Security Networks review: Stay away at all costs! 28

As my mother is 89 years old we talked to a salesman for Security Networks and agreed to pay $100 for pendant, free installation charges and $42.50 monthly for the alarm system, lease of equipment, etc. (after he left I noticed the pendant was to be free and installation $100 - w hat a laugh) We gave a blank check to the salesman to start automatic payments and the first thing that happened in two weeks is a telemarketer had gotten into the account and took $399. My mom is confused and doesn't remember things and somehow that telemarketer had to HAVE HAD HER BANK INFO when he called her for she'd not even know how to give it out to him. Of course I'm aware some of them just have CONFUSED people to read ALL the numbers on the bottom of the check then record that AS PROOF they ordered crap!

So I canceled her account at bank and called Security Networks - the people here in WVa were nasty and said I had to give them NEW bank information as I signed a contract. I laughed and told them "take me to court" - somehow checking information got out to THIEVES right after I gave a blank check to your company ! She referred me to main company and they did agree to send me a bill. Well it's been in almost a month and NO BILL - I called them and told them "don't even think about adding late charges on this account as YOU have not sent the bill and won't give me proper address to send it to?"

I cannot prove this alarm company gave out that information, but BEWARE as 90% of their customers are handicapped, old and mental challenged and confused, etc. -

On another note, the system works fine - we tested it and folks did talk to us thru the monitoring system - both via using the pendant buttons and setting off burglar alarm. Also I can call my mother and punch in certain information and actually listen to what goes on in the house or if I call and get no answer I can choose to speak to her via the monitor myself and if she would not answer I'd go up and call 911, etc. I really like that feature. Of course my Mom - forgets how it works, etc. and my son has to help her - I was told the contract was for FIVE years and in reading it NOPE it is for three and will be automatically renewed if I don't cancel.

I agree this company is unethical. They have 111 complaints on the BBB website in Fla. I am currently in a dispute with them. Stay away from them!

Talk about deja vu. Everything written above is identical to what I am going through. I sent in my cancellation letter via certified mail as they require, it costs almost $12 to send a certified letter. Now they send me a letter saying that they have been trying to contact me by phone. They have not. The letter also states that if I don't call them they will assume I changed my mind and will renew my contract anyway. These people are crooks and should be shut down. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Borough, so have over 100 other people. Whatever you do, do not get involved with this company.

Thanks to all who have posted. I just finished talking with a salesman who came to my door. I was almost sold but I'd call him when my husband got home. Glad I did. There aren't any complaints to the BBB in Ohio where I live, yet. Looks like I'll avoid being the first to complain.

I completely agree! I'm in a dispute with Secuirty Networks over an alarm system for a home I sold 18 months ago because of job relocation. I've just been told that they've renewed my contract for another year because they didn't recieve a written cancellation notice.
This is a terrible company; don't ever get involved with them!

Wow! Same experience. This company is a scam for real. Now I filed a complaint and they responded (in their usual rude way) that they cannot honor my request because they require a 60 day written notice. Ironically, someone from the company called recently and left a message to contact them (rude voice). I am writing my State Representative so that others will not fall privy to what I am going through. READ the fine print because they will not tell you.

Like Karen above me, these folks came to my door here in Ohio. They wanted to put a sign in my front yard advertising their service, and to compensate me for letting them do that, they were going to install a free system. While it may have been a good deal, the monthly monitoring fee is 49.99 (of course they told me that is the rate they charge employees, and that they weren't making any money off me, yeah right). They wanted to install right then and there and when I hesitated saying I wanted to speak to my husband first, I was told it was now or never. Of course if someone doesn't want to give you time to look over contracts, that always throws up a big red flag for me. While the 2 men that came to my door were very nice and polite, it did take a while for them to accept my "No" and move on to other neighbors.

SECURITY NETWORKS IS A MONITORING FACILITY BASED OUT OF FLORIDA. THIS FACILITY IS CALLED "MARLIN STATION". THE WAY THIS COMPANY OPERATES IS JUST LIKE ADT, BRINKS, GUARDIAN, VECTOR AND A FEW OF THE OTHER NATIONWIDE COMPANIES. THEY USE "DEALERS" OR "AFFILIATES" TO OBTAIN CUSTOMERS TO USE THEIR CENTRAL STATION SERVICES.

THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE HAD A PERSON COME KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR ARE BEING APPROACHED BY ONE OF THESE OUTSIDE AFFILIATES. IT IS THEIR JOB TO PROMOTE A FREE ALARM PACKAGE IN LIEU FOR YOUR NEW 24 HOUR MONITORING SUBSCRIPTION. BASIC, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS FREE ALARM PACKAGE, YOU HAVE TO BE A HOMEOWNER. YOU MUST HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE CREDIT SCORE, AND YOU MUST SUBSCRIBE TO A MINIMUM OF 36 MONTHS OF MONITORING SERVICES. THE MONTHLY RATE FOR SERVICE VARIES FROM STATE TO STATE.

THE MONITORING SERVICE AGREEMENT IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD. IT HAS A RENEWAL CLAUSE. IT SAYS THAT THE AGREEMENT RENEWS FOR THE ORIGINAL TERM. I.E. IF YOU SIGNED A 36 MONTH AGREEMENT, THE CONTRACT RENEWS FOR ANOTHER 3 YEARS AT THE TERMS YOU STARTED WITH.

THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE ONCE THAT RATE IS RENEWED, IT IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE.

IF YOU READ THE PART THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT RATE INCREASES, YOU WILL FIND THAT IF THE COMPANY SENDS YOU A RATE INCREASE NOTICE, WHICH THEY MUST DO 30 DAYS PRIOR MAKIING IT EFFECTIVE, THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE THAT INCREASE, AS LONG AS DO SO 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE INCREASE DATE.

THEN, THE COMPANY HAS THE RIGHT TO KEEP YOUR CONTRACT AT THE SAME RATE YOU ARE PAYING AND TO KEEP THE AGREEMENT IN FORCE WITHOUT ANY CHANGES TO IT, FOR THE TERM OF THAT AGREEMENT.
OR THEY WILL CANCEL THE AGREEMENT WITH NO RECOURSE TO THE CUSTOMER. WHICH DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO DO?

IN ESSENCE, SECURITY NETWORKS OFFERS A FIXED RATE THAT CANNOT INCREASE. THIS IS WHY THEY PROMOTE AUTOMATICA RENEWAL OF THAT AGREEMENT. IT IS ACTUALLY A HIDDEN BENEFIT TO THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO CONTINUE ON FOR MANY YEARS. WHICH IS THE ENTIRE SPIRIT OF THE PROGRAM, TO OBTAIN LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS.

AS SUCH, YOU CAN ALSO SEND IN WRITTEN NOTICE, AT ANYTIME PRIOR TO 90 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE AGREEMENT STATING THAT YOU DO NOT WISH TO HAVE THE CONTRACT AUTOMATICALLY RENEW AND THAT YOU WOULD AGREE TO A TERM OF MONTH TO MONTH SERVICE.

MY AFFILIATE WHO SOLD ME MY SYSTEM GAVE ME A FORM LETTER THAT HAD EVERYTHING PREPARED FOR ME! THEY EXPLAINED THIS AUTOMATIC RENEWAL AND TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT VERY PROFESSIONALLY AND DISCLOSED EVERYTHING TO ME UP FRONT.

I SENT MY NOTICE IN THE SAME WEEK THEY INSTALLED MY SYSTEM. I WAS CALLED BY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS CANCELLING THE SERVICE AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT. I WAS MERELY EXERCISING MY RIGHT TO NULL THE AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF MY AGREEMENT AND THAT I WAS WILLING TO CONTINUE MY AGREEMENT UPON THE EXPIRATION OF MY ORIGINAL TERM ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.

CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGED MY NOTICE AND NOTED MY ACCOUNT. I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER WITH THEM FOR 8 YEARS. MY RATE IS STILL THE SAME AS THE DAY I ENTERED INTO IT, $39.95 PLUS MARYLAND STATE TAX. I HAVE BOTH OF THEIR SERVICES INCLUDING TWO WAY VOICE AND CELLULAR BACKUP. MY SYSTEM IS UNDER WARRANTY STILL! I NEVER PAY MORE THAN $25.00 FOR A SERVICE CALL. I HAVE HAD MY PHONE LINE CHANGED FROM VERIZON TO COMCAST, SECURITY NETWORKS CAME OUT AND HOOKED MY ALARM SYSTEM BACK UP AGAIN AND ONLY CHARGED ME $25.00. THEY ALSO CAME OUT AND UPGRADED MY OLD ANALOG CELLULAR BACKUP UNIT TO THE NEW HONEYWELL DIGITAL UNIT AT NO CHARGE!

THEY ARE AN OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN MY OPINION AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE SERVICING MORE THAN 125, 000 CUSTOMERS NOW. I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND ON-LINE VERSES THE NUMBER OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS IS NOT A BAD RATIO.

I AM SURE SECURITY NETWORKS WILL DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEM AS ONE OF THEIR HIGHLY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS.

KARL
HARFORD COUNTY MARYLAND
CUSTOMER OF : SECURITY PRO'S INC. A HONEYWELL ALARM DISTRIBUTOR AND SECURITY NETWORK INSTALLATION AFFILIATE

a young man from secuity networks came to my door. he wanted to get a sign in my yard to do some adverising and he and the company paid for my new honeywell system, i paid no installation or activation, nothing up front and just forty a month, he explained everything to me just fine and answered all my questions. i got broke into a couple times in the past ten years or so, and have been needing a system. it works perfect and the customer service is great, i dont know what all you guys are complaining about but i got a super good deal and security networks really takes care of me. thanks,

i agree, i have been with security networks for about 8 years now and havent had one problem, when i did, they came out and took care of it for me, and even replaced all my batteries for free. THEY ARE NOT AN A PLUS WITH THE BETTER BUISNESS FOR NO REASON. THEY ARE A GREAT COMPANY AND I AM GLAD I SWITHCED FROM ADT

Wow!... After checking out 7-8 different security companies; so we could choose the one that best fit our needs, I found the same complaints with ""ALL OF THEM!"" Check it out for yourselves! ADT, Alarm Force, Monotronics, Brinks, Secruity Networks, I could go on and on...the rep for Security Networks explained everything up front and went over every detail of the contract..(yes-I agree, these long contracts are ridiculous--there should be a law against it but they ALL prey on our desire to keep our families safe, etc). Maybe they have to purchase lines, or whatever... so that's why they do long term contracts...I guess we all need to do more research! Who do you turn to if they all have the same issues and you want a security system? We will be going with Security Networks (Central Ohio location)...I felt the most comfortable with them, etc.

NOTE: ALL OF THESE NATIONWIDE ALARM COMPANIES HAVE COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, BEING A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND NOW AN ALARM SYSTEM CUSTOMER, I AM GLAD I WENT WITH SECURITY NETWORKS. THEY HAVE NOT INCREASED MY RATE AND BECAUSE I HELPED THEM ADVERTISE BY POSTING THEIR SIGN IN MY YARD THEY PROVIDED ME A SYSTEM AT NO COST. IN ADDITION, THEY WAIVED THE ACTIVATION AND INSTALLATION CHARGES. I AM GLAD I WENT WITH SECURITY NETWORKS. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THEY ARE RATED A PLUS ON THE BBB. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.SECURITYNETWORKS.NET. THEY MAY HAVE A FEW COMPLAINTS BUT WHAT BUSINESS DOES NOT HAVE A FEW UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS? AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND KNOWING A LOT ABOUT ALARM SYSTEMS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SECURITY NETWORKS. AWESOME COMPANY AND AWESOME CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SALES TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

PS I ALSO NOTICED THEY HAD VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE SALES AND SECURITY CONSULTANTS. THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME. THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW TO SET UP A SYSTEM IN A HOME AND COVER THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS OF MY HOME.

AGAIN, GREAT JOB SECURITY NETWORKS!

sounds like all the complaints come from people who don't read what they sign their name to! READING IS FUNDAMENTAL! if you believe everything people tell you, don't complain!

Anyone that signs their name to something should realize they are promising to fulfill their part of the contract. And therefore READ what they are signing. I have security networks and they have been great with NO surprises BECAUSE I read what I signed my name to. Also when you get a new system from security networks they have a recorded phone call reviewing the details on the contract which you can ask questions too. So I really don't know how anyone could try to blame the company for their own actions. I guarantee if someone tried to sue them they would lose because of how clear they are. One note: if you are buying a system from a door to door salesman you can negotiate the monitoring price pretty low and get lots of free equipment, just be nice to the person. That's what I did.

Please be advised that if you sign a 5-year contract with this company, THERE IS NO BUYOUT OPTION. You will be required to pay for the full 5 years, no matter what. It does not matter if you must move for your job. They could not care less about any circumstances. You will be stuck, as I am. Their customer service personnel were rude and obnoxious, as well. I would not recommend this company to anyone. Period.

Security Networks has been a great company o me. As far as the contract goes, they haves military clause that will void the contract for military related needs to cancel. I like what all the other people have said about reading the contract. Sure there may be some shady sales people out there, but it is ultimately up to you to read the contract. Thad representative in Va Beach was very up front and honest about everything. I have had pushy salesmen come to my door, but security networks let me ask questions and let me decide what I wanted. I would highly recommend security networks to anyone.

To add to my previous comment, I used to be with ADT, but they wanted to charge me for new equipment, plus raise my monthly rate and charge me to have it installed. Security networks didn't charge me a dime for the new touchscreen panel with the cell chip included in it or for the installation. Plus they gave me more sensors to protect the rest of my home. I would have had to pay about $800 to get that from ADT. If you do your homework, you will agree that security networks is a great company and have the best deal I have seen.

I agree with the initial complaint, totally! My husband and I have had our system for 2 years, and this is the most incomptetent company I've had the misfortune of dealing with. We're paying for a monitering system that doesn NOT moniter! The customer support people are rude, and crude, and after at least 20 attempts to get them to fix the system, we have given up.
Stay away from this company, if you're looking for dependable service, with good support!

I have had security networks for about a year now in Houston and everything has been perfectly fine. The system works great and the salesmen explained the contract to me in full before I signed anything. Also my neighbors signed with the same company a few years back and have had no complaints whatsoever.

These ###s keep calling my cell phone, which is also my published home business line. I NEVER use this number to sign up for anything, so they are violating the Do Not Call act by not removing me each and every time I request they do so. Each call starts with a recording saying, "Congratulations! You have won a free home security system. Press 1 to be connected to a live operator." I press 1, ask them where they got my number (never get a response other than from the "promotions dept.) and then I ask to be removed. After 5 requests, I now resort to cursing them out.

Stay AWAY Security Networks
We have the service in PA 19066. Horrible undependable service. NO show for service and very rude.

Security networks or vision security fraud misrepresentation to out and out lies. Customer service 0 they are aware of the tactics used to defraud consumers. Write your district attorney, file a small claims action what ever you have to do. All of these companies have problems. But vision security are about as low as you can get

I live in Utah where there are a ton of these summer alarm companies and they send out their new guys to train here every year before they ship them out for the summer. We get BOMBARDED by these guys every spring and its always the same pitch "we want to use your yard to advertise, if you put this sign up then we will give you free equipment". Years ago, we fell for it and signed up with APX ALARM. We signed a 3 year contract at $49.99/month and were fine with the equipment but had some customer service issues. This last January a guy came by from a local company that is a dealer for security networks. He offered to lower our monthly payment AND upgrade our equipment AND pay off any cancellation fees we might have with APX (now Vivint). I thought for sure this had to be too good to be true. I did some research and had him leave the contract with me to look at over night and said I'd call him the next day. Long story short, he gave us a new touchscreen keypad with cellular and the mobile app for free, paid off our $200 cancellation fee, AND DROPPED OUR RATE to $44.95. I could not be happier, I only signed a 3 year contract because you just never know what might happen in 3-5 years. Great Company, the dealer was Home Safe Alarms

I love how the person who posted positive feedback forgot to remove their security networks signature! LOL Stay AWAY The positive feedback is from Security Networks, check the April 18 2011 comments. Not too bright ;)

I have security Networks system for three years then I upgraded my system to a wireless system, about one and a half year after, my home was broken into and the alarm system was ripped off the wall and disconnected so no signal was sent. My flat screen TV was stolen and other valuables, although the system was armed the robbers took 30 seconds to take the system apart and was able to burglarized my house. Security net work has not done nothing about it i told them I want out of the contract and they refuse to let me out . Stay away from this company it does not protect you or your property.

A rep came by my house while I was at work and convinced my pregnant wife to purchase this agreement. She was under the impression that the installers were going to come back in a week to make sure we still wanted the system. If we didn't, they would remove it. They never came. About 2 months after they installed the system, I called and tried to cancel. They said I couldn't and explained their rules, which although are stated in the contact, are not fair to the customer. I don't understand how they can hold me accountable for something I didn't sign for. After that, I cancelled my credit card and sent them a letter asking them to please cancel my service. Along with the letter I mailed them their equipment. Now I have a fist size whole in my drywall. After a few weeks I recieved a voicemail from Security Networks explaining that I couldn't cancel. They didn't attempt to re-install the system, but they did continue to bill me for about 4 months. I, of course, did not pay, since I was not using their service. Now almost a year later, I got a notice from a collections agency saying I owe $3, 000 for a service I tried out for two months (I believe I paid $50 for three months before I cancelled my credit card) . They continued by saying if I didn't pay they were going to encourage Security Networks to hire one of their lawyers and they were going to sew me and, if it came to that, I would be responsible for the court and attorney fees.

I refuse to pay for a service I do not need or want.. Does anyone have any advice?

Can You Help Please, our story or exspearyance, Back around 1997 or 1998 we got Robed so we My Mother and I started looking for a Home Security company, we are on a fixed income so it made the job hard because most of the Security company's wanted a lot of money up front before they could help use, we did find a company called Netirge Security that would help, with free equtment and installation for $35.00 dollars a month and we wore happy with their service for 2 or 3 years, then it got wired the company changed hands 3 times and each time the price went up, now we are with the company called Security Network Home Security Inc. And now we pay about $50.00 dollars each month, But the service they provied is very poor and most all my equipment is either out dated or old and bracken and now I learn that they have renewed my contract with out my nil age and I can not change companies unless I pay the complete Contract and their service Sucks

I am Handicapped con any one help roym58@bellsouth.net