Started with online research for ADT, BroadView & GE Protect America. All of them were comparable, just that GE requires DIY installation.
- 3 year service contract.
- Monthly rate around $33 per month.
With my employer, I get some discount promotions with BroadView security, called them for a quote, however customer service was not interested in providing a detailed quote over phone and wanted a security consultant to visit our place for free security analysis and estimates.
Time comes, when the so called consultant arrives with a colored binder. All the conversation are just around making sure you sign the deal and to do some up sell. However will say he was a nice sales man and not much pushy. We ended up signing for Broadview monitoring with little coercion from wife, we need it..Here was the plan I signed up for
- Wired security system, with wires coming from crawl space.
- Complete perimeter protection with free installation and $360 worth of devices like flex switch, glass break sensor etc.
- 3 year service contract.
All good so far, however I ended up cancelling / voiding the contract next day. Why ? Salesman goes and I ended up reading the fine prints..
- I cannot come out of this contract without paying 3 years of complete service. Lot of stories around this on Internet.
- I lease the equipments.
- They will drill holes, however will not fix it back after 3 years if I don't want to continue.
- I need to inform within a month after 3 years else my contract will be extended for 1 more year.
- I've only 3 days from the date of signing to cancel the contract, woohoo...I should use it :)
Search begins again, now I think I need wireless with no service contract dispatch monitoring. Did some research on nextalarm, safemart etc and talked to my coworkers having those systems.
Finally, got SimpliSafe. Wireless, no commitment, UL listed dispatch monitoring for $14.99. Above and all, installation was a snap. 30 minutes for my entire house. Stay tuned for more information on Simplisafe and my detailed review after a month of service usage..I love it so far.
