Re: Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

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

Slomins will place a lien on your home, and their warranty drives the
rate from $25 per month to $37 per month. They also install refurbished
equipment.
If the choice is between ADT and Brinks I'm going with Brinks. Tyco/ADT
is a complete joke. Don't disqualify Brinks so fast either.
Monitronics is also an option (albeit not what they once were) you
should look at.
Never shop price in this industry because it will drive you nuts, and
the cheapest upfront will always bite you in the ass in the long run.
Check the Installation Quality Control Board website and find a few
dealers in your area who are members. The IQ Board makes false alarm
prevention their number one issue, and their installation guidelines
back that up.
Some of the characters offering "advice" have their own personal
agendas so beware of these clowns spewing their nonsense.
If they truly knew as much as they proclaim they would be more
successful, and wouldn't be operating home-based businesses.
Long term contracts work both ways. No company wants to sign a long
term agreement with a customer who is going to be a pain in the ass or
default on payments especially when the alarm company has more invested
upfront than the customer. The alarmco has more to lose in the front
end, and will do what it takes to retain your business for the long
haul. Month to month companies can drop off the face of the earth in a
second leaving you to go through this shit all over again, and they
tend to switch central stations whenever a cheaper alternative comes
along. An example of a solid central station is Rapid Response. An
example of  shoemaker centrals is AlarmCentral and NextAlarm.
I'd guarantee most of those spewing crap about contracts, and
installing companies have used no fewer than five different central
stations during their tenures in this field.
This is risky. The most important part of the system is the monitoring!
All alarm systems are equal until an emergency occurs and you need
immediate assistance. When the emergency arises is the separation time
between the best and the rest.
A few of us here have had hands-on experience with all of these
companies, and our opinions will greatly differ so the job is YOURS to
do the research. Take the bits and pieces from everyone, sift through
the bullshit, add whatever FACTS you find, and good luck with your
choice.


Mike wrote:
> Brinks is off the list.  I called two independents but they didn't call me
> back.
>
> Mike
>
> "Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:0LgBf.15$Yd.372@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Brinks uses proprietary equipment, you might want to double think that
> > choice.
> >
> > Personally I'd go with a smaller company...one where your money is
> > literally
> > putting bread on the owner's table...much more likely to get better
> > service.
> > Unless, of course, the owner is a grouchy old fart like me:-)
> >
> >
> > "Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:fWfBf.5504$zh2.521@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > | Much thanks for your useful information.  I wouldn't have considered
> > many
> > of
> > | the items you mentiuoned in your post.
> > | I'm starting to feel like an informed consumer.   I attempted to contact
> > a
> > | local installer who installed a wired system,
> > | Solmon's Shield(sp?) for a neighbor, but he sold out to one of the large
> > | security companies.    I then Called Brink's Security
> > | who told me I should buy their motion sensor system with door alarms for
> > | $300.00 + and a $28.xx monthly fee.
> > | My house is a end of group rowhouse with a walk out basement.  I don't
> > | believe the motion sensor is going to cut it.
> > | I believe I need alarms in the basement and on the second floor.
> > |
> > | Mike
> > |
> > | "Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > | news:qR6Bf.29$H_2.2099@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > | > Initial term of the contract should be something reasonable..2-3 years
> > is
> > | > common...anything  more as an initial term is kinda ridiculous. Most
> > | > contracts auto-renew yearly on the anniversary date of the signing,
> > this
> > | > usually tied to your procedure on canceling monitoring should you
> > decide
> > | > to
> > | > cancel after the initial term...read what the notification time
> > | > is...usually
> > | > 30 days prior. Some states have restricitons on auto-renewal clauses.
> > | >
> > | > What is their policy if you move before the initial term is expired?
> > | >
> > | > Read the fine print. Do you own all of the equipment once you have
> > paid
> > | > them
> > | > for the installation - not completion of the initial term of the
> > contract?
> > | > Make sure what you are buying is not actually a hidden leased system.
> > | >
> > | > Is the equipment proprietary? < Stay away from this, because if you're
> > not
> > | > happy and you cancel and the equipment is proprietary like one big
> > | > alarmco's
> > | > is...you endup throwing it away.
> > | >
> > | > However, all that being said..you are really buying a relationship. Do
> > you
> > | > like the guy? Did you get good recommendations from other people? Do
> > they
> > | > seem like a company you can deal with?
> > | >
> > | > BTW, contacts don't have to be inforced. I let people slide all the
> > | > time...sometimes you have to, sometimes it just the right thing to do
> > (not
> > | > enforce a clause) to keep a client happy. I DO enforce contracts when
> > | > someone hasn't paid me for a zillion months - thats fair I should
> > think
> > | > :-)
> > | >
> > | >
> > | > "Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > | > news:kN3Bf.30561$RK3.11160@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > | > | Is there anything I should look out for in a contract?
> > | > |
> > | > | Mike
> > | > |
> > | > | "Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > | > | news:LRYAf.84$Xi2.16083@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > | > | > You as the buyer will most likely not be specifying anything in a
> > | > | > contract.
> > | > | >
> > | > | >
> > | > | >
> > | > | >
> > | > | > "Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > | > | > news:9NXAf.13300$jd5.8174@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > | > | > | I'm looking for advice for a packaged home alarm system.  Would
> > like
> > | > | > advice
> > | > | > | for vendors, what I need to buy and what to avoid and advice on
> > how
> > | > to
> > | > | > deak
> > | > | > | with vendors, eg what I nned to ask them and specify in a
> > contract.
> > | > | > |
> > | > | > | Thanks
> > | > | > |
> > | > | > | Mike
> > | > | > |
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