a few years ago when I still had it."

"Thanks for the reply but like I said in my previous post, they sent my payment back to me last week. Question, how come no one else will tell me anything. "


They are two different publications offering bonding.

ALOA also offers bonding to members.

[MacGyver101]

. . . perhaps no one is answering my request for bonding info out of concerns that I may not be a real locksmith.

People are generally very helpful here; I think you're just asking a question that, unfortunately, not many of us will have the answer to. (Many of us on this site aren't professional locksmiths and/or don't live in the United States.)

However, it sounds like you may have some good leads from Eyes and yng_pick. There are a few other regulars here who work in the States: I'm sure they'll also have some good suggestions.

[corey2444]

The question you need to ask isn't "where can I get bonding?" but "what kind of bond do I need for my situation?" and explain your situation. Solo mobile locksmith? Do you have employees? There a general liability bonds. Surety Bonds. Employee dishonesty bonds.

I think a good thing is to take answers here, maybe call ALOA and Locksmith Ledger's and ask them what kind of bond (I think one of the 3 above) they offer. I know it's cheap and worth it imo to advertise it.

[corey2444]

I also wanted to say, once you find out the bonding for your needs, do a Google search (for that particular bond) in your city.

[globallockytoo]

Reallistically speaking....what is bonding anyhow?

If you maintain insurance, why can you not call yourself bonded?

The true definition of bonding, is the close human relationship between friends.

If other locksmiths are unlikely to "bond" with you, perhaps there is another reason.

Often, locksmith bonding involves the ability and willingness to give and receive jobs from clients.

Bonding involves giving and receiving, which I see as one of the cornerstones of this forum.

Why pay a magazine to say, "you are bonded"....it's mostly a figurative expression, that indicates you have and maintain a relationship with others in your surrounding locality.


You want a bond? I'm happy to offer you one for $100.00. What do I care?

[unlisted]

I've cleaned up this thread, please wait for a response when asking questions here, as all members have a life outside of this forum. It can easily take (up to) a few days for the response you may be hoping for, spamming your own thread by re-quoting what you typed less than 30 minutes ago is a good way to upset members. It also causes my PM ibox to get quite full quickly. No fun.

Just trying to give some helpful advice. Have patience, I hear good things come to those who wait.

Dunno about the US of A, but I know 5 years back for me to be "bonded" I needed business insurance in XX amount with liability, etc..

[amlwchlocksmiths]

can someone tell me what all this bonded is?
is it like insurance.iv got to have 5million cover over here.
why dont you phone up the people that sent you your money back and conplain,take them to court and sue them for waisting your time i would.
as for the other locksmiths in town.they probly already know you are starting up.if i was you id ask them.
usa seems to be a a*sh*le of a job just to get past the easy stuff,what training have you gone though,because that mite be why.

[corey2444]

Reallistically speaking....what is bonding anyhow?

If you maintain insurance, why can you not call yourself bonded?

The true definition of bonding, is the close human relationship between friends.

If other locksmiths are unlikely to "bond" with you, perhaps there is another reason.

Often, locksmith bonding involves the ability and willingness to give and receive jobs from clients.

Bonding involves giving and receiving, which I see as one of the cornerstones of this forum.

Why pay a magazine to say, "you are bonded"....it's mostly a figurative expression, that indicates you have and maintain a relationship with others in your surrounding locality.


You want a bond? I'm happy to offer you one for $100.00. What do I care?

Some states it's required. In Arizona it is not in most cases, but I have heard and have also been asked if I was licensed-bonded-insured. Many people here in Arizona do not know as a locksmith you don't need to have the 3 if you do jobs under $1,000. Until then don't worry about it. Is it a good have on your advertisements? I think it could be a determining factor with some people, if you get the job or not.

For bonding I think you're looking at $50 a year, for insurance, more like $500.

[Reggiereg]

Wow! Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies. I had a strong feeling that you guys were out there holding back the good stuff. I’m going to attempt to address most of the questions that I found in your reply post. First of all I would like to say thanks yng_pick for pointing out the fact that Eyes_Only was referring me to the The National Locksmith magazine and not the Locksmith Ledger. For some reason I honestly didn’t catch that. However I already tried The National Locksmith magazine but could get absolutely nowhere on there website and could not find one mention of the word bonding there either. On the subject of my training. I completed a correspondence Locksmith course from a school that was called National Radio Institute over sixteen years ago. I have also taken two more courses on the subject since then and one of them was Foley Belsaw. My apprehension about approaching the other local locksmith in my area at this time stems from feedback that I’m getting from the locals. Why they all seem be very happy about the additional service that I will be bringing to there community some have covertly warned me that establishing a working relationship with the existing local locksmith in my town is going to be quite a challenge in there opinion. F.Y.I, I just moved here to South Carolina from Maryland about six years ago now. Well I hope that I answered most of the questions that I obviously stirred up in the minds of the awesome members of Lock Picking 101. I would like to once again say thanks a million to all that replied. Though you all responded with totally different replies, I actually spotted a lot of useful stuff in every single post. Whether you guys consider yourselves professionals or not, in my opinion. You guys rock!

Satisfied indeed!
Reg. Jr.

[bobhdus]

I know this is a year old post but thanks for asking this question anyways. Can you say where you are at with this now a yr later. I am starting up just like you, but with some hesitation, I reached out to a couple of local locksmith shops (for stock that I do not have) and was relieved when they more or less welcomed me. I still have to get through the legal stuff (bond, licence etc...) though but both shops I talked to offered assistance in the way of material/ parts if I was needing something that I could not wait to order from my distributor. One of the two even offered an opportunity to buy his business and train me in his accounts. I cannot afford to do that but I think we are going to get along just fine. He even said we needed more locksmiths in my area, so I feel good to know that they are not too worried about competition. Thanks