Not Happy with Alarm Force
Alarm Force is cheap but there are some serous bugs in the system. I initially went with Alarm Force because of the commercials, the low monthly cost, free installation and that the system is wireless so I would not need to run wires. When I had mine installed about 6 months ago (I paid an additional $700 for extra sensors, smoke detectors and 2 keypads so I don’t use my cordless phone to operate the system). The installer placed the receiving unit right beside my wireless router (at the time I was informed the Alarm Force receiving unit needed to be close to where the phone line comes into my home). The system seemed to work fine until I came home from work about a month later and my front door was kicked in. I called alarm force and they had not received an alarm. After 5 calls to their technical department, we figured out the wireless router was preventing the receiving unit from receiving signals from the sensors. I moved the Alarm Force receiving unit to another room and away from the wireless router. The Alarm Force installer had already been to my home 2X to repair my system previously. The components have obviously been used before they came into my home. I argued that the installer should have tested the system before he left and questioned his qualifications. Alarm Force backed their installer. I also questioned why the installer did not wear a uniform, did not have anything showing he worked for Alarm Force and why drove a rusty old car that leaked fluids on my driveway. I tried to get out of the 3 year contract but Alarm Force refused and no one would let me talk to a manager. Then, last month my back door opened around 3 am (I have no idea how it opened). The door chime woke me up but the alarm did not go off. To be honest, walking through a dark house ½ asleep looking for an intruder and waiting for Alarm Force to come on with 2 way voice communication as back-up that never happens is really crappy. The door that opened is set for instant alarm in the “home” mode and the alarm was definitely on. Also, I pay for cell back-up and if my phone line is cut Alarm Force informed me that they will notify me immediately. Well, the cell back-up does not work because the cell signal isn’t strong enough (ironically I live in a major city centre) and the phone line cut option does not work either. My wife accidentally unplugged the phone line from the wall to the unit for 4 weeks. Alarm force never notified us that the phone line was disconnected. Alarm force is still not sure why this option doesn’t work but they continue to charge me the extra fees. So basically, the only thing worse in my opinion to not having and home alarm is having a home alarm that you think works and actually doesn’t. I’m new to the home alarm thing and when my contract expires I will be looking for another provider. Maybe skip experiencing Alarm Force and roll the dice on another company.
Comments
3 Comments on Not Happy with Alarm Force
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Tim on
Thu, 28th Jan 2010 23:02
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Motty Perel on
Sun, 7th Feb 2010 21:24
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Alarm Company on
Sun, 7th Feb 2010 23:19
Well first off your alarm was not armed when the back door opened. No door chime when it’s armed, only when the system is not armed do the doors chime. Next, sounds like your alarm wasn’t on when the phone cord was pulled. Therefore it’s not going to report your line is cut because it wasn’t there to begin with. If the line is lost while the alarm is on it reports. This was all explained to me pretty clearly by the person who put ours in. Can’t speak for his dress as our installer wore an Alarmforce shirt, coat and had on a Id badge as well. Now as for his car. Our installer had a nice suv. I asked him if it was a company vehicle and most choose to drive personal vehicles, so maybe the guy couldn’t afford a nice new one.
Monitoring means that the monitor knows in what condition the home installation is. What kind of monitoring is it, when the monitor is not notified whether the home has or does not have a telephone connection, or whether the equipment is or is not powered? All a burglar has to do when he breaks in is to pull the plug on the talking box or, much more conveniently, go to the basement and pull the main switch. After that, he can work without disturbance.
It is good that AlarmForce customers complain, but each complainer should also get to the BBB site http://www.BBB.org and leave a report there. I suspect that I am the only one to do so, because the AlarmForce rating with BBB is the highest A+. AlarmForce does not deserve that rating.
The complaints in this blog are more detailed and more reliable than BBB in terms of this.
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