Warning; New way of sounding good on other alarm companies.

[Jmax]

I get asked often how we can afford to do our monitoring so low compared to the other companies. Many of the other companies low ball the install but then add the amount or cost of the install to your monitoring monthly price. If you consider that they are usually a 36 month contract that means you are going to pay that high monitoring price over 36 months. When you add that to your low install and compare it to what we do you will pay them more over time then you will ever pay us.

One thing I have run into lately that is happening more often this year then ever before is within the contract you sign for three years there is a statement that in short says, "If we have a price increase we have the right to go up on your monitoring." What is happening this year a bunch is some of the competition is low balling the install and low balling the monitoring. It sounds really good. You think, "This is a great deal, low install and low monitoring for three years." NOT!!!! Even before the ink is dried the companies are coming back with a "Price Increase". emoHoppingmad I just talked to one couple who were paying $65.00 a month on monitoring. She told me they had gone up on them three times. They were very upset and frustrated. She said they never even warn them or say anything. She just gets the bill and it has gone up. You have no way to fight this new loop hole they are using because it is in the contract you signed. Then if you scream loud enough they come back with, "Well, you can just pay off the contract at the old rate in one payment." emoBang

Thought I would warn some of you who may be having thoughts about getting an alarm system. If you are, have any questions or/and would like a quote please give me a call or pm me on here.

Jmax
423-298-4348

 

[Hank's Dad]

The big companies do this kind of crap all the time. I used to work for a small company in Marion County that is still in business. They have always fought the battle of "Your equipment price is too high." While people turn a blind eye to the monitoring costs/contract. IT IS ALWAYS better to go with a local company with a solid reputation. I'm not going to post the other company info out of respect for Jmax and what he does here but I promise you going with the big national companies will get you the short end of the stick sooner or later. If you need a system call Jmax before you let one of the other companies do you dirty!

 

[djsmarinelectronics]

I bet I have had 10 phone calls this year with a recording that says" Would you like a free alarm system in your home just for putting a sign in your yard?" what is that all about? I always just hang up. But I am interested in a system; which is better a land line or wireless system? I haven't had a land line in years, but the wireless systems seem to be much more expensive than if I purchase a land line and get a land line alarm system.

 

[Jmax]

Those so called free systems are the ones I am talking about up top there. They may charge $99 for the install and then tell you the system is free. What they do not tell you on the phone call is that you have to sign a three year monitoring contract to get that so called free system. Then if you do they got you. emoBang Ain't nothing free, just go ahead and tell them they can put the sign in your yard and to give you the system. Then see what they say.

Land line is cheaper to have monitored but you have to pay for the land line. Normally a land line will be around $30 a month. Then add the land line monitoring at $20, that makes your combined cost between the phone line and the monitoring $50 a month.

On a cell unit we charge normally $30 a month and you do not have to pay for a phone line. You save $20 a month. Even thou you have to pay for the cell unit in the long run it is cheaper unless you are getting a phone line anyway. It is always cheaper to pay for it up front instead of paying for it as part of the monitoring cost. You get locked into a high cost on you monitoring.(These prices do not reflect the CFF discount.)

Jmax

 

[Jmax]

I have had some of those same calls. I usually mess with them if I have the time. emoBigsmile I will usually say, "Yea, send me a sign and a free system. I'll never refuse anything for free." That's when they start with the contract part. I even had one of them go straight from that to, "What is your credit card number?" emoEek I was like...."Why do you need my credit card number if it is free? I just want a free sign and a free system for putting it in my yard, I am not signing up for any monitoring." Then they will start backing off telling me that you do have to sign up for a three year monitoring contract to get the free system and I start jumping all over them telling them that it is not free if you have to pay for a three year contract. emoGeezer Jmax

 

[Dropshot]

Thx for the info Jim.