Warning To Those Considering A Home Security Alarm System

Sonicduck · 2005-11-22T01:32:27+00:00

ADT Security SystemsADT Security=B7 Sales practices=B7 Service=B7 Military clauseADT is by far the largest home security alarm service in the U.S. andalso does a big business in providing service to business andgovernment. ADT works with independent re-sellers and it also haspartnerships with Sears and other retailers.It's important to note that you're buying two things when you get ahome alarm system -- the equipment and the "service," which basicallyconsists of monitoring your system and responding in whatever manneryou agree to when alarms are received. Note that you must provide aworking telephone line.Like cell phones, security services will offer all kinds of deals,including "free" equipment and, sometimes, "free" installation. Ofcourse, it isn't really free. The cost is simply built into thecontract you sign, which usually runs two years or more. Like anycontract, the ADT contract means what it says -- and only what it says.Nothing your salesman tells you means anything. Verbal promises aremeaningless.Therefore, read the contract fully before you sign it. Understand whatyou're getting into -- a multi-year contract that obligates you to paywhether the system works or not, whether your phone line works or not,whether you have a job or not.Sure, there might be a few cases where you could get out of thecontract but it's a lot easier to be safe than sorry. Read itthoroughly. If you don't understand it, don't sign it until you find adisinterested third party, preferably a lawyer or paralegal, who canread it and explain it to you. Otherwise, you'll end up like thecomplainants whose tales appear in this section.Don't believe us? Check out the complaint below ...Patricia of Tracy, CA (10/20/05)We signed a contract with ADT in 1998 for a term of three years. Theaccount was in my husband's name and his signature is on this contract.When I called ADT to cancel our services in June of this year, I wastold that my husband had to cancel because it was his account. Myhusband...