Brinks Home Security unfair and deceptive billing practices, specifically surrounding automatic contract renewal, autopay failure notifications, and immediate referral to collections without due notice. Nationwide

I am filing this complaint against Brinks Home Security regarding unfair and deceptive billing practices, specifically surrounding automatic contract renewal, autopay failure notifications, and immediate referral to collections without due notice.

Summary of Events:

• I had been enrolled in a Brinks Home Security contract with autopay enabled, tied to my debit card.

• My contract auto-renewed after its original two-year term without any fresh consent or clear notification of renewal, locking me into continued service.

• My debit card expired. Brinks did not send any email, text, or mailed notice of a missed payment.

• Without any warning or opportunity to cure the missed payment, Brinks escalated the account directly to an external collections agency (Rosenthal, Morgan & Thomas Inc.).

• The debt was reported to credit bureaus, damaging my credit profile.

Issues & Violations:

1. Lack of Notice Prior to Collections – No written, electronic, or verbal communication was made to alert me of the payment issue before the account was sent to collections.

2. Unfair Auto-Renewal Practices – Renewal occurred without clear opt-in or opportunity to decline, potentially violating state automatic renewal laws (many states require clear advance notice and affirmative consent).

3. Failure to Provide Opportunity to Cure – Standard fair billing practice allows a consumer time to remedy a missed payment before negative credit action is taken. Brinks bypassed this.

4. Potential FDCPA & State Debt Collection Law Concerns – If the debt was accelerated without proper notice, this may constitute an unfair collection practice under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and equivalent state statutes.

Consumer Impact:
This practice feels designed to trap customers in unwanted renewals and create immediate credit harm without reasonable opportunity to resolve the matter. Customers are left with damaged credit histories for issues that could have been resolved easily had Brinks communicated promptly.

Requested Resolution:

1. Immediate removal of the negative credit reporting with all bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

2. Written confirmation of account closure with no further renewal unless explicitly authorized.

3. Policy change requiring Brinks to notify customers before referring any account to collections, including a minimum 15-day written notice.

4. Refund or credit of any improperly billed renewal charges.

This is not an isolated incident — public records on the Better Business Bureau, consumer forums, and complaint boards show multiple customers experiencing the same lack of notice before collections. This suggests a systemic business practice that warrants regulatory attention.

I respectfully request your office investigate this matter, as it directly impacts consumer rights and fair credit practices.