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

["Mark Leuck" <mleuck@xxxxxxxxx>]

Which deceptive ads?

"Jim Rojas" <jrojas@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:INzMj.8774$Q53.5182@xxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.
>>