Re: Alarm Farce...

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On May 16, 8:55=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On May 16, 1:13 pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On May 16, 10:54 am, Frank Olson
>
> > <use_the_email_li...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > On 15/05/2010 6:18 AM, tourman wrote:
>
> > > > On May 15, 12:57 am, Frank Olson
> > > > <use_the_email_li...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > >>http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/alarmforce-c160953.html
>
> > > >> From "Helen":
>
> > > >> "We had our new AlarmForce system installed in July 2008. My wife =
was
> > > >> home during the installation and I had left instructions as to whe=
re I
> > > >> wanted the sensors located. On top of basic package we 'purchased'=
 2
> > > >> additional smoke detectors, 1 glass break sensor and 1 door contac=
t for
> > > >> a total of $361.20. (I put that in quotations because we really do=
 not
> > > >> own anything.)
>
> > > >> The installer insisted on placing the motion sensor BEHIND AN INTE=
RIOR
> > > >> DOOR which, if left open, would render the system useless. He came=
 back
> > > >> and moved it (damaging our wall) to another location. In this posi=
tion,
> > > >> the system could not be armed if our wood stove was hot! I finally=
 moved
> > > >> the sensor myself (damaging the wall again - the guy used tape and
> > > >> screws) and have not had another issue.
>
> > > >> In October, the system said that there was a 'low sensor battery'.
> > > >> That's right, in three months a set of two lithium batteries had w=
ent
> > > >> dead in the glass break sensor. Then in December, the same error c=
rops
> > > >> up again! The issue is that the system does not tell you which sen=
sors
> > > >> are faulty! We did a test and three sensors did not report in! MOR=
E
> > > >> lithium batteries down the tubes!
>
> > > >> Just this past month, I took a terrible coughing fit near the glas=
s
> > > >> break sensor and set off the alarm! That wasn't the bad part. I wa=
ited
> > > >> patiently by the AlarmForce box for the operator to come over the
> > > >> speaker. After a few minutes, I figured that they were not going t=
o
> > > >> respond and went to brush my teeth. I had time to get to the bathr=
oom
> > > >> and start brushing before I heard someone!
>
> > > >> Our latest AlarmForce pain came when our credit card company cance=
led
> > > >> our card in a security investigation. I remembered to call our hea=
ting
> > > >> oil supplier, phone company, cellphone provider, etc. but forgot t=
o call
> > > >> AlarmForce. TWO DAYS LATER they mailed out a $21 SERVICE FEE notic=
e
> > > >> because of the card being declined! Let me stress that they did no=
t call
> > > >> us at all, just mailed out the bill. I called to explain the situa=
tion
> > > >> and was met with a very harsh attitude by their representative. Af=
ter 20
> > > >> minutes, I was able to have the fee reversed.
>
> > > >> The trouble is, I cannot get out of their service contract. Thirty
> > > >> months at $25 come to $750 that I just cannot throw away. I will h=
ave to
> > > >> live with their poor response and inadequate equipment for the
> > > >> foreseeable future."
>
> > > >> That's not the only one I found...
>
> > > >> --
> > > >> My wife says women are angels. And even when us guys manage to cli=
p
> > > >> their wings, they'll keep right on flying... on their broomsticks.
>
> > > > RHC: Sorry Frank, I just realized this was a referral from you from
> > > > somewhere else. I jumped too quickly. It's just when I see the name
> > > > Alarm Force, I feel like a bull seeing red ! These guys give our
> > > > industry a severe bad name and it makes me exceedingly angry.....
>
> > > > I'll wipe the slobber off my cheek now.....:))))
>
> > > No worries, mate! (as the Aussies say). Alarm Farce makes me see red =
as
> > > well. Substandard equipment, empty promises, and their much ballyhooe=
d
> > > "voice response"... All designed for one purpose... To "fleece" the
> > > unsuspecting and trusting public. Have you seen the "interview with a
> > > real burglar", who actually "avoided Alarm Farce protected homes"??? =
At
> > > least one guys got himself a semi-legitimate "job"... :-)
>
> > > Their system is "free", which means it has no value. When will people
> > > realize that "free" means "nothing" in the way of security?
>
> > > --
> > > My wife says women are angels. And even when us guys manage to clip
> > > their wings, they'll keep right on flying... on their broomsticks.
>
> > RHC: Unfortunately, you and I discussing something like this we both
> > totally agree on is like the "minister preaching to the converted".
> > The really sad part is how unsophisticated consumers are taken in by
> > all the phoney marketing hype.
>
> > At least when you have taken no security precautions, you know it and
> > can accommodate to a degree for it. However, when you are sold crap
> > and lead to believe you have a real measure of security, you end up
> > fooling yourself with a false sense of security. That's really sad.....=
-
>
> This is the very reason when I hear people complain about these scam
> companies and free alarm systems I no longer get upset. I used to get
> really pissed thinking that the companies were taking business away
> from me. Quite some time ago I finally realized that there are scam
> companies in every industry and there are people who fall prey to
> them. And those people who do fall prey ...... are not and never would
> have been my customers.
>
> Now when I hear stories like this I'm happy. Because ...... NOW they
> ARE my customer!!!!!.

RHC: Sorry, you've lost me there....how are they our customers ?
Perhaps having been burned, and after doing even a bit of research,
they may well end up as our customers....maybe