Firstline Security ripoff reseller, not selling their own services, not licensed in North Carolina Raleigh North Carolina

I also just learned that they dinged my credit not once, but THREE times! They checked with all three of the major credit bureaus, which they NEVER told me they were going to do and I never gave them permission to do!

Firstline is company owned by many fairly young guys that paid attention in their marketing and psychology classes. They took door to door direct sales to a whole new level with psycology driven question based selling. I wish I thought of this field of business. The Advertising Directors come to your door talking about advertising firstline's sign and we'll compensate you for doing that by giving you the same stuff your neighbors will be buying later. Its obviously a sale tactic to divert your attention away from that fact that they are salesmen. Nobody respects or trusts salesmen anymore especially the ones at your door! I never did myself, and I am one now too. Anyway as I was saying we are able to say discounted monitoring because it really is discounted from what its sold straight from the site I think its 50 or 60 a month. Not to mention most companies will charge around that much anyway of you check locally, plus you will likely sign a 2-5 year contract with them as well. Another thing is they will send someone to assess the home who is actually a salesman that will get you to spend as much as you can on fortifying your home. You'll easily spend 200-800 extra for more equipment and installation. And you also will get a sign in the yard for there company! Everyone knows ADT because of this. We give you the basic six zones which is all you need most likely, and you come out pretty good. Now the deal you saw on Alarm.com is really good if thats the same thing. I highly doubt they'd give you free equipment if you didn't do some kind of contract. And if thats correct thats the best I've heard. Alarm.com is partnered with us for a reason. Were the fastest growing alarm company because this strategy works. A lot of companies make a lot of money because of us. And don't be worried about the door knockers either! Most of us are just college students doing a college internship working harder than we ever have and getting paid really good commission for it. These summer sales companies recruit students on campus because its a great learning experience for us, we learn to communicate, and we can graduate without debt! And some people just do it because its a way to make a lot of money. Gofirstline.com is the recruiting website. The sales tactics are very smooth, but they have to be otherwise this wouldn't be a booming business. Would you even think about saying yes if someone came to your door and said "Hey I am selling alarms, the equipment is free, but you just have to pay 45 bucks a month for three years?" We'd be starving if we did that all day long. ore than anything its just to divert your attention away from that fact that you purchased something because people suffer from buyer's remorse. Also in regards to not being licensed... We have the same problem in the area were in. The city counsel will not return our phone calls to let us pay them $75 for permits. What is our company supposed to do? Tell the 25 employees that traveled 1500 miles that they can't work till the city takes care of our request. Each person is finger printed and registered and none of us would have a problem with that. I've been here over a month and they board hasn't reviewed our request. Its not a big deal. Most families can afford a 1.50 a day to keep their family and home safe, I know if I have a home I will have one myself, but I might have to get it through alarm.com now that I know thats the only deal that beats mine.

You can say whatever you want, Firstline is still ripping people off. They've apparently used their psychology-based tactics on you and brainwashed you if you actually believe everything you've just said.

"...we are able to say discounted monitoring because it really is discounted from what its sold straight from the site I think its 50 or 60 a month..."

I just looked at the Firstline web site. It states that it costs $895.00 for the equipment (a supposedly "regular retail price" of $1695.00) and $49.99 per month. Yes, $44.95 is a discount over $49.99, but not much. And it's definitely not a discount over going directly through Alarm.com, which is only $35.99. The supposed "discounted" rate of $44.95 is $9.00 more per month than going directly through Alarm.com for the exact same monitoring service.

"...Not to mention most companies will charge around that much anyway of you check locally, plus you will likely sign a 2-5 year contract with them as well...."

Most companies locally in my area charge around $39.99 per month or less. I thought the Firstline service was slightly more expensive due to it using cellular technology rather than hooking into a traditional landline. That is, until I saw the price of $35.95 per month if one goes directly through Alarm.com. I didn't have a problem with the 3-year contract, as that's what all the alarm companies in my area require.

"...Now the deal you saw on Alarm.com is really good if thats the same thing. I highly doubt they'd give you free equipment if you didn't do some kind of contract. And if thats correct thats the best I've heard...."

It is indeed the exact same thing. A GE Simon 3 alarm system consisting of one control panel, two window/door sensors, one motion detector, and one keychain remote unit. That's what Alarm.com is selling for $479.00 ($379.00 if you're a Vonage or SunRocket customer), and it's EXACTLY the same thing that Firstline installed in my home which they claim costs $879.00. No contract required with Alarm.com, and the same monitoring for $9.00 less per month.

"...Were the fastest growing alarm company because this strategy works...."

It must not work very well. Either that or Firstline and I have different ideas of what fast growing is. I finally watched the DVD that the salesman left with me. The lady in the video claims approximately 30,000 alarm customers across the country. She also says they've been doing this since 2002. 30,000 customers in 5 years isn't exactly fast growing in my book. I would expect many more than that in a 5-year period, especially for something that was "fast growing".

"...Most of us are just college students doing a college internship working harder than we ever have and getting paid really good commission for it...."

That's great and all. I'm all for college students doing hard work and learning things that will help them in their future. But according to the salesman that was at my house, that's ALL Firstline pays is commission. He said that if he works a 70-hour week and didn't have any sales then got paid absolutely nothing! I don't know that that's even legal, is it?? He told me this AFTER he had made the sale and all the paperwork had been signed, so he wasn't using that as a "have pity on me" sales tactic.

"...Also in regards to not being licensed... We have the same problem in the area were in. The city counsel will not return our phone calls to let us pay them $75 for permits. What is our company supposed to do? Tell the 25 employees that traveled 1500 miles that they can't work till the city takes care of our request. Each person is finger printed and registered and none of us would have a problem with that. I've been here over a month and they board hasn't reviewed our request. Its not a big deal...."

I don't know what the laws are regarding alarm company licensing in your current location, or exactly what you have to do there to become licensed. It IS a big deal here. Nobody has to be fingerprinted here, and no license has to be received from the city. The licenses here are given out by the State. Firstline has applied for their license and has NOT been approved yet. Firstline has to setup an appointment with the NC Alarm Licensing Board for a hearing to get approved, and Firstline has not setup that appointment! It's a big deal here, because all these contracts that Firstline is having people sign for security systems and monitoring are ILLEGAL because they're not licensed. Firstline customers in North Carolina are entering into illegal contracts, and those customers don't know or realize that!

Another way that Firstline is ripping people off is with Dish Network satellite TV service. Firstline apparently resells that also. The Firstline web site advertises it as a $199.99 installation fee plus $39.99 per month for the "America's Top 60" package or $49.99 per month for the "America's Top 180" package. They don't say on the web site how much the other channel packages cost. The web site also doesn't mention whether or not they require a contract with that, but I'm guessing they probably do. You can go directly to Dish Network ang get installation for $49.99 with no contract for for FREE with an 18-month contract. Also, those two channel packages directly from Dish Network are only $29.99 and $42.99.

You can say whatever you want, but people can get better deals if they get their service directly from the companies that have the services rather than going through a third party like Firstline. I have heard absolutely nothing from Firstline so far regarding my cancellation. I have contacted several parties regarding Firstline including the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Attorney General's Office, the BBB, the consumer reporter from one of the local television stations, and also the local newspaper. I've also been telling everyone I can to go directly with the companies that the service comes from rather than through Firstline, as they'll do nothing but lose money in the end if they go with Firstline.

Through Alarm.com
$479 + 35.99(36)= $1,774.64

Through Firstline
$44.99(36) = $1,619.64

It's actually a pretty good deal. And I can almost guarantee that alarm won't have it installed the same day you buy it. In addition Firstline provides additional monitoring services and uses alarm.com as an intermediary monitoring center, meaning you actually have two companies monitoring your system by going with us.

That's only a $155 savings over a 3-year period (a little over $50 per year), which isn't all that much. That's assuming that Firstline really doesn't charge anything other than the monthly monitoring fee. They still haven't charged me anything, so I don't know. Plus Alarm.com doesn't require any contract at all. I (and probably a lot of other people) would prefer paying a small amount more and not be tied down by a contract.

That doesn't change any of the following, though:

1) Firstline never makes it clear during the sales/signup process that they are reselling someone else's services.

2) All the conflicting information between the sales guy and the Firstline web site.

3) The fact that Firstline is telling a lie about how much the security system they're installing costs.

4) The fact that they're not licensed in North Carolina and all the contracts they're having people sign here are illegal.

5) The fact that they rip people off BIG TIME with their reselling of Dish Network.

Go with alarm.com then. Pay $500 up front, and then have Firstline (a local alarm.com installer) install it for you. You'll obviously save on that monthly... so when you get bored with the new equipment you'll just turn it off after a few weeks. No harm no foul right?

And go ahead and attack that contract too, after all only a few things in life require a contract... Your home, your car, your cell phone, student loans... Big companies have contracts for a reason, to make sure that their investment is worth their time, effort, and of course their returns.

And about the alarm licensing in North Carolina, Alarm.com isn't registered either. That's because the technology doesn't half to be. It operates over a nationwide cellular network, and just like your cell phone it has nothing to do with any local jurisdiction, local tax, or local alarm boards.

"And about the alarm licensing in North Carolina, Alarm.com isn't registered either. That's because the technology doesn't half to be. It operates over a nationwide cellular network, and just like your cell phone it has nothing to do with any local jurisdiction, local tax, or local alarm boards."

I know Alarm.com isn't registered. I called the North Carolina Alarm Board directly myself, and their specific words were that they had no record of Alarm.com, and any contracts Firstline is having North Carolina residents sign are ILLEGAL because they are not yet licensed in North Carolina. The North Carolina Alarm Board is a department within the the North Carolina Department of Justice (Attorney General's office), so I think it's highly likely they know what's illegal and what isn't. Since you're not in North Carolina, and I seriously doubt you know what the laws and regulations here are, you have no clue whether Firstline needs to be licensed or not. And by the way...cell phone bills do have state taxes on them here, so cellular service is subject to state taxes if nothing else.

To the Firstline employees who keep saying that the licensing is not important, doesn't matter, isn't needed, etc:

I've just found out that the information I sent to the North Carolina Attorney General's Office has resulted in the NC Attorney General issuing a cease and desist order against Firstline. They have informed Firstline that they are not allowed to be doing business in the State of NC. So, apparently you were all wrong. It DOES matter, at least in NC.

Firstline Security is a Utah based, nationwide company in the business of providing the most up-to-date home security and theft prevention equipment available in the market to homeowners. Firstline has been in business since 2002 and has grown by over 400% in the last year alone.

At Firstline, we do our best to recruit the best of the best to go out and sell the products we offer. We are an Authorized Dealer for Alarm.com, in addition to other companies. As such, we aim to imbue in all that we do a level of utmost professionalism and integrity. We do our best to be in 100% compliance with all laws and statutes in which our Advertising Directors do business. Firstline has its contractor's license of for the state of North Carolina and we have been in the process of obtaining our Firstline has a Contractor's license in the state of North Carolina and has applied for an Alarm Systems License, which status is pending since May 27, 2007.

Firstline believed itself to be operating within the required laws when choosing to begin selling and installing alarm systems in North Carolina. We have made several attempts to contact the ASLB and get our license to sell and install alarm systems finalized and, because of these ongoing efforts, it was believed that sales could commence.

Firstline Advertising Directors obtain individual peddler's/solicitor's permits for each new locale in which they operate in addition to displaying their ID Badges with our license numbers listed.

Firstline believes the value of what we offer (an 8 point security system installed free of charge in exchange for a thirty-six month monitoring agreement) to be a huge benefit to most consumers who might otherwise not be able to afford a home security system. Firstline does its best to educate potential customers prior to installation by performing a pre-installation confirmation call with our Corporate Call Center and reviewing customer information and the terms of the agreement. Because we want each new customer to be able to be 100% aware of their obligation under the agreement into which we mutually enter, Firstline conducts a second confirmation call immediately upon completion of the installation. This call again covers the commitment that customers are making and asks additional questions regarding satisfaction with installation and training on the operation of the system.

Firstline Advertising Directors are trained to be honest and respectful when interfacing with the public. Although there are other offers listed directly through Alarm.com that entail consumers paying a lower monthly price, the amount of equipment received is not comparable nor is it free of charge and consumers must either install it themselves or pay for installation. These additional costs make choosing Firstline, we feel, a more financially viable option for most consumers.

Since learning of the cease and desist order issued by the Private Protective Services Board, Firstline has complied with this order and we are currently seeking to identify the necessary steps to appeal this order. Firstline will respect the decision made by the ASLB and we look forward to resolving this issue in a timely manner.

Regards,

Cindy Sullivan
Director of Subscriber Services
Firstline Security

Ms. Sullivan:

Thank you for the response from an official company representative. Maybe you can answer a few questions and expand on some of your comments.

"We are an Authorized Dealer for Alarm.com, in addition to other companies."

Why do your "Advertising Directors" not make it clear that Firstline is reselling another company's services? He never mentioned this, nor is it mentioned in the brochure or DVD that he gave me. Everything on the surface made it appear that Firstline was selling its own services. Many people (myself included) find this to be important information. I don't mind buying things from authorized dealers, depending on what the product is. If I would have read the paperwork more carefully before signing it, I would have realized you were reselling me Alarm.com. I understand it's my responsibility to read what I'm signing and not Firstline's fault that I didn't, but the whole process seemed rushed and like I wasn't really given a chance to read it all. The "advertising director", while polite and respectful, was really pressing to get things done and get them done as quickly as possible. I didn't even get a chance to give the brochure more than a very quick glance or watch any of the DVD until after everyone had left.

"Firstline believes the value of what we offer (an 8 point security system installed free of charge in exchange for a thirty-six month monitoring agreement) to be a huge benefit to most consumers who might otherwise not be able to afford a home security system."

Could you explain exactly what an 8 point security system is? If you ask me to explain what *I* think "8 point security system" means, that says to me that there are 8 sensors or places in the home that are protected. Let's see...I got one motion sensor and two window/door sensors. Hmmmm...that's 3. OK...let's say you're counting the number of pieces of equipment I received. I got one control panel, one motion sensor, two window/door sensors, one keychain remote unit, and I'll even include the sign just for the heck of it. That comes out to 6. Maybe you're using that "new math"??

As I stated earlier, I didn't have a problem with agreeing to a 36-month monitoring agreement. All of the alarm companies around here ask for that same thing, so I didn't find anything unusual about that. If it's installed free of charge, can you explain the pricing differences I found after signing up? The brochure and DVD that I was given both state that the value of the security system is $895.00. Your web site says that the security system is valued at $1695.00, but is available for a "limited time special" of $899.00. The Alarm.com web site shows the EXACT same security system that was installed in my home with the same number of sensors, etc. for only $479. It doesn't say that this is any kind of special price or anything, plus Vonage and SunRocket customers are given an additional $100 off making it only $379. Some more of that new math??

And while we're mentioning price differences...the "advertising director" stated that monitoring normally costs "70-something dollars a month" (his exact words), but for being an advertising home I'd get it at the special discounted rate of $44.99 per month. Your web site lists monitoring as $49.99 per month as the price for anyone and everyone, no "advertising home" program mentioned anywhere. $49.99 is quite a difference from the claimed "$70-something", and while $44.99 is a discount over $49.99 it's not enough of a discount to interest me much. Alarm.com lists monitoring as only $35.95 per month, $9 less than your advertising home "discounted rate" of $44.99. I guess I really need to learn that new math.

"Firstline does its best to educate potential customers prior to installation by performing a pre-installation confirmation call with our Corporate Call Center and reviewing customer information and the terms of the agreement. Because we want each new customer to be able to be 100% aware of their obligation under the agreement into which we mutually enter, Firstline conducts a second confirmation call immediately upon completion of the installation. This call again covers the commitment that customers are making and asks additional questions regarding satisfaction with installation and training on the operation of the system."

Can you explain to me why the "advertising director" (the names that companies come up with for a plain and simple salesman these days just kills me) never mentioned that Firstline would be doing a credit check on me? This was also never mentioned in either the pre-installation or post-installation calls with the Corporate Call Center. The only thing anyone mentioned was that they were verifying that I was the homeowner. Verifying that the customer is the homeowner and doing a credit check are two totally different things, and have absolutely nothing to do with each other. I didn't know a credit check was being done until I was notified of activity on my credit report by the credit monitoring service that I subscribe to. After I received this notice and saw who the activity was from, I gave the paperwork a more careful read and saw in the miles of fine print that I was agreeing to a credit check. Not only did Firstline do a credit check, they checked with ALL THREE credit reporting agencies. I've had my credit checked MANY times over the years, and have NEVER had ANYONE check with all three agencies. I've never had ANY company check with more than ONE of the credit reporting agencies. Isn't checking with all three a little overkill?? This lowers a person's overall credit score, and had I known that you would be checking with all three agencies I probably wouldn't have agreed to a credit check. I'm planning on buying a new house in the next 6 to 12 months, and am trying not to do anything to lower my credit score so I can get as good an interest rate as possible on the loan.

"Although there are other offers listed directly through Alarm.com that entail consumers paying a lower monthly price, the amount of equipment received is not comparable nor is it free of charge and consumers must either install it themselves or pay for installation. These additional costs make choosing Firstline, we feel, a more financially viable option for most consumers."

Firstline may be a more financially viable option for many people, and that's fine for those people. I wouldn't have a problem with installing the system myself, and wouldn't have a problem with paying for the equipment up front in exchange for a lower monthly rate (depending on the cost). Your statement that the amount of equipment received from Alarm.com is not comparable is absolutely false. The alarm system on Alarm.com's web site that they advertise for $479.00 is EXACTLY THE SAME as what Firstline installed in my home, which Firstline claims is worth $895.00 in the brochure and DVD I was given. One GE Simon 3 alarm system consisting of one control panel, one motion detector, two window/door sensors, and one remote keychain unit. There is absolutely nothing different about that equipment on Alarm.com and what was installed in my home by Firstline. The only difference is that I would have to do the install myself, but the equipment itself is identical in model and number of sensors, etc.

When he first started on his sales pitch, the "advertising director" told me how I'd be able to do home automation stuff with the alarm system. He said I could control my lights, the thermostat, etc. But when it came time to select the equipment he said that he had a "budget" that he was required to go by. He never offered the home automation options (even at an additional cost), and acted like he was really struggling to get me the few pieces that were installed. He said that the sign for the front yard even counted towards the budget, and that he wasn't going to list the sign on the signup form so that he could get me the remote keychain unit instead. What he sold me was the "Simon 3 Starter Package A1 Without X10", which includes the keychain remote. I looked up this security system on GE's web site, so you can't convince me that these were individual pieces that required some kind of "budget".
http://www.gesecurity.com/portal/site/GESecurity/menuitem.f76d98ccce4cabed5efa421766030730?selectedID=12693&seriesyn=true

Also, after the install I noticed the buttons on the control panel for home automation options were covered with a sticker that said "Functions not available" which lead me to believe that the unit was not capable of home automation, even though he told me I would be able to do it.

"Since learning of the cease and desist order issued by the Private Protective Services Board, Firstline has complied with this order and we are currently seeking to identify the necessary steps to appeal this order. Firstline will respect the decision made by the ASLB and we look forward to resolving this issue in a timely manner."

I spoke with a Firstline rep yesterday to schedule the removal of the alarm system, and was told that the soonest the installer (the same one that initially installed the system) could get here to remove it would be Monday afternoon because his schedule was SO full. I certainly hope it's full due to removing alarm systems rather than installing them. If he's still installing them, then Firstline is not complying with the cease and desist order and is not respecting the decision made by the ASLB.

Well, this past Friday I spoke with a "James Wilkins" (or that's what he claimed his name was if I understood him correctly) at the Firstline headquarters to schedule removal of the alarm system they illegally installed in my home. Throughout the entire call he kept saying things like "huh?", "what??", "hello???", "are you there??", etc. He acted totally scatterbrained and clueless. I told him I was returning a message they had left for me. "Huh??" After I told him about 3 times that I was calling them back from the message someone had left me he finally said "OK...let me bring up your account." After a minute of silence, he finally says "What phone number is on the account??" TOTALLY CLUELESS!

So anyway, he says that my account is confirmed cancelled and they need to schedule a time to remove the security system. He asks me what time is good for me, and I tell him any time. "Huh??...What?" So I tell him "ANYTIME IS OK!!" again. He says that Joshua Cooper (who originally installed the system the other day) would be coming by to remove the system, and he would check Josh's schedule to see when he could come by.

He first looks at Saturday and says that Josh's schedule is full for Saturday. I'm hoping it's full due to him REMOVING alarm systems rather than installing them, because if he's still installing them he's breaking the law in North Carolina. Even though Firstline has appealed the cease and desist order issued against them, their appeal does NOT give them the right to continue doing business in NC. The only thing that will allow them to do business here is when they actually receive their license.

The Firstline rep then says "How about Monday at 2:00pm??" I say "that's fine." Again I have to put up with the "Huh?...What?" routine, so I say in a louder tone (although not yelling) "THAT'S FINE". He says "Monday" and "2:00pm" at least four times, so I know I didn't misunderstand him. The last time he said it, he said it was CONFIRMED in their system.

Monday I wait and take my lunch break from work later than usual so I don't have to ask for special time off at the last minute to meet Josh at the house. I arrived at the house at exactly 1:50pm. I sat and waited in my living room with the front door wide open, and no Josh or anyone else from Firstline. No phone call from anyone saying he was running late, that he wouldn't be able to make it, or even that he had arrived early and nobody was home. At 2:45pm I finally left and went back to work because my lunch break was just about over.

I am NOT calling Firstline to setup a new appointment for removal of the system. When (and if) they call ME to reschedule they will have to send someone in the evening or on a weekend when I'm not working. I will not (and should not have to) take special time off for them, and it's not my problem if they don't keep their "confirmed" appointments.

According to their own cancellation notice, if I make myself available and they don't pick the equipment up within 20 days (and it says DAYS, NOT business days) of the date of my notice of cancellation I "may retain or dispose of the goods without further obligation." 20 days from my official date of cancellation will be this coming Sunday. If they don't like this, then it's their own fault. They should have thought of all this before they started illegally selling and installing alarm systems in North Carolina.

So what will it be, Firstline? You have several phone numbers on file for me, which you obviously didn't want to use to let me know that nobody was coming to our "confirmed" appointment. Call me for a new appointment. I'm making myself available. Can you keep an appointment this time (if you make a new one)?

I know nothing about Firstline and nothing baout security systems, and don't have a dog in this hunt. I have been a partner with Dish network for 4 plus years, and would like to comment on the prices firstline sells Dish for.

Scot is correct that the price for Top 60 and T 180 programming packages are $29.99 and $42.99, respectively. That is for a single dish tuner on one TV with no DVR. HOWEVER- there are about a 1000 different ways you can configure Dish in your home.

Firstline seems to have removed all but to configurations, probably to streamline selling and avoid giving the prospect too many choices, which helps ensure the consumer makes a decision now, rather than "Let me think about it". If you get two dual recievers (four TV's) with DVR capability on both, the price is $39.99 a month for the top 60, $49.99 for the top 180. I have no idea why installation would be $199...instalation of Dish is always free.

There is a $49.99 activation fee, but if you sign an 18 month agreement, you get the $49.99 credited back to your first bill.

For me, personally, I let my customers choose any configuration they want. But if I were gonna put out a crew of guys and teach them a canned presentation to use, I can see why it would behoove me to streamline the process as much as possible.

After working an entire summer with the company and then an extra 2 months at the end of the summer doing what they call their "extention program" I would just like to say a few things that I have witnessed.

First of all, in the world that we live in now, I don't think ANYONE should EVER open their door to a stranger much less LET THEM INTO THEIR HOUSE! Over the summer it never ceased to amaze me how many children that were home alone or women who would at 9 o'clock at night open their doors to me. I even had a few old ladies show me their current alarm system password when I explained that I was selling alarms!

That being said I first wanted to post a basic approach so that if it happens to you, you will know what to expect.

They will start by introducing themselves as an Advertising Director, Marketing Coordinator, etc and say that they represent GE or Firstline or something of that nature. They will then try to destract you from themselves and the fact that they just knocked on your door by complimenting you personally or talking about a neighbor whose name they managed to get earlier in hopes that they will be able to gain your trust. They will also make up something about how crime is bad in your neighborhood or you have a good lot for advertising or traffic is heavy on your road or maybe even that there are alot of houses being sold near you.

They will then explain that they have intrest in using you as an advertisment for the company and if they are any good not mention anything about what they are selling or that you will have to ever pay a cent. After they explain that your home is a possible advertising home they will then invite themselves in or just walk in stating that they need to see your back door or show you how their sensors work, etc.

Once they are in the home they will show you where they will install the sensors for your FREE FREE FREE alarm system and sit down with you to write up the FREE FREE FREE equipment.

Before you know it you haved signed a 3 year contract for $40-$50 a month, you have given this person that you met 20 minutes ago your social security number so he can run your credit(called a "home owner verification by the salesmen) and have told someone verbally over the phone that you understand what you have signed. They will then immediately install the system b/c most people who want to cancel don't think its worth it to have someone come back and rip it out of your home(and they will litterally rip it out and leave holes in the walls and wires haning out... take that!).

And depending on where you are located and when they set you up, they will probably sell your contract to Monitronics, McGinn or Counterforce.

They will brag about free service on your equipment which is included in the "lifetime warranty" but don't explain to you that at the end of the summer all of these college kids that sold and installed your equipment have to go back home to do what college kids do at the end of the summer. So, if your technician was a college kid how are you going to have repairs done? Now if your lucky you will be in a big city where Firstline sometimes keeps one service techinician, sometimes.

Anyways, the product is great! GE just released a newer version of the Simon 3 called the Simon XT! It is a fantastic product and is by far one of the best on the market right now. With most alarm systems they run through your phone line so if one goes down or someone cuts it outside your house the alarm is useless. The Simon XT however has a cellular device that allows it to work just like a cell phone which is great and you can even use your phoneline and the provided cellular device so if something happens to one you always have the other. Using Alarm.com you are able to control many of the features of the alarm and keep an eye on your home as far as when people come in and out etc.

When they are setting up the system they will explain that they can only give you 3-5 pieces of equipment for free and there will be a "one time" $99 activation. The truth is they can waive the activation and give you as many points as they want it just all depends on how stingy the salesman is b/c they get deducted $25 to $50 for each thing they do extra for you.

If you are thinking about working for this company a few things you should know. I did what they call the average of around 75 sales. When they hire you they show u the chart and on it you can see how much you will make if you sell this many or that many. I think 75 sales was around 25 or 30 grand. They only will pay you $100-$200 up front per sale and promise you this Big Backend or Bonus check at the end of the summer with all your backpay. This is a myth and they only use it to make sure they dont over pay you and make sure you dont leave early. Like I said I did around the average of 75 accounts and was careful with how I set up the accounts and on my bonus check they said that I owed them around 6 or 7 THOUSAND DOLLARS!! instead of the $4,000 that a manager and a Division President had told me to expect.

So anyways, I guess that if you are for a security company that is very unorganized and may double bill you and you may never be able to get ahold of on the phone or get them to service your equipment if it goes bad then FIRSTLINE is the company for you! Like I said the equipment is good but it ends there.

And if you are looking for a company to work for without benefits, who are going to promise you one thing but then do another and who are only going to pay you a portion of what you earned then this is your company!

Feel free to contact me with any questions!

Just like the sleaze balls at Enron, Firstline owners this morning filed bankruptcy and each made off with over 12 million dollars before closing down shop. All you morons who defended this company, let me repeat, IT JUST WENT UNDER!!! I guess dishonest, unethical and immoral business practices will catch up with you. Nice job on all you who defended this crackerjack-fly by night sham.

I am a Service Technician with Firstline Security. I cannot say as to wether or not Firstline has filed bankrupcy, but I can say that I am still employed with them. The rumors of our death are greatly exagerated. Firstline had a little bit of financial trouble and is currently rectifying the situation, but what new company doesn't have a financial glitch now and then? I believe that Firstline will around for a while to come, and just like any new company will be bigger and better once all of the "wrinkles" are ironed out.

In response to all the criticism, I can say that there were no lies on the part of Firstline. To say that we are giving you a discounted rate, does not say that we are beating everybody else. Also the fact that they are installing your system for advertizing perposes is also not a lie. The best advertizement for any company is signs and/or the fact that a friend or family member is using the companies products or services.

To say that we need to run a "Homeowner Verification" is also not a scam. The best way to determine that quickly is to run credit. It will say on at least one of the credit beureaus that you have a home loan on such and such an address. The easiest way to know for sure is to check all three credit beureaus. It may not look possitively on your credit, but each request is less than 1 point against your credit, and then staying current with your payments to Firstline reflects possitively, so ultimately, you are helping your credit in the long run.

The orriginal assumption about the system costing a little more because of the cellular communication is correct. You have to consider that to have cell phone communication, you need to have a contract with them. That is included with the cost of the Monthly Monitoring. The difference in cost between the Cellular and the Land line communication is only $5 though.

You also need keep in mind what was said earlier. Salesmen need to be "slick" in order to sell anything. There is too much negative generalizations about salesmen for any of them to do well. The psychological approach is required to sell anything nowadays, i.e. "Save up to 75%!" on an item that is already marked up 500%. It is all a perspective issue. Also, in order for any company reselling, there needs to be a markup. Yes, our business partners are offering their monitoring for less, but that means when we resell for them, we will need to charge a little more. If you want to research other companies and go with them, that is fine, but please don't hold it against us for actually wanting to turn a profit. That is part of the american dream!

Anyway, I am done with my little blurb ;)
Thanks to all our faithful customers who are willing to stick with us and trust us even after they find a lot of negative information from our few unhappy.

I agree with all the comments from unsatisfied customers above with Firstline's Alarm System.

I have reported numerious BBB claims, spoke with dozens of employee's (who mostly were difficult to understand, or very rude), have been stood up to fixing the installation- and for the topper- have not been in 'their computers' for 6 months meaning we never really had any protection.

I REALLY want out of this- and have never been so upset with the horrible customer service and pathetic product.

My husband and I never "officially" signed a document- do to small print that I didn't agree with as well as change of credit card to use. However, they are charging us a monthly bill.

Does anyone have a contact person who I can discuss this with?
Thank you.

I am a former firstline employee. My husband and I worked in the Tacoma Washington office over the summer. I was the office manager and my husband was one of the sales rep. We had an interesting summer and many times wished we had not been convinced to work for firstline.

I will not defend firstline and can tell you that many of the claims against firstline are true. But, firstline did not use any tactics different than those used by every security sales company that recruits college guys and sends them out across the country to sell door to door each summer. This doesn't make it right, but it is the norm for these types of high pressured misleading sales companies.

Firstline did file bankruptcy this year. No one really knows the real story. My brother worked as a technician in our office and was supposed to be a technician manager this summer. He was flown to San Diego in November for a management training and everything seemed great then. So it was a surprise to all of us (including my brother who was supposed to get a check in the middle of February for $700 from firstline which he will most likely never see) that firstline folded. Firstline has supposedily been bought out by Pinnacle which is another security sales company (also based in Utah I believe) that was a previous rival of fistline.

Once again I will not support firstline or their sales tactics (my husband did very poorly over the summer because he could not feel right about using the sales tactics he was being taught), but I will say that many of the firstline employees were very honest, hard working college guys who didn't mean to be dishonest and truly believed that what they were saying to customers was true. My office was full of guys who meant well and ended up feeling trapped or obligated to a job that they no longer believed in.

I feel horribly for the people who were tricked by firstline. My husband and I learned a great lesson over the summer about the importance of reading every word of everything that we are asked to sign and never allowing people into our home that we do not know and did not ask to come. We do believe in security systems and will have one when we own a home, but I can promise you that we will go directly through an established, reputable alarm company.

My husband and I don't regret our decision to work for firstline eventhough we ended up losing money. We would never do anything like it again, but are thankful that we learned the lessons that we did learn (though it has been hard to find positives in an experience that was negative). If nothing else, we learned how truly important it is for us to finish our college degrees so that we are able to have real careers and not be summer salesmen for the rest of our lives.

Seriously, I am the sales guy who did this and yes, I am a smooth talker.
Have a great life. You do have nice neighbors though.
I'll give you props though, at the time you told me you had a security system but you had no eqipment in your house. I thought something was a little fishy about you... Tell your partner i said hello.

P.S. Your yard still looks great!

They Always use that Advertised home phrase, to reel in the customers the sad thing is that it works. Yeah I live in San Diego California and I guess they like to use that trick all around the US. I really dont like the fact that they come by at least once per week trying to sell you their crap. Yeah if you guys are looking in to buying a cheaper alarm system try ProtectAmerica.com. They send you all the equipment. They have you call them to help you set it up on your own so you dont have to deal with any installers.