Cancel Contract
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
Alarm Force Installation
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
Alarm Company Contract
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
Alarm Force Salesman
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
Security Systems
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
A.P.I. Alarm
If you are canadian and are interested in getting an alarm, go with a.p.i alarm. alarm force uses shitty equipment and its ugly too…api offers everything that alarm force does except they use trusted equipment – DSC is what i have. alarm force dont have line seizure either which means that if the phone line is off the hook, their monitoring station wont get a signal.
Im pretty sure a.p.i is the largest canadian owned monitoring station and i have been more than happy to be with them. clean work and expert service. they are ulc listed as well. alarm force doesnt even have their own monitoring station…its cheap equipment, thats why they can offer you $25/month and free install…you get what you pay for…pay a little more get a lot more…adt, chubb, and a.p.i is what i recommend…definitely NO alarm force. but again if you are canadian, stay canadian…obama says dont buy canadian, so why should we buy american…do what you want but its better to have peace of mind than uncertainty that comes with alarm force…two way voice is bs anyways…it only works by the key pad…what if your not there…a.pi. adt or chubb
- J
Poor Alarm Company
Alarm Force is a great marketing company, but a poor alarm company. The equipment is rented, minimal, and poor quality. The 2 way voice is a gimmick that is easily defeated. Listen to the words carefully when they advertise…they have good lawyers and just barely avoid false advertising. I think I will stick with reputable companies like Sears that installs real branded equipment that I own, and they care about my business because they have a lot more at stake than my monitoring money.
- Etobicoke Boy
Canadian vs American
Tyco International Ltd. reverse took over a smaller security services company named ADT Limited in 1997 and formed a new subsidiary named ADT Security Services. The Brink’s Company spun off Brink’s Home Security in 2008 and re-branded it as Broadview Security. Tyco International Ltd. is acquiring Broadview Security in a transaction that will bring together two of the largest names in home and commercial security and Broadview will merge and operate under ADT Security Services. This is American.
Groupe Vidéotron Ltée. acquired a few companies with the intention of using its cable network for purposes other than television broadcasting in 1987 and incorporated a new subsidiary under the name Protectron in 1988. Wellspring Capital Management LLC acquired Protectron in 2001 and Protectron became the largest privately owned Canadian electronic security company. In 2002, Protectron acquired the Canadian subsidiary of Protection One, the second-largest security company in the United States. The business has been part of Reliance Comfort Limited Partnership since 2005. In 2007, Reliance purchased VOXCOM Security Systems, a leading national provider of security-monitoring services in Canada and Voxcom was re-branded as Reliance Protectron. This is Canadian.
AlarmForce manufactures, installs and monitors its own security systems using its own proprietary technology, without outsourcing any of the processes. This is a unique Canadian.
Alarm vs Break in
Signed three year contract and equipment does not work as promised; could not get out of three year contract (understandable) but once the contract ended they still refuse to discontinue service and refuse to stop billing me and when I try to cancel they tell me I have to do it in writing by sending a written formal letter stating all my personal information regarding the contract including banking info (yeah right) and a justifiable reason for termination of service (how about the lack of service as a start)
This company is the worst not only in alarms but in all business practices in general. I cannot see how they can stay in business for so long other than to prey on the fears of the general public. Alarmforce needs to be taught a lesson or two in how to be a service provider. If any one comes to your door trying to sell you alarm force please slam the door shut and call the cops they are nothing but lying cheating crooks. This is a warning for all interested in protecting yourself. You should not have to protect yourself from the very same person who is under contract to protect you and your loved ones. Trust me do not use alarm force for any of your security needs it will be cheaper in the long run to let the thieves break in and just replace what they break or steal!!!
- T. SCHARFL
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.