Submitted: Sunday, October 14, 2007
Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007
Techietornado
Greer
U.S.A.
I currently work for APX Alarm as a service technician. I began my employment in early April of this year after completing around 30 hours of training. On the job training consisted of being shown the ropes by my Lead Tech for over seven actual installs, after which time I was allowed to work on my own and to call if needed. I worked as a 'Summer tech' year 2007 completely on commission, and after the summer I was offered a full time service tech position with the company which pays by the hour. The 'summer tech' and the service tech departments are completely separate. One group operates like individual contractors, the other is more like your traditional 9-5.
What Im getting to here is that APX alarm has a very unique business model, and that because of this model, and because APX hasn't yet worked out all the kinks in the 'Summer' program IMHO, this leads to some of the summer sales Reps, and technicians to have some extremely shady business practices. Especially on the sales side of things. While I can't vouch for every tech, For the most part, every Tech I knew, installed to the best of their ability, and was completely up front and honest in all aspects on every install I witnessed. Most of the time the Tech's were willing to completely walk out on the sale, forfeiting their own time and money, if they believed that the salesman had not been up front with the customer, and/or the sales rep wouldn't fix any of the problems and concerns the customer had during the installation.
While I believe these shady sales practices are solely the responsibility of APX, and especially its sales department to rectify, I don't believe that they should be put out of business based on the actions of a few bad eggs that happen to be ruining their Reputation. APX will either fix the problems, or continue to garnish a bad rep, and eventually go under for it... based on market conditions, not legislation or stupid lawsuits. If you signed something, make dang sure you know what you signed, and don't try to sue your way out of your obligations. Then who's the one with poor integrity?
quote:
"This is a lie, as the Metro Police DO NOT GO OUT ON ALARM CALLS as this would tie up so many Police Officers"
As a technician, I can say that I have never heard of a local police department that absolutely refuses to respond to a house alarm. Not that this is impossible, but i've never heard of it in any of the communities I service. Besides this APX has something called two-way verification, and as any police dispatcher will tell you, this is a must have and absolutely cuts down on false alarms. its a verifiable fact that if the monitoring station of the alarm can actually 'listen in' as break-ins occur at a residence, and verify that police presence is needed, that that police dispatcher will be much more likely to dispatch a police officer over any other alarm company.
While mistakes happen, they happen with every alarm company, not just APX, and at the least APX is taking a direct approach to eliminating false alarms and unneeded police response rather than ignoring the problem as so many big name alarm companies have.
As a technician I can honestly tell you I do my best to make sure every customer understands the system, that the system works correctly without false alarms, and that any bad sales techniques that come my way are taken care of before the customer signs anything. I know that it's in my best interest, the companies best interest, to have no installation at all, than to have one bad installation create bad public relations. Eventually those contracts run out, eventually the customer can and will go somewhere else for service, eventually they get to choose whether they stay on or not.
In the end the company loses if they make bad sales. No sale is better than a bad sale, except for the shortsighted salesguys that is. But then again, if the company goes under, they can always go somewhere else.
That being said, understand I'm sympathetic. But I also don't believe you understood the technicalities of the whole situation. Its been alarm systems standard for years to get what we call 'Phone line seizure' on the system. This is optimal for security reasons so that in the event of an alarm, the phone lines can be 'seized' so that the alarm can call out. Otherwise a dial-up internet connection could cost someone their life in a home invasion, as the computer would never hang up, and the alarm system would never get to call out. The alarm can't call out in all situations if there isn't phone line seizure. But if done incorrectly, this can cause problems such as you experience where the alarm won't give phone back to the house after its' call is finished. This is usually pretty simple to fix as I come across it once in a while on service calls.
Also I want you to know that The Service Department at APX is extremely well motivated compared to the summer program, and we make it our business to provide the best service possible, as soon as possible. We have a 24 hour goal on all service calls, but during the summer as you can imagine this is really tough because of all the influx of new accounts. Again, this comes back to the APX business model, which definitely needs some tweaking I admit, but we are a maturing company, a growing company, and these are typical growing pains. Please don't judge the whole basket as they say, from a few bad apples..
Submitted: Sunday, December 16, 2007
Posted: Monday, December 17, 2007
David
Agoura Hills
U.S.A.
I would have to agree with the last gentleman who posted a comment. You really should honor your end of the deal. Also, I would like to add to the comment of the last gentleman, an Apx Alarm technician. I worked as a salesman for Apx Alarm this past summer, in Vegas, and I was honest and upfront with people. I especially made sure that senior citizens understood completely the agreement and the way in which system worked. I agree that there are some salesmen who need to be more honest and straightforward with people, but almost all of our guys were pretty dang honest, and I'm proud of them.
The police in Clark County will respond to verified home intrusions (that's the reasons that the Apx two-way voice alarm systems are especially effective in an actual emergency, since the central alarm dispatch people can listen into the home right after the alarm goes off to verify criminal presence in the home). The security guards will typically respond to the unconfirmed break-ins in the county.
Apx Alarm is the largest independently owned alarm company in the nation, and it is growing rapidly. It is the best company that most people I sold out there had ever been involved with. I sold over 150 accounts in the Vegas market, and most customers were extremely pleased by the quality of installation and customer service of Apx Alarm. Please call the company again and work something out. They are determined to make you, as a customer happy. I guarantee it.
And yes, I am a proud Mormon, too (member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). I am a returned missionary for my church, and I would be happy to discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ with you--in an honest, straightforward way, the same way I sell. I urge you to check out the website www.mormon.org. Not all of the people involved with Apx are members of my church, either.
Good luck with everything. I hope that everything that needs to be resolved by the company is resolved and that you can be happy with everything as soon as possible. Take care.
Submitted: Monday, February 25, 2008
Posted: Monday, February 25, 2008
Justin
Cambridge
U.S.A.
I worked with APX alarm this past summer (2007) as a technician in Florida and it was an eye opening experience. I agree that there are bad apples in the company...but I would also go so far as to say that there are NOT ENOUGH good apples to fix it. It seems that the people that stick with APX are either corrupt and do not mind ripping people off, or they are successful salesmen and technicians who manage to defy APX's complex earning structure and are somehow able to earn money doing honest things (there are some, but in my experience they are few and far between).
Now, let me further explain my point by saying that (like most people employed by APX) I am a mormon. Thus, I am equally offended by the derogatory reference to my culture and religion. Mormons are, by and large, good clean-cut people. But there are bad apples in every barrel as they say (when I worked as a missionary in Chile from 2002-2004, there were a few missionaries in my area that did not follow the rules, did not have strong testimonies of what they were doing, and should have been sent home...so the LDS church has bad apples too). Thus I understand the frustration one feels at being decieved by a company who exploits that image for their own profit.
Now getting back to APX...they have a set of rules they are supposedly supposed to follow so that they're honest in their sales pitches. Well, during one summer I saw salesmen repeatedly break those rules and I saw managers encourage them to do it. I was offended and disillusioned. It's true that the technicians are by and large good people though. They want to do a good job and are more attracted to an honest work ethic than a flashy pay scale. But some of these techs are undertrained (they normally get sent home or they end up doing a lot of service calls and learn how to do a better job) and some are still more interested in money (and will rush through their job and not explain or install things properly). APX encourages people to sell and install a lot...often at the expense of quality. They don't come right out and say it, but the earmarks are all there.
Quantity over quality. Quantity over quality. Sure, someone might disagree with me (and maybe they were in a more ethical office) but from what I experienced and saw first hand, I would never suggest for someone to get an alarm system from this company. In fact, I would advise against it. They are lots of honest people that are trying to do a good job...but I think they eventually realize the company is shifty and move elsewhere like I did. Those that don't...well, I'd say they are fooling themselves or are liars.
I've installed systems where I felt good after leaving the place (lots of them)--where I felt the customer was happy with the product and service and I felt like I had done a good job installing it for them. But there were times (also lots of them) when I left with a sour feeling in my stomach...where I felt like the rep had lied to the customer and I was forced to choose between helping the customer and screwing over the sales rep or screwing over the customer and saving the sales rep his sale. It's tough, because a tech that is honest is not often loved by the sales guys and they eventually get the short end of the stick.
I've tried my best to do what I thought was right, given the circumstance, but I suffered financially because of it and APX has screwed me over several times since then (like charging me $700 for unreturned work tools...which I turned in) and giving me an incorrect w2 that says they did not take out my federal income taxes (which they did, and now I owe the IRS for their incompetence). This structure of this company is simply built to screw people over. And the only reason it hasn't gone under is because every summer it convinces good people that they can earn a lot of money in one short summer...and then they are forced to join the scheme or get screwed over by it.
So, from a guy who installed APX's systems...don't buy them and work for them. You might manage to beat the system, but doesn't just get its money from screwing over its customers. It also makes it by screwing over its employees.
Submitted: Saturday, February 09, 2008
Posted: Saturday, February 09, 2008
Kevin
Sugar City
U.S.A.
I am an ex-employee of the company. I was a technician for 2 years with this company and have now switched to a different company that is very similar. The contract was supposed to be explained to you in detail about the 3 day cancellation. If it was not it is completely on the sales rep individual that came to your door. This has nothing to do with the credibility of APX ALARM because I know first hand that they teach their sales reps not to lie. Also it is the exact same type of agreement as a cell phone contract. Could you just up and cancel your cell phone because u lost service once, or the rep that sold you the phone didn't explain all of the phones capabilities to you in detail? As a technician I know first hand what its like to install these systems and being paid on commission, time is money. Taking 30 min to explain a simple system to somebody that also comes with a users guide on how to operate it costs that technician money.
Phones Locking Up: This means that your system was installed properly. I don't know if your familiar with phone lines enough to know that there can only be one call out at a time. Therefore if your on the phone or using dial up internet, and your alarm goes off, the keypad will not be able to dial out. It is completely necessary for proper alarm operation. If you want to let them know that it was a false alarm, do it over the panel. That is why it is equipped with 2 way voice.
Like I said I have no affiliation with this company anymore and am not doing this for their benefit. I just hate to see a good deal gone bad because of ignorance and lack of knowledge on the systems operations.
p.s. I am also offended by your "mormon" remarks. That has nothing to do with the company, or the rep that sold you the system.
Submitted: Friday, May 09, 2008
Posted: Friday, May 09, 2008
David
Agoura Hills
U.S.A.
To the ex-technicion above: It looks like you were perhaps around bad management and some bad sales reps. That's not how things were done in my office. Have you ever seen The Secret? It seems like all your comments are negative, dark, and gloomy. It seems like all you see in life, as in this company is the dark, negative, and gloomy. Let me guess--you are just as negative about most things in life.
It would come as no surprise, seeing your attitude in the previous entry.
I am sure you have some valid points, but our guys were honest and ethical (if they weren't they were either reprimanded--or we let dishonest guys go), I got paid just fine, my customers understood properly the function of the system and the price, the agreement, etc. It was a great experience for me--one that taught me hard work, dedication, focus, and the power of the mind. I HAD to be positive to be successful, and I am grateful for the opportunity to become so much mentally stronger. It was great.
I am proud to be a salesman. I sell in an honest and sincere way--because I do care about these people I'm selling to, and I do know that what I am selling them is benefiting them. I have made many lifelong friends from people I've met doing this job, and I am also grateful for that. Apx Alarm is the best company I have ever worked for--I've worked for five different sales companies. They are the most professional, the most honest, the most ethical, and the most effective company I have ever sold for in my life.
I am grateful for my opportunity to be associated with something so positive and successful.
And yes, the payscale was great--but I had to work my butt off in a professional, ethical way to achieve what I acheived. Anyone who has the confidence and drive to be successful can do the same.
Submitted: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Byron
Nowhere
U.S.A.
I attended BYU, and I can say that everything I know about APX is bad. They prey on Mormon college students, promising that they're making the world a safer place while making good money during the summer. Once the students are locked in they realize that they must engage in dishonest sales practices in order to survive in the business--a number just leave and cut their losses.
I have two brothers who worked in the local office answering phones, and APX had horrible compliance issues with payroll and accounting. Sometimes they would go a month without a paycheck and get the runaround when they asked for it.
I should mention that businesses like this have no affiliation with the LDS church. Mormons who engage in dishonest business practices are subject to church discipline, which may include excommunication. Yes, there are a few bad eggs out here, but the church definitely doesn't like what they're doing.
Firstline, a competitor, went out of business a few years ago and left all their salesmen in the lurch. I wonder when that will happen to APX...
Submitted: Friday, June 19, 2009
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2009
Bill
Salt Lake City
U.S.A.
I've lived in Salt Lake City, Utah (the home of the Mormons) for all but one of my 68 years. I've been self employed for the past 45 years and I've known from experiences early on NOT to do business with any Mormons. I don't make a habit of asking potential customers what their religion is (like MANY, MANY Mormons do), so even in recent years I've been reminded the hard way that they are typically lying scumbag con artists. I, therefore, can relate to your experiences with this APX Company (though I've never heard of that company prior to reading your complaint). Since their church tells them that they will no go to heaven unless they pay their FULL 10% tithing, I've come to the conclusion that they are typiocally scam artists to make up for that 10% PLUS to try to get MORE to pay their church (actually a cult). I can't stress too strongly for you and everybody else to stay away from them!
Submitted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Posted: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Richard
Beaumont
U.S.A.
Im glad I read your report Because they salepersons have been here twice today offering me a completely free alarm system. I told them to check back with me on it. I didn't realize however they were going to keep checking back on the same day.? I dont like pushy salepeople. If I'm not interested right now, then theyve got to realize that IM NOT INTERESTED RIGHT NOW, and I may have other priorities to think about.
Submitted: Thursday, July 23, 2009
Posted: Friday, August 14, 2009
Generaleyes
Provo
U.S.A.
First off, I too am offended by the derogatory comments toward the Mormon church. This company exploits Mormons because they do know how to talk to people door to door. That being said, I would like to address many of the points made above.
I worked for APX as a salesman for part of a summer and the main thing I learned was that ETHICS ARE RELATIVE when it comes to sales. For example, in sales training before the summer began, we were taught to tell the customers that we were only installing a few systems for free in a neighborhood as part of a marketing campaign. In fact, that was the reason we used to knock on the "no solicitors" doors (because, of course, we were "marketing"). This was a lie in two forms: We were door to door salesmen and if all 30 homes living in a block wanted the "free" systems, we would have sold systems to them all. I know many salesmen that would not consider either one of those points lies. When an alarm system salesman claims to be honest, it is just part of his manipulation technique.
These salesmen are taught to manipulate potential customers. From trying to get inside the door (because customers are much more likely to buy if the salesman is inside), to playing buddy to the customer by waiving the sign up fee or throwing in a free key fob (which they are allowed to give a certain number accessories- let's say 5, then only offer 4 and say that they will make it a great deal with the fifth free accessory so that the customer really loves them even though it was already part of the deal). These salesmen become masters of manipulation. You can read about it above where the salesman refers to "The Secret" to try to dispute a person's negative experience with the company. "The Secret" is a great idea but has two flaws in the argument: First, it is directed primarily towards making money, not the secret of happiness, and therefore is a friend of salesmen. Second, it says nothing about forcing oneself to be happy when being screwed over by another. What that author is suggesting by mentioning "The Secret" is that people who get screwed over should be happy about it, otherwise it is their own fault for getting screwed over because they were being negative and drawing negative influences.
To be fair, the author of that response was probably manipulated into selling as well. That's what makes APX so wonderful! It doesn't just manipulate customers, but its own employees! That is why a person cannot get into an ethical discussion with a current APX employee. What everyone else would call a lie, the employee would call selling techniques. If you want to know how "ethical" this company is, talk to one of the ex-employees who couldn't stand lying to people day after day.
Also, to be fair to APX, I do have a friend who installed for APX for a couple summers. He hated how APX would take advantage of the elderly and less fortunate people. Regularly, he would show up to install at a house that did not need it (as it was barely a house at all) and could not afford it. His conscious would get the best of him and he would begin to try to convince the person that they did not need the system. Not once was he successful in talking the customer out of getting the system. APX does take advantage of these people, but still these people need to learn what they are getting themselves into and make better decisions for themselves.
By the way, I have yet to hear a single person claim that they survived a break-in by getting one of these security systems. It must be that amazing deterring "shield" that APX puts out in the front yard (which is also part of their "marketing" strategy).
Submitted: Monday, July 07, 2008
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008
Nomorestupidcustomers
Provo
U.S.A.
Sir, your phone line is supposed to be taken over by the alarm in the event of an alarm. It's called line seizure and it's a good thing. I work in Tech support and personally hate talking to people such as yourself that have false impressions as to how the system operates that invariably try to debate with me about how the system works. Check out line seizure-it's the industry standard unless you have a cell unit.
Also, in the event of an alarm, our monitoring station will come over through the panel on what is called "two-way". This is a way to prevent false alarms in the homes of the incompetent. Additionally, if two-way communication is not made, you will receive a phone call asking if everything is okay. If there is no response, then YES! The police will be dispatched. That is what an alarm system does. It sends the police out in cases of emergency.
In addition, your disparaging comments about this being a "Mormon" are ridiculous. The way you speak of Mormons, if religion was a part of your initial conversation, you probably wouldn't have let them in.
Bottom line, the system did its job. Do not be upset that you can't figure out your system, don't categorize the company because its from Utah. Would you like it if I say you are incompetent because you are old? If you don't like to be categorized, don't categorize others.
To be honest, I don't really care, I'm quitting soon. This is my opportunity to say how respond to the abuse I put up with everyday
Submitted: Friday, August 14, 2009
Posted: Friday, August 14, 2009
Random Someone
Los Angeles
USA
I'm a current APX employee, an install technician by title. I'm also not a student at BYU, and have never been a member of the LDS "Mormon" church.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse by restating the necessity of your phone lines going dead during an alarm, or the fact that they didn't come back on sooner was the actual problem. As for the Metro Police, the company doesn't have, or need, a contract with the local police force to get them to dispatch. It's their responsibility and sole duty to respond to any emergency situation regardless of how they're informed. The alarm system will call the central station when there's a breach while it's armed, and the central station will utilize the 2-way when possible to determine whether to contact the local police to respond. But they will send them unless specifically told not to, and are provided with the account password for authorization.
Why yours didn't respond faster, I cannot tell you; could be that it was malfunctioning in some manner, though the fact that the phones went dead and the contacts were called suggests that that wasn't the case. Your own story gives more details: they tried you three times, and got no answer, then they tried your daughter and for some reason got no answer. Maybe they have the wrong number on file, or she doesn't answer out of state calls. The monitoring stations are always out of state, for every tate, for security reasons. Usually, that's where they dispatch;, though the regulations are different for every state, standard procedure is usually to call the customer's numbers, the customer's first contact, then dispatch, and continue calling contacts to inform them of the dispatch. How it took 2.5 hours to get ahold of your neighbors, again I cannot say, not without knowing all the details.
I've been with APX many years, and have had to make a few (few as in not often) decisions on an ethical basis and not a company-interest basis. I feel bad for customers who are led one way and arrive at a different location than they're expecting, but I don't feel obligated to lead them back. I've read the contract, it's not at an elementary school level, but anyone with a diploma ought to find the important notes, the cancellation fees, the contract duration, and most importantly, the notice of cancellation/right of recision form, attached to the very contract they sign. Anyone signing any piece of paper with their SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, HOME ADDRESS, and BILLING INFORMATION of any kind should always always always always read the fine print, always always always ask questions and always ALWAYS be absolutely sure they understand. It's fine to admit you don't understand. It's fine to ask to hold on to the unsigned contract and have it spelled out to you by an arbitrary third party, or refuse altogether. It's not fine to use the excuse "But he pressured me into it". Muggers pressure old ladies out of their pocketbooks. They shouldn't do that, and it's bad, and I don't approve, and I wish the company would come down harder on the ones that get caught. But it doesn't absolve the "victim" either. Do your homework people, and stop handing out checks and credit cards without knowing what you're paying for and how much they're charging.
Lastly, for the current, former, and soon to be former employees battling here, I'd like to point out again: I'm not a mormon. I'm not a religious man of any flavor. And my ethics are unusually high for my sort, it's my proudest trait. And, I make a rather decent paycheck, definitely in the higher levels of the limits of a technicians pay. I, and a few of my co-workers, are living proof that you don't have to be a sleeze, or mormon, to make your summer profitable.
Submitted: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sdp
Las Vegas
U.S.A.
If all the complaints currently on file at this RipOffReport site were to also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Protection Dept.@
http://www.usa.gov/
or directly to the Complaint
Form @ https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
as I have done, the Department will consider an investigation of this Company and its' business policy and practices. Let's all get on this
and file complaints. Also it is wise to file a complaint with your State's Attorney General Office for Consumer Protection or Senior Protection, whatever is availabe along with complaints to the Better Business Bureau for the State of Utah, and the Chamber of Commerce for your State.
Sdp
Submitted: Monday, August 27, 2007
Posted: Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Buddy
Salt Lake City
U.S.A.
A very ugly thing to read. If it sounds ok to you, just insert "Jew" or "Black" wherever this person writes "Mormon" and maybe it will be clearer that this person is being offensive (bless her heart). If this company ripped her off (which I doubt) then she should go after them. But come on "Sdp" drop the bigotry--it hurts your case and makes you look like a wacko (bless your heart).
---
Re-written to show she is prejudiced by substituting "Jew" for "Mormon":
"SCAM ARTISTS - JEW LED !"
"First of all, they recruit these clean-cut young Jews"
"when he contacted the "installer - another young clean-cut JEW"
"Their JEWISH BRAIN-WASHED PERSONNEL DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR CLIENTS, NOR ARE THEY GOING TO COOPERATE!"