Re: Alarm Farce...

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On May 16, 1:13=EF=BF=BDpm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On May 16, 10:54=EF=BF=BDam, 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> =EF=BF=BDwrote:
> > >>http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/alarmforce-c160953.html
>
> > >> =EF=BF=BD From "Helen":
>
> > >> "We had our new AlarmForce system installed in July 2008. My wife wa=
s
> > >> home during the installation and I had left instructions as to where=
 I
> > >> wanted the sensors located. On top of basic package we 'purchased' 2
> > >> additional smoke detectors, 1 glass break sensor and 1 door contact =
for
> > >> a total of $361.20. (I put that in quotations because we really do n=
ot
> > >> own anything.)
>
> > >> The installer insisted on placing the motion sensor BEHIND AN INTERI=
OR
> > >> DOOR which, if left open, would render the system useless. He came b=
ack
> > >> and moved it (damaging our wall) to another location. In this positi=
on,
> > >> the system could not be armed if our wood stove was hot! I finally m=
oved
> > >> 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 wen=
t
> > >> dead in the glass break sensor. Then in December, the same error cro=
ps
> > >> up again! The issue is that the system does not tell you which senso=
rs
> > >> are faulty! We did a test and three sensors did not report in! MORE
> > >> lithium batteries down the tubes!
>
> > >> Just this past month, I took a terrible coughing fit near the glass
> > >> break sensor and set off the alarm! That wasn't the bad part. I wait=
ed
> > >> patiently by the AlarmForce box for the operator to come over the
> > >> speaker. After a few minutes, I figured that they were not going to
> > >> respond and went to brush my teeth. I had time to get to the bathroo=
m
> > >> and start brushing before I heard someone!
>
> > >> Our latest AlarmForce pain came when our credit card company cancele=
d
> > >> our card in a security investigation. I remembered to call our heati=
ng
> > >> oil supplier, phone company, cellphone provider, etc. but forgot to =
call
> > >> AlarmForce. TWO DAYS LATER they mailed out a $21 SERVICE FEE notice
> > >> because of the card being declined! Let me stress that they did not =
call
> > >> us at all, just mailed out the bill. I called to explain the situati=
on
> > >> and was met with a very harsh attitude by their representative. Afte=
r 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 hav=
e 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. =EF=BF=BDAnd even when us guys manage=
 to clip
> > >> their wings, they'll keep right on flying... =EF=BF=BDon their broom=
sticks.
>
> > > 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 =EF=BF=BDfeel like a bull seeing red ! These guys give=
 our
> > > industry a severe bad name and it makes me exceedingly =EF=BF=BDangry=
.....
>
> > > I'll wipe the slobber off my cheek now.....:))))
>
> > No worries, mate! (as the Aussies say). =EF=BF=BDAlarm Farce makes me s=
ee red as
> > well. =EF=BF=BDSubstandard equipment, empty promises, and their much ba=
llyhooed
> > "voice response"... =EF=BF=BDAll designed for one purpose... =EF=BF=BDT=
o "fleece" the
> > unsuspecting and trusting public. =EF=BF=BDHave you seen the "interview=
 with a
> > real burglar", who actually "avoided Alarm Farce protected homes"??? =
=EF=BF=BDAt
> > least one guys got himself a semi-legitimate "job"... =EF=BF=BD:-)
>
> > Their system is "free", which means it has no value. =EF=BF=BDWhen will=
 people
> > realize that "free" means "nothing" in the way of security?
>
> > --
> > My wife says women are angels. =EF=BF=BDAnd even when us guys manage to=
 clip
> > their wings, they'll keep right on flying... =EF=BF=BDon their broomsti=
cks.
>
> 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 =EF=BF=BDc=
rap
> 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!!!!!.