Protection One was founded in 1988. It conducts home security evaluations before recommending specific security system components and design, and then monitors its components from one of its monitoring centers. In 2007, Protection One became the first national provider to introduce a Web-based service that enables its customers to access their own security systems through Internet-connected computers and cell phones. Its e-Secure customers also can receive e-mail and text notifications of certain events, as well as view video surveillance cameras via the Internet or cell phone.

Protection One was the only security company listed as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies (honesty and openness) in 2008 on Forbes.

APX Alarm entered the home alarm service industry in 1997. It announced its new business partnership with investment banker, Goldman Sachs in 2006. APX acquired a central station from CMS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Protection One in 2009. APX Alarm also supports wireless communication capabilities, and system control via the internet or PDA application.

APX Alarm has faced criticisms regarding the tactics of the company’s door-to-door sales people. Its salespeople tell potential customers that there has been a recent rise of crime in the neighborhood, and claim to be a representative of the potential customer’s current alarm system provider, as among the most common complaints.

APX has responded to complaints in general by stating, “Our entire focus is on providing the best customer service possible and we understand that owning up to our mistakes and making things right when mistakes do occur is a critical component in delivering world-class customer service. When a company is as large as APX Alarm, and employs thousands of people, we do understand that not everything we do is going to be perfect. With that understanding in mind, we take every customer complaint seriously and do everything within our power to satisfy each and every customer.”

I was talking to Valery, in Customer Service on March 12, 2010 at 2:42 PM. I agreed to renew my contract for three years providing there was an additional sensor in the Sun Room free of charge and check the operation of the garage sensor. An appointment was to be made by the said Valery. She agreed to the no extra charge.

June 22, 2010 I contacted Sandy at 11:40 am and I was told that nothing had been done as I had not signed an agreement. I have not had an agreement sent to me, and therefore could not sign it. I asked to talk to the manager. She said his name was Gill and she would email him and have him call me back as he was in a meeting at the time.

This is the 24 of June at 12:30 PM and I still have not heard from him. I have this type of problem every time I try to communicate that I have something to discuss. I find the monitoring excellent, but the service is really not worth the hassle.

How in hell can I explain the situation here when no one returns the calls, sends out contracts, or even contacts me in writing, phone or email? When I try to send a normal email to customer service, it comes back that I am sending a bulk mailing. What in hell is wrong with Voxcom? You really don’t want evidence of complaints do you?

- Mel James

I really hate the way the contract is laid out by alarm force. First of all the service they offer is really bad. When it comes to cancelling it is even worse. I have to send the equipment back to them within the 15th of the month. But they take their sweet time even though I called up the previous month and they send it by post the UPS barcode knowing it will not reach me before the 15th of the month and even if I speed it up it is still a ground transportation which is not really useful. I have never seen a company as bad as them when it comes to providing service .. and secondly .. to cancel a contract. You can live without an alarm system but not have alarm force eat your money.

- ex-AlarmForceCust

Give me a break ! How can you seriously compare an Alarm Force “installation” to any real professional installation. Their junk is unsupervised re-boxed Linear hardware that the security industry abandoned 30 years ago.

Their two way voice is a joke. They are a marketing company out to “cream skim” the industry by fleecing unsophisticated consumers looking for something for nothing !

They seem to believe that “the more dung you throw up against the wall, the more that will stick! ”

For crying out loud, call a small, professional installation company in your area. Do a modicum of shopping rather than allow yourself to get fleeced by any of the large companies with their long term contracts, expensive service and inflated prices. And above all, don’t believe you can get something for nothing in this industry or any other……

- Robert Campbell

I signed a three year contract with Alarm Force. Near end of contract I was having trouble with equipment. I phoned company to determine what needed to be sent back and how to turn off my alarm for remaining couple of months as it was malfunctioning. I was told that nothing needed to be done and contract would just end. I realized 5 months later they were still withdrawing monthly payments. I asked them to reimburse. I had to send in equipment to close account. They said they would send way bill. After three weeks, the way bill still did not arrive and they billed another month. The company is the WORST company I have ever dealt with. Stay away. It has been a nightmare. I am out over $200 dollars for an alarm I haven’t turned on in over 9 months.

- Joal Borggard

I was interested in Alarm force because of Joel Matlin’s statements. So, I called and spoke to a Damian who turned out to be a high pressure salesman. I wanted a technical body to come to the house to discuss what they would be doing and answer some questions I had about equipment placement and the cat as well as other situations. Damian was damn near rude in trying to tell me what I needed, he could answer all questions from there. But, how could he without seeing the situation here. He has no idea of the house size, door/windows etc. I also wanted to ask about having the contract voided if the house should become inhabitable due to fire for example, or if my wife or I died. But reading the other testimonials, I would suggest that Joel dump Damian as he is certainly no asset to Alarm force. I’ve gone with another company.

- George Root

We had Scott Security (local company) at our old place, but when we moved we wanted a well known security company. It was a toss up between ADT and Brinks. The deciding factor was that ADT’s sales rep failed to show up to the appointment we made, and Brinks’ rep did come. We’ve had no real problems with Brinks Security, so feel fairly confident to recommend them. The installers seem to be well trained and thorough in their work. But, beware of their sales reps, ours was careless with the placing of his briefcase and badly scratched the kitchen countertop as a result, for which he never apologized or even acknowledged doing. Anyway, Brinks’(aka Broadview) monitoring is on the expensive side ($35/mo), but they are quick to make contact if you set off the system by accident. The only problem we have had is during our renovation, Brinks wanted us to have their repairman in to move the keypad and stated that if we did it ourselves it would void our warranty. This cheesed off my husband a lot.

- DHsquared

Alarm Force “loses” emails that say: “I don’t want to renew” even though received before the expiry date of the three-year contract. They kept charging monthly for two more months. Local rep never returned our phone calls when the equipment failed. Service is blocked when the phone is off the hook — so any smart burglar would know how to disable the system and the process to do his work in peace without interruption by the “security” system. There are several REAL security systems that cost no more — and actually provide security.

- Perseus

Did you read Alarm Force contract? When you do, you will learn that Alarm Force is not responsible for anything that its employees and contractors (they pride themselves of not using contractors) do or neglect to do. Therefore, the Alarm Force contract is a one-way trap. It imparts an obligation to the customer to pay, while it does not impart any obligation on Alarm Force. Hence, the Alarm Force contract is illegal. In a courtroom a judge would determine its illegality. Apparently, no customer raised the problem.

- Motty Perel