Complaint Review: Protect America - Round Rock Texas
- Protect America 5100 N. I-H 35 SUITE Round Rock, Texas U.S.A.
- Phone: 800-951.5111
- Web:
- Category: Security Services
Protect America deceptive sales, incentives to rush contract. Unwilling to help when cancellation needed. Ripoff Mckinney Round Rock Texas
*Consumer Comment: thanx goodness i read this...
*Consumer Suggestion: Address the concerns here, Steve
*UPDATE Employee: Response to Tom
*Consumer Comment: Protect America
*UPDATE Employee: Operations manager
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Here's my chat with a customer service operator. "Jennifer"
I'm selling my house and no longer need their services. When I signed on with them, their sales rep. threw many incentives towards me to get 'the paperwork' signed and back to him.. When it was time for me to call to try to cancel, they were 100% unwilling to do anything for me, but continue to milk me for money, or charge me over $600 to break the contract...No willingness to help out. Here's the conversation with them:
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Jennifer'
Jennifer: Welcome to our live chat service. How may I assist you today?
you: Hi, I'm trying to get the service cancelled, i've been told i'd be called back within 15 min. twice, and still no call :)
Jennifer: Can I get your first and last name on your account.
you: Sure, Gabriel Rosas
Jennifer: Give me one moment please.
you: Thanks
Jennifer: Our cancellation policy is written on the your agreement under the section Terms and Conditions. We will need a letter of cancellation 60 days prior to the end of your initial term of the the agreement . This letter can be mailed or faxed to our offices stating that you wish to cancel your account. Please have your name, date, and account number on this letter. Our fax number is 1800-339-5036 and our address is Protect America Inc. 5100 N. I-H 35 SUITE B ROUND ROCK, TX 78681. Once we receive your cancellation letter we will not cancel the account till the end of your agreement.
you: Once the letter is recieved, you will not cancel the account?
you: Can I be emailed another copy of the agreement? I don't think i have it around anymore
Jennifer: No we will not cancel the account until the initial term is over, and I can mail you out a new copy of the agreement.
you: If you would mail me out a copy that would help, thank you.
you: I'm selling my house and leaving it soon. I'd rather pay a cancellation fee or whatever is needed to break the contract.. there's no way to do that? There's going to be nothing to be monitored at the location..
Jennifer: The cancellation will not be valid until the end of the initial term, and the fee would be the remainder of the balance from the full 3 years, also you do have the option of transfering hte system to the new home owner.
you: wow it was a 3 year contract?
you: total ripoff :) How long is the initial term?
Jennifer: The initial term is 3 years.
you: So you are saying i would have to Cancel now... then continue being billed PROTECT AMERICA IN 512-2188833 $27.01- for 3 years, even though i don't need the service whatsoever?
you: That's insane... there has to be something in place for customers who are moving out and no longer need the service...
you: I mean forexample.. cable companies and cell phone companies rip you off with huge cancellation fees, but even that is understandable compared to what you're telling me...
Jennifer: That is correct, but you do have the option to transfer the system to a new homeowner.
Jennifer: I apologize but the cancellation fee is the remainder of the 3 year agreement.
you: which would be how much?
Jennifer: Give me one moment.
Jennifer: The total is 648.24.
you: wow.. that's horrible.
you: I understand a contract is a contract, and shame on me for not being careful when I signed the thing.. but god, that's terrible business.. i'm sure i'm not the only one who's had a need to move, or had to cancel.. that's absolutely unreasonable..
Jennifer: Do you have someone monitoring the system at the new house if not, we just need to know what kind of system you have so we can know if we can take over that system.
you: I'm moving from a house to an apartment, the apartment complex provides security system, included in the rent.
Jennifer: Alright, you can transfer the system to the new home owner, and they will take over payments.
you: The system hasn't even been working, since i have no landline in the house.. and i'm not even sure they would want to take over the system, or the obligation.
Jennifer: I apologize but you did sign a 3 year agreement.
you: I understand that.. It would've been great if the cancellation could be settled at a reasonably prorated price per month.... I mean if there is no more need for your service, why would the company push to further take money from me?
you: Is there someone that I could talk to with authority to work with me in dealing in reasonably ending my contract?
you: I mean I would go as far as paying say.. $270.10.. that would be giving money up for no rendered services... I'm sure something can be worked out
Jennifer: I am part of the Customer Interaction Team who handles cancellation and is able to make decisions on customers needing to cancel, we are not able to cancel the agreement.
you: But you report to someone also?
you: There has to be someone willing to understand and help me out.
you: I will gladly stop the automatic payments and put a great effort in reporting the company for bad business.. Youre right in the fact that this is a contract.. but at the same time.. the terms you don't publizice while rushing the customers to get setup within an hour offering an additional discount on the install.. that's a terrible way to fool someone into blindly signing away.
you: When I spoke to the representative about having the system installed... he wanted everything rushed back by fax immediately...if it was all done in so much time, offered additional upgrade to the security system. Do you consider this a fair tactic to have someone sign away on a bad contract like this one?
Jennifer: This is not something that we made you sign, you are to call in once a month to test the system to make sure that everything is working properly, and also so if you do have problems with the system we can address them when they come up.
you: I'm not complaining about the system
you: Of course I wasn't forced to sign the contract.. yet the representative did rush me to have it done within a short time frame.. and he did not mention the 3 year no out trap.
Jennifer: Did you read the agreement?
you: I have had no complaints about the service.. everyone i've spoken to until now has been very polite.. it's just dissapointing to see you guys acting so unethically when someone has different needs and needs to end service.
you: No I didn't read the agreement.... Representative 'whatever' wanted me to sign and fax back right away so i could get an additional free upgrade to the system.
you: I understand that you care much more about the contract than the customer.
you: Instead of me recommending Protect America to the people moving into my house, you would rather piss on me and milk the contract for every dollar I can fork out
you: Up until today, i thought you guys were great
Jennifer: I apologize for any inconvience but I do have to go by what was signed on the agreement.
you: agreement first.. customer 2nd?
you: Just tell me that you care about your agreement more than your customer please.
you: and that you are unwilling to work something out
you: Can you agree to that statement?
you: You care more about the agreement than a customer willing to work something reasonable out. And you are unwilling to pursue any means to help me out?
you: A simple yes will satisfy
Jennifer: I would understand if we did not have a transferable agreement but for customers who are moving or are having difficulties keeping the system we offer the transfer of the system.
Gabriel
Mckinney, Texas
U.S.A.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/05/2007 06:42 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/protect-america/round-rock-texas-78681/protect-america-deceptive-sales-incentives-to-rush-contract-unwilling-to-help-when-cance-234544. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
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#5 Consumer Comment
thanx goodness i read this...
AUTHOR: Tom - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, June 18, 2009
i was just on the phone with a sales rep, and had several questions about their systems. they finally put the sales "manager" online, and i eventually told them i would think about it and call them back. he told me that i don't have to call him back. i guess he really didn't want my business. the basic systems they sell look like something you would buy from radio shack, and then they charge you for "extra" equipment, which others (adt, brinks, etc.) would already include in their deals. O.o

#4 Consumer Suggestion
Address the concerns here, Steve
AUTHOR: Tom - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, February 15, 2007
I have no desire to contact you nor is a phone call to you warranted. I laid out the facts regarding you & your company. If you choose to refute them then do it in this forum for everyone to see. Your generic response is a weak attempt to deflect attention from the facts I posted.
Who I am, where I am located, or what company I am with is irrelevant. I am not here advertising. This isn't the forum to hawk my wares. I am not here responding to a complaint, and would be ashamed of myself if it ever got to the point that one of my clients would seek resolution through this site. I don't let it get that far. You and your company can't say the same.
Now that we got that out of the way let's see how you answer these few questions.
True or false
1- You currently hold no valid Texas license to be employed in the security field?
2- Your company mails out private labeled GE ITI Simon 3 kits and expect the customers to install them?
3- Your company has a lengthy list of complaints with the Better Business Bureau?
Here's the links
http://www.centraltx.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=44024
Company can't be located? Out of business? My oh my who is servicing those customers?
http://data.denver.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=42209
http://data.denver.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=42209
http://www.birmingham-al.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=75000085
You guys are just popular everywhere you go huh?
http://www.lexington.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=7000942
http://www.carolina.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=11001325
Is it me or did I run across over 850 complaints in the last 3 years to the Better Business Bureau involving your company? About half have been 'resolved' which is a joke considering the BBB is out for the best interest of the companies and not the consumers. Resolved can mean anything from you releasing them from the contract or the customer caving in and accepting a buyout just to make you go away. How many dissatisfied customers didn't take the time, or found it to be futile to register a complaint?
I like this site because they give the consumers a chance to beat on us business owners and afford us the opportunity to prove them wrong. You hate this site because it exposes your company as a scumbag outfit that preys on folks looking for a deal on security. This site doesn't fall back on "well the contract says" because everyone knows sales reps can be deceptive and you know or should know that customers seldom read the entire contract.
Small print on contracts is what got Protect America in hot water with the Texas AG so don't act like the complaints on this forum are virgin territory for you.
Deal with the complaints here, or are you afraid to?

#3 UPDATE Employee
Response to Tom
AUTHOR: Steven - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, February 09, 2007
Hello Tom, this is Steven Grimm and I would like to discuss your concerns with you regarding Protect America. If you would like to email me please do so at steven@protectamerica.com.
Thank you and look forward to hearing from you,
Steven

#2 Consumer Comment
Protect America
AUTHOR: Tom - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I have to chuckle because Steve Grimm, the so-called "operations manager" with Protect America does not have the proper licensing REQUIRED by the State of Texas to engage in the business of selling, installing, or maintaining alarm systems. His license expired in 1999.
Why is he allowed to continue employment at Protect America? Because they don't care.
Want proof?
Check out the State of Texas licensing division. Sorry for the link folks but it's where the proof is. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/individual/individual_details.aspx?id=tt826t62t
Steve, come back when you are legal and then start doling out more nonsense about how your customer service issue has been rectified. If I were the customer I'd bring a copy of the complaint, along with your rebuttal and proof of your being unlicensed in Texas to the local district attorney's office. Of course you could always find it to be a better choice to just cancel that agreement NO QUESTIONS ASKED and return to bilking folks without government involvement. It doesn't affect me either way so you can post denials here or just make the trouble go away by releasing the customer from your silly contract.
Protect America mails alarm systems out to unsuspecting folks under the pretense that it is easy to install and will protect a home. They claim it is plug and play. Horsehockey. An ITI Simon 3 is NOT plug and play.
That's akin to an auto mechanic mailing you an oil filter, spark plugs, brakes, and a monkey wrench then expecting you to fix your own car and paying them for 3 years of service.
The reason they have resorted to mailing out alarms is they have been in court numerous times for unethical trade practices and deceptive marketing, and have had licenses revoked in some states.
This company is nothing like the others that some of you complain about. For as lousy as customer service can be with Slomins, ADT, Brinks, or Monitronics even they don't mail out systems. They send installers who will on most occassions properly install the alarm system.
The grievances against these alarm companies generally involves billing issues and contract terminations, some of which are unjustified complaints, but Protect America takes the bloody cake for all-time ripoff artists in the alarm industry.
Stay clear of them.

#1 UPDATE Employee
Operations manager
AUTHOR: Steven - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Hello Gabriel, my name is Steven Grimm and I am the Operations manager at Protect America Inc.. If you would like to discuss your issues in person please email me at steven@protectamerica.com or call me directly at 1-800-951-5111 ext. 8262
Thank you


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