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

[Jim Rojas <jrojas@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You are confusing Monitronics with Brinks. Monitronics would never stoop
that low. Brinks has been a major eyesore in the alarm industry for many
years now. Their deceptive ads on TV speak for themselves.

Jim Rojas



Nomen Nescio wrote:
>> 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.
>