Re: Slomins vs ADT vs Brinks vs any other home security system vendor

["Mr.Double-sided tape" <alarminstall@xxxxxxx>]

How many of those 5 central stations are dedicated to either commercial
or military accounts? How many of ADT's accounts are through
acquisitions of companies like Slinky, Alarmguard, Rollins, Holmes,
Edison, Wells Fargo, etc?
How many of those customers purchased any of those non-UL listed
systems ADT offers, or those self-contained "Essentials" that has the
motion built into the "no code needed" keypad? How safe is that, and if
it's not safe then why is it being sold by ADT? What exactly is a
connection fee? Have any ADT installers been arrested for breaking into
customer homes? Any serial killers ever employed by ADT? Why is the CEO
of ADT's parent company (Tyco International) in jail?
How many of those customers were installed by authorized dealers who
have been fined for misleading business practices (Home & Life Security
to name one)? How many of those customers have to wait for weeks on end
to be serviced? How many of the customers that now use VoIP are being
told they have to either sign up for cell backup (which the contract
disclaimer states is not guaranteed to work) at a cost of $300.00 for
the device plus another $12.00 per month for monitoring? What happens
to the customers that can't afford that? What exactly is the false
alarm rate for ADT. How can it be that ADT has "5 million customers"
yet their attrition rate is 30%? ADT is the only company with redundant
central stations?
Just asking for the whole story to be posted. This man is looking to
protect his home. He came here to get straight answers and not the
company line.

J. Sloud wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 14:26:31 GMT, "Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >How would you rate ADT when compared to the other companies eg, S, B and M?
> >What would you change about ADT on the customer level?
> >
> >Mike
> >
>
> Mike,
>
> I manage a group within ADT's national accounts division that handles
> our largest commercial and government customers.  I've worked within
> local sales and services offices as well.
>
> First, some facts:  ADT is by far the largest electronic security
> company in the industry.  Go to sdmmag.com and click on SDM100 for a
> look at the industry.  ADT is the only company in the industry with a
> fully redundant network of customer monitoring stations.  These five
> monitoring stations are located throughout the United States and are
> configured so that is one becomes overloaded or is forced to close,
> alarm signals are automatically redistributed to the others.  ADT is
> the only national company that offers services in all industry market
> segments from basic residential to commercial, industrial, and
> government customers.  ADT has been a GSA Federal Supply Schedule
> holder for over 20 years and supplies more electronic security to our
> government than any other company.  ADT is involved in numerous
> homeland security pilot projects to help develop technology used in
> the war on terrorism.  Google "operation Safe Commerce" for an
> example.  ADT has several sole source contracts with the federal
> government including a contract with the US Marshals Service to
> install and maintain security, video, and access control systems in
> every Federal Courthouse in the country.  If that isn't enough, ADT
> also has a national account with Brinks.  We install the security
> systems on their cash vaults.
>
> Now my opinion:  There are a lot of fine local alarm companies out
> there.  There are also a lot of bad ones.  Be sure of what you are
> getting.  Who monitors their alarms?  How do they handle service?  Who
> owns the equipment?  How long have they been in business?  Is their
> central station UL Listed? Etc.