[quote=beachlover]I want to have an alarm/security system installed in my house; with monitoring services. I don’t want to ‘lease’ the equipment and have it uninstalled if/when I change monitoring companies.

Any recommendations for companies? Or tips Piggs can share?

Thanks.[/quote]

I’d go with Brinks. I’ve had ADT at two different homes, and their equipment is pure crap. I have a dog, and the motion detector was constantly going off. I even put my dog in the bedroom one day to test the detector, and the alarm still went off. Apparently the wind from an open window was enough to activate it.

I had Brinks at my previous home and loved it. I still had my same dog, but the motion detectors never went off. Just better equipment, I think.

Now I’m renting, and I foolishly went back to ADT because I’d heard that their equipment had improved. That’s b.s.

2 motion detectors malfunctioned within a month, so we just got rid of the one upstairs. The one downstairs was repaired twice, and it still sends out false alarms. And this equipment cost $850!! We’ll probably get rid of the detector downstairs too, and then we’ll only have sensors on the doors and a couple of windows, which is really not the way I want to be protected.

And you want to know the worst part? I asked to be put on an installment plan for this very reason: I wanted to test the equipment. I was told that this was no problem. But every month ADT stalks me for full payment. Now get this: Friday the motion detector malfunctioned again, and I called ADT to set up an appointment for a tech to come repair it. But they just instituted a new policy: unless you’re paid in full, you can’t get any repair services on your alarm! And they’ve terminated the installment plan option. I asked why, and the customer service rep told me that about a month ago, “people just stopped paying.” She said she’d never seen anything like it. I’m not surprised. I think people will cut their alarm service and just rely on the noise from the alarm to deter theft. Doesn’t really matter if the police show up, so they don’t need ADT to route the alarm to 911.

I still think it’s a good idea to have an alarm. But try to get on the installment plan so if it doesn’t work out, you can always cut your losses.

And I’d avoid ADT like the plague.

[quote=beachlover]I want to have an alarm/security system installed in my house; with monitoring services. I don’t want to ‘lease’ the equipment and have it uninstalled if/when I change monitoring companies.

Any recommendations for companies? Or tips Piggs can share?

Thanks.[/quote]

I’d go with Brinks. I’ve had ADT at two different homes, and their equipment is pure crap. I have a dog, and the motion detector was constantly going off. I even put my dog in the bedroom one day to test the detector, and the alarm still went off. Apparently the wind from an open window was enough to activate it.

I had Brinks at my previous home and loved it. I still had my same dog, but the motion detectors never went off. Just better equipment, I think.

Now I’m renting, and I foolishly went back to ADT because I’d heard that their equipment had improved. That’s b.s.

2 motion detectors malfunctioned within a month, so we just got rid of the one upstairs. The one downstairs was repaired twice, and it still sends out false alarms. And this equipment cost $850!! We’ll probably get rid of the detector downstairs too, and then we’ll only have sensors on the doors and a couple of windows, which is really not the way I want to be protected.

And you want to know the worst part? I asked to be put on an installment plan for this very reason: I wanted to test the equipment. I was told that this was no problem. But every month ADT stalks me for full payment. Now get this: Friday the motion detector malfunctioned again, and I called ADT to set up an appointment for a tech to come repair it. But they just instituted a new policy: unless you’re paid in full, you can’t get any repair services on your alarm! And they’ve terminated the installment plan option. I asked why, and the customer service rep told me that about a month ago, “people just stopped paying.” She said she’d never seen anything like it. I’m not surprised. I think people will cut their alarm service and just rely on the noise from the alarm to deter theft. Doesn’t really matter if the police show up, so they don’t need ADT to route the alarm to 911.

I still think it’s a good idea to have an alarm. But try to get on the installment plan so if it doesn’t work out, you can always cut your losses.

And I’d avoid ADT like the plague.

[quote=beachlover]I want to have an alarm/security system installed in my house; with monitoring services. I don’t want to ‘lease’ the equipment and have it uninstalled if/when I change monitoring companies.

Any recommendations for companies? Or tips Piggs can share?

Thanks.[/quote]

I’d go with Brinks. I’ve had ADT at two different homes, and their equipment is pure crap. I have a dog, and the motion detector was constantly going off. I even put my dog in the bedroom one day to test the detector, and the alarm still went off. Apparently the wind from an open window was enough to activate it.

I had Brinks at my previous home and loved it. I still had my same dog, but the motion detectors never went off. Just better equipment, I think.

Now I’m renting, and I foolishly went back to ADT because I’d heard that their equipment had improved. That’s b.s.

2 motion detectors malfunctioned within a month, so we just got rid of the one upstairs. The one downstairs was repaired twice, and it still sends out false alarms. And this equipment cost $850!! We’ll probably get rid of the detector downstairs too, and then we’ll only have sensors on the doors and a couple of windows, which is really not the way I want to be protected.

And you want to know the worst part? I asked to be put on an installment plan for this very reason: I wanted to test the equipment. I was told that this was no problem. But every month ADT stalks me for full payment. Now get this: Friday the motion detector malfunctioned again, and I called ADT to set up an appointment for a tech to come repair it. But they just instituted a new policy: unless you’re paid in full, you can’t get any repair services on your alarm! And they’ve terminated the installment plan option. I asked why, and the customer service rep told me that about a month ago, “people just stopped paying.” She said she’d never seen anything like it. I’m not surprised. I think people will cut their alarm service and just rely on the noise from the alarm to deter theft. Doesn’t really matter if the police show up, so they don’t need ADT to route the alarm to 911.

I still think it’s a good idea to have an alarm. But try to get on the installment plan so if it doesn’t work out, you can always cut your losses.

And I’d avoid ADT like the plague.

Partypup: Now, why was I thinking you’d have concertina wire, trip flares and Claymore mines on your perimeter? Huh. Must just be me.

I think the best security system going is a dog. I’ve used electronic monitoring and alarm systems in the past (ADT, ProtectionOne), but have been unimpressed overall. I’m a little pickier than the average consumer, though.

Partypup: Now, why was I thinking you’d have concertina wire, trip flares and Claymore mines on your perimeter? Huh. Must just be me.

I think the best security system going is a dog. I’ve used electronic monitoring and alarm systems in the past (ADT, ProtectionOne), but have been unimpressed overall. I’m a little pickier than the average consumer, though.

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Partypup: Now, why was I thinking you’d have concertina wire, trip flares and Claymore mines on your perimeter? Huh. Must just be me.[/quote]

LOL! Allan, if I could get away with that in a West LA rental, you KNOW I would have all that installed! Yeah, the best protection is probably a dog. And a 12 gauge. We’ve got 2 Rotties now. They’re ideal protection if you’re asleep and need to know who’s coming.

But the real problem arises when you’re not at home. Around LA at least, there have been cases in which burglars have tossed meat laced with cyanide or another poison through mail slots to put the dogs out of commission. I love my dogs too much, so I’d rather put the ADT signs on the lawn and try to deter the bad guys that way. They might still try to harm my dogs, but I am hoping they might just move on to a house without ADT signs and barking dogs.

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]Partypup: Now, why was I thinking you’d have concertina wire, trip flares and Claymore mines on your perimeter? Huh. Must just be me.[/quote]

LOL! Allan, if I could get away with that in a West LA rental, you KNOW I would have all that installed! Yeah, the best protection is probably a dog. And a 12 gauge. We’ve got 2 Rotties now. They’re ideal protection if you’re asleep and need to know who’s coming.

But the real problem arises when you’re not at home. Around LA at least, there have been cases in which burglars have tossed meat laced with cyanide or another poison through mail slots to put the dogs out of commission. I love my dogs too much, so I’d rather put the ADT signs on the lawn and try to deter the bad guys that way. They might still try to harm my dogs, but I am hoping they might just move on to a house without ADT signs and barking dogs.