The First Years Monitor

Now you've seen the "powerful television ads" running by ADT and other big companies selling centrally monitored alarm systems. Maybe one of these companies has visited your home with an offer of "free" or "almost free" alarm system.

Sounds good, does not it? Perhaps they have even asked you the magic "closing" question ... "Would not you spend just $ 1.00 per day to protect your family?" Who could say no to this question? That's what they count on! Now, they'll be ready to sign your contract!

What is wrong with this picture? Firstly, it does not "give" a free! No! These "big boys" spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their television ads and powerful your dollars are used to pay for them. Add it up.

The so-called free system is typically a Ademco / Honeywell system that includes a master control panel, a single keyboard to operate the system, 3 door contacts or surface of the window, an internal siren and a motion detector. Then your monitoring contract is always linked to a contract of 3-5 years of follow-up is automatically renewed. Finally, you'll probably need some additional contacts, motion detector and at least 1 second of smoke and fire detection.

Now we'll add. For convenience, let's just say that your offer requires a commitment of 3 years $ 35.00 per month. That rises to $ 1260.00.

Too Much! You can easily buy central monitoring of a national company without a written contract long term, for as low as $ 8.95 per month. That adds to $ 322.20 for the same 3 years, the "big boys" need, and you don 't object to an automatic renewal. Now add in the cost of the same Ademco / Honeywell system ... Control Panel, keypad and 3 door or window contacts ... $ 136.17 (link). The difference is $ 801.63. If you install the system yourself, keep all the difference. If you pay a handyman or a professional installer installation costs, you do not normally pay $ 250.00. You just saved yourself $ 551.63!

This is not all you need to know. The typical customer monitoring, like you, keeps its monitoring service even for an average of 15 years. If you compare the total cost for an additional period of 12 years after automatically renewing your original contract expires, you will pay $ 5040.00. If you use the program $ 8.95, you only pay $ 1288.80 for the same 12 years. Is it really something to think?

Now for the "scary" part! The "big boys" will not tell you that your system needs an installation code "" to be placed in the system. They do not tell the user code. The user code "features allows you to program your secret codes numbered for your family members to have access to the system. "Code of the installer, on the other hand, is necessary for areas to re-program or add. Without it, you can not make changes to your system without having to pay the boy" big "to do . More importantly, without the installation code "for", you can switch the SAs! This allows the "big" hold hostage your system. Just trying to get them to give you that if you want to cancel the contract. They are generally not, and in most cases, they do so reluctantly, and usually require a fight.

Finally, most home owners need more sensors than the small number of boys "great" offers "free". If you need additional contact sensors such as window or door or smoke detectors and fire, you usually pay the "big" 2-3 times more for these extras.

When it comes time for you to buy a security system for your home, be a responsible consumer. Do not let political ads on television lure you in. Buy your system from a shop in the Internet security and trusted that the system in.