Re: Alarm Farce...

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On May 15, 12:57=A0am, Frank Olson
<use_the_email_li...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/alarmforce-c160953.html
>
> =A0From "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 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 not
> own anything.)
>
> The installer insisted on placing the motion sensor BEHIND AN INTERIOR
> DOOR which, if left open, would render the system useless. He came back
> and moved it (damaging our wall) to another location. In this position,
> 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 went
> dead in the glass break sensor. Then in December, the same error crops
> up again! The issue is that the system does not tell you which sensors
> 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 waited
> 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 bathroom
> and start brushing before I heard someone!
>
> Our latest AlarmForce pain came when our credit card company canceled
> our card in a security investigation. I remembered to call our heating
> 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 situation
> and was met with a very harsh attitude by their representative. After 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 have 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. =A0And even when us guys manage to clip
> their wings, they'll keep right on flying... =A0on their broomsticks.

RHC: Sir, I have to bite my tongue a bit here to ensure that my reply
stays polite. Why on earth would you ever opt for a system that costs
so little and expect it to operate like a real professional system.
You get exactly what you pay for in this and any other business !!
Alarm Force equipment is junk, and the company is as close to a scam
as it can be without actually being one. As you've found out the hard
way, they are a money machine - nothing more.

You signed a long term contract without knowing a thing about this
company other than your take from a lot of glitzy advertising and
empty promises and now you want out. Signing a long term contract
always puts you at the mercy of the alarm company when it comes to
dealing with bad service ! Although there are legitimate reasons for
signing a long term contract from the alarmco's perspective (builds
equity), there's virtually no advantage to doing so from your
perspective. Next time shop around to find a company that doesn't lock
you in, or at least find a real company you can count on before
committing long term.....

I've thrown out more Alarm Force equipment than I can count. If it
makes you feel any better, you're not alone in your misery.....