Advent Security

Door to door alarm sales across the country has been the buzz in the alarm industry for the past few years. This year is no exception. These inexperienced sales people represent themselves as a dealer for a large company. They offer a new alarm system for “FREE” or very little cost and they sound very legitimate. They are unethical and use misleading tactics to get you to switch companies. Once you agree, they have been known to provide you with substandard equipment and shoddy installation workmanship.

Here are some of the key elements to help you identify this type of scam:

• Typically you will not own the equipment and you will be locked into a multi-year contract. If you are unhappy with the system or service you will be stuck in the contract.
• Your monthly fee will be higher than it is with Advent Security.
• The Sales person may not have any business cards, brochures, ID badge, or a vehicle identifying the name of the company they represent.
• Beware if the sales person is wearing clothes with a GE or Honeywell logo. These firms are manufacturers of equipment and do not sell directly to the consumer.
• The Sales person will offer a “FREE” system so they can put a sign on your lawn for advertising or as a deterrent but only if you sign the contract “NOW”.
• The Sales person will not be able to tell you:
  • Where the alarm will be monitored.
  • Who will install the system or they will offer to install it themselves on the spot.
• They will not be able to tell you who will service the system in the event of a problem or how long it will take for your to get service.
• The Salesperson may tell you that your current alarm company is defunct or going out of business.
• They will tell you that your system is outdated and will not work with the new digital technology if you use Comcast or Verizon FIOS for your phone system.
• Beware if the Sales Representative does not take the time to review your alarm needs or does not discuss alarm system details, such as central alarm notification procedures or the monitoring station.

To read more information on this scam visit:

http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2011/05/get-the-most-out-of-your-alarm-system.html