Submitted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009
NotPleased
Richland
USA
I'll file this as a seperate report too, but I wanted to show by replying that I would also be interested in a class action suit if one was ever brought against this company.
A year ago APX home security came to our home with a "Promotional Offer". They were trying to get word of their service out in our area, so were offering a free alarm system, all we had to pay was an installation fee, and a monthly security fee of $45. When we sold the house I called and asked about stopping service and was informed that we had four years left on our contract, and could either transfer it to someone else, or pay a fee to break the contract, the fee being ($45) x (the number of months left in the contract). Is this legal? Their pretty much telling me that I have to pay them for 4 years of service that they won't be providing.
My husband is active duty military. When offered this "deal" we specifically asked if we would have trouble getting out of the contract if we moved on base, to another country, or to a rental that didn't want a system installed. The representative told us that in any of those cases we would be able to get out of the contract for little or no fee.
We, obviously, live in a military area. I can't help but feel that this company is purposely going after military members and others who move frequently, knowing that they will be able to get us to pay them for services they won't be able to provide. I have filed a report against them with the BBB. It has also occured to me that since we are unable to use their system in our new home, they are breaking contract with us by not providing the service we are paying them for. We cannot afford the pay the full amount to break the contract, so are still paying them $45 a month for nothing.
Submitted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
OnlineAlarmQuotes
Duncanville
USA
Here is a link to an article discussing a lawsuit filed by the State of Illinois against Apx/Pinnacle.
http://www.securitysystemsnews.com/index.php?p=article&id=ss200911PNnhzz
Regardless of what they say they are the SAME company. My company was a service dealer for these scammers. We contracted with them to service their accounts when their 'summer program' ended. The shoddy workmanship, brutal contract terms, and lousy customer service was enough to make you scream.
In my new career I have a standing order that at no time whatsoever are we to allow companies like this access to our consumer database.
It's depressing to watch fly-by-night mass marketers destroy an industry that is still home to many thousands of quality installers. The problem we have to overcome is getting the word out to the end-users that skilled technicians are available, but it's next to impossible to spread that word when the airwaves are bombarded with offers for so-called free systems. Consumers fall for that "free alarm" gimmick all too often.
Stay clear of these weasels. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and even if there was I doubt it would be something any of us would want to eat.
I am imploring everyone that reads this to please stop and do some research before you contract with an alarm company. Educate yourselves on how systems work and what systems are best for your application. Get at least 5 or 6 quotes from local vendors. Ask for references.
My security-related websites offer generic yet highly useful information to the consumer, as do many other sites, so please make use of the information available on the world wide web to better protect yourselves.
Good luck.