"Peace of mind" or piece of crap? STAY AWAY FROM ADT!
It seems as if ADT purchased most of the good competition in SoCal and that they are now as arrogant as a near-monopoly can get.
Yesterday, a backup battery for my ADT alarm system began sending out signals that it "needs to be replaced soon" to ADT. ADT took the signal from the battery as if it were an alarm and immediately sent officers to my door who promptly began to interrogate the suspect: my housekeeper of 13 years who is from Honduras and doesn't speak English. After treating her like a criminal and forcing her to prove her identity, they finally left, leaving my housekeeper traumatized.
When I got home hours later, I tried to call ADT, only to find that the alarm system had seized my landline and I couldn't make an outgoing call, not even to 911 in case of a REAL emergency! When I called ADT from my cell phone, they said "Oh yeah! We've been getting alarms from your house all day! You need to get that battery replaced!"
I told them that my landline was seized and that I couldn't make or receive calls and asked "is there a code I could enter to stop this process?" "No," I was told, "you need to find the junction box and open it to disconnect the telephone jack from the system." I asked, "Where is the junction box?" I was told, "Upstairs." "Upstairs?" I said. "My house is four stories. Upstairs is a big place!" She responded simply, "That's what it says here. Upstairs."
By now it was past midnight and I finally found the junction box which was on the second lowest floor in my house ("upstairs") and, long agnozing story short, when I opened the box, it was full of exposed wires and blinking lights and no apparent way to simply shut anything off. I said, "I am in way over my head here. What do I do now?" And the ADT woman said to me, "Do you have a screwdriver?"
I have had this system for eight years and have had countless false alarms, usually at inopportune moments when I am not at home. On windy days. On rainy days. For no particular or apparent reason. Once, I was in Juneau, Alaska in 2002 defending myself in a lawsuit and, during a break in my testimony, I got a breathless call from ADT telling me that there was an intruder in my home. Turned out there wasn't, but we didn't know that until I had to frantically call anyone I knew back in LA to go to my house and check on things there. I took their service plan hoping to eliminate maintenance issues. It didn't help.
Now, I have told ADT to bring the wire cutters when they come to my home next week for a service call. I want them out of my life for good.
Don't be fooled by this company's big ad budget and slick commercials promising "peace of mind." I have had nothing but problems with ADT. Does what I described sound like "peace of mind" to YOU?
These days when no one is listening to you, the best way to respond is with a blog that goes viral. Please spread this link to anyone you know who might think of installing a home security system. Maybe THIS will get their attention.
Any good security companies left in SoCal that ADT hasn't already bought up? Let me know here or at tom@blowmeuptom.com.
I Hate ADT
that is why I had Brinks install my alarm. Unfortunately ADT the monopoly has bought out Brinks. Now they keep calling me and waking me up in the middle of the damn night to tell me that my system needs maintenance. Well, I think they are full of crap because the thing works fine when we test it! They just want to squeeze me for $300 to send a guy out here to push a reset button.
I Like ADT
I've had ADT protecting my home for 10 years. The only and recurring problem we have is when cooking certain foods in the kitchen sets off the smoke alarm. This is due to the stupid layout of our house. Burgers in a grill pan on the stove top or meat broiling in the oven giving off smoke will almost always set off the shrieking household alarm, resulting in an immediate call from ADT--but it is comforting to know that they will always call. Yes, I get frustrated when the alarm siezes my landline but it's only for a few minutes. And ADT will call for every "event". We've learned to avoid setting of the alarm by placing large floor fans in the hallway where the alarm is located and aim the fans toward the kitchen, as well as using the fan blower of the microwave over the oven. Other than this, have never had a false alarm due to the weather or anything else in 10 years.
My major complaint with ADT is that they do nickel-and-dime you. We were given two remote control key fobs with our system. Mine hasn't worked in years and we don't replace it because ADT requires a tech come to the house for a $125 or more charge. Why the hell wasn't there a longer warranty on the key fob? And why can't I simply purchase a new one from the company and configure the code settings myself? I can do it with my Genie garage door opener, why not my security system? So, I put up with the inconvenience of having to turn off the alarm at the wall keypad after walking in the door. Someday I might buckle under and get a new one, but maybe after I buy that new iPod...
But other than that, I'm happy with ADT. And with some exceptions, their tech support
has been fairly good. But having said that, my one complaint there would be that it took about a year and 6 different tech support reps for me to finally get one to tell me that when my door-open sensor falls on the floor and is no longer working (yes, it's happened a few times), it was because I stuck it back on the door upside down. They could have told me this the first time it happened instead of having me schedule a guy to come to the home to the tune of $150 who didn't even tell me what the problem was! The guy gave me his card and told me to call him directly from now on because he would personally charge me less (under the table) the ADT would. However, when I called him a month ago, he never returned my call and his message said to call the ADT service line. I guess he got busted but was still allowed to keep his job.
This is what you get when you
This is what you get when you pay money out of fear to big brother and expect their machines to protect you. If you're that afraid, then buy a gun, educate yourself on how to use it and take responsibility for your own personal security. Exercise your personal freedom instead of paying some faceless "security company" to take it away from you.
ATD
I've had a small company, Silent Tiger, out of Pasadena forever.
It's been more than satisfactory......
Cat (The Tom Leykis Show's Resident Fat Chick)
Stay away from ADT
Tom, I've been alarm service tech for 24 years. for what used to be Honeywell Protection Serv. and it is now Stanley Convergent Sec.
Next time the alarm panel seizes your phone line. Open the alarm panel door.
and unplug the phone cord from the phone jack. Which is either inside the control panel. or with a couple feet of the control panel. (Not the keypad) Or power the panel down. Removing the A.C. power( low voltage) and disconnecting the battery.
Instead of ADT
Tom;
I like those guys that advertise over the radio, The Monitoring Center. 866-24-7-4-999.
$9.99 a month, but no service plan at that price. I had them take over control of my Honeywell System. I was sick of Honeywell's service on on 9 year old system. Too many corporate name changes from Honeywell to HSM to Stanley Security.
Victor
Misinfomed Comments
I have been in the industry for 5 years and my goal isn't to argue with people here, but to offer some balance, a few of the complaints mentioned sound invalid to me. The alarm systems are indeed suppossed to work in the manner a few of you mentioned, and I would suggest that you may not understand what it is you are paying for. Specifically when an alarm goes off, the monitoring is suppossed to call you and ask if you want the police called, that is how they all work, and you have the choice to have the police dispatched. Also I would be extremely shocked to see someone in a condo pay $75 a month for monitoring, that just isn't sound right, and if you agreed to that price without researching the options you are a moron, but my guess is that you are either wrong or overstating it. Anyways, yes ADT isn't perfect but isn't horrible either.
Alarm Tech
Hi guys:
I have worked for major alarm companies in So Cal, Westec, Greater Alarm, refused to work for ADT, then adt swallowed westec, etc.. my point is, as an employee and service tech: the bigger and convoluted the company, the less service you get, just like utilities, you have a problem, the people answering refer it to a department handling the service, then schedule service to your place in the order received... if you find a local company, they usually end up using the SAME central station as the big ones, they can install the SAME equipment as the big ones, the WILL offer better service, since they don't have wait times for service techs to show up at your door, they are a lot less busy, the downside is that they cannot afford to "give you" the alarm equipment, they have to sell it to you, since they are not bulk buyers like adt, brinks, broadview and the rest of those companies, you end up paying for the stuff, but at least you get to own it, not lease it like the others... My advise is, buy local, forget the commercials and phony ads, make sure your local company has been there a while, has good rep, and doesn't pussyfoot around your security questions. Oh, i miss you, Tom, but since Obama took office, I have become a right wing wacko, so maybe you owe your lack of employment to him! Muchas Gracias and hope the Lexus is still running strong!
right wing wacko
me too!!!
Right wing wacko
Me three!
Think smaller.....
We had Brinks (now Broadview) for monitoring our home for many years, and finally went with a small, local alarm monitoring company that had superior service.
The big monitoring companies will talk trash about the small guys, but the small guys will be much more eager to provide better service, and they will be much more responsive when your alarm system needs service.
Sometimes, you've got to think of the smaller companies if you want a higher and better level of service.
Tom -- you are missed in Pork-land, Oregon. I have been a fan of yours since I first heard you nationally in 1994. We'll wait for you to come back. :-)
13 years?
Agreed this sounds like a horrible company and their behavior seems odious...but how can you live 13 years in a country, any country, and not know the language. And if she doesn't speak any english, how do you communicate with her? (Maybe you speak spanish... ? Didn't know.)
Just wondering.
Hope you return with a full-time show soon. You are missed more than you can imagine.
If she learned English
She'd probably then want to have a conversation with Tom. He probably likes the fact she can't speak English. It' keeps things simple.
Police Fine
Tom,
I was out of town. ADT called that the alarm was going off at my home. Should they call the Police? I stupidly said yes. Isn't that what you are supposed to do? I returned home to find a door tag from LAPD. $115 fine for false alarm, plus I had to prove I had paid my $30 Alarm Permit. I do not know what is worse, fighting the City of LA to get the fine removed or paying for yet another thing that is not my fault.
ADT Blows
You're a little late, but welcome to the party, Tom. ADT has been the worst thing in alarm system for a number of years now. I fired them awhile back only to have them 9 months later buy the company I had switched to!
Anyone shopping for security services should scratch ADT from their list as Step One.
Great to see you coming back. Our young boys need your wisdom now, more than ever.
Agreed, ADT is worthless.
Tom,
I'm happy to see the new site live! I can't wait to see all of the content.
Anyway, check out OCUSAFE. I have a rather complex system protecting my shack and OCUSAFE has proven to be an excellent local service provider. I left ADT for OCUSAFE over 5 years ago and I have been beyond pleased with them. www.ocusafe.com.
Best Regards,
Rob
OCUSAFE Additional Information
Tom
One thing I neglected to mention. OCUSAFE offers 2-way voice communications when your alarm is tripped. They listen into your house and can speak with you, your hired help, or the burglar. The significance is that law enforcement places priority on house alarm calls when the dispatch center can "confirm" that there is a crime in progress. Goes kinda like this - * Law Enforcement - Is this a confirmed burglary? *OCUSAFE - Yes, we are listening into the residence right now and we hear drawers being dumped, what sounds to be a wine cellar being raided, the cigar humidor opened, etc, etc.
Otherwise, your alarm is moved to the bottom of the response priority list by law enforcement.
2-Way voice is the way to go. OCUSAFE has a fantastic annual rate if you pay a year in advance as well.
No, I do not sell alarm systems nor do I work for OCUSAFE. I'm simply a very satisfied customer passing along a good recommendation.
Rob
Dump ADT
When I bought my townhouse in 1998, ADT was part of the security system that each owner could have for around $75.00 per month. After the 1st month, I quickly realized I had no real need for ADT. I live in a very safe gated community in eastern Ventura County. My security system alarm could be used without ADT monitoring it. Also, my homeowner's insurance policy would cover any losses from a burglary. Plus, I would save myself $900.00 ($75.00 x 12) a year. Depending on where I go, that $900.00 was better spent on 2 or 3 extra golf weekend trips per year. Now, 12 years later, I have zero regrets. Had I kept ADT I would have paid them $10,800.00 in the past 12 years. An absolute waste of money. I made the right decision.
--Ken
Oak Park, CA
Broadview
hey Tom, have you tried Broadview??? They used to be Brinks.
Re: Broadview
Yeah Broadview, cause you'll never know if that girl you had at your house party will try to break in 2 minutes after the party ends..
ADT just Purchased Broadview on Friday :(
Look it up, ADT just bought Broadview... which SUCKS, Now ADT has done it again.