Re: Off contract soon with Apex, I'm looking for cheaper monitoring

[Nomen Nescio <nobody@xxxxxxxxx>]

>I have fulfilled their contract (in
>another month), so I'll do some research that everyone posted leads,
>and run it by APX if they are playing hardball on the rates when I
>call.

There are three issues that I don't believe have been discussed.

The first question is whether you own the equipment.  Considering the rates
you are paying, you may not.  Your alarm company might not want the three
year old control panel back, but they might want that nice new GSM radio
back.  You'd have to read your contract to know for sure.  This will
obviously affect your changeover cost.  Fulfilling your contract does not
automatically mean you've bought the equipment.  This could be more like a
car lease than a time purchase agreement, meaning you don't own the car
when the lease is up.

The second question is whether you, or some other alarm company, can
reprogram your current system.  This is partially a matter of whether the
equipment has been electronically locked, and partly whether the equipment
itself is some proprietary system that only the original installing company
can reprogram.  No way to answer this question without more information.

The third issue is whether your contract automatically renews itself.  Many
alarm contracts do so unless you give written notice a certain number of
days prior to the expiration date.  You say you only have a month to go;
better read your contract and see whether you have been/or are about to be
stuck with them for another year.