THE MYTH OF THE “FREE ALARM SYSTEM”

All “free alarms” come with a long term commitment to pay, normally 36 months at $29.95 per month plus GST. That’s $1,153.67. Keep in mind that this is for a system that typically includes 2 door or window switches and 1 motion sensor. There are very few buildings that can be adequately protected by such a system. This means that you will either be adding to the $1,153.67 you are already committing to, or paying all that money for a system that is providing very little protection.

In addition to this, many alarm companies who offer free alarms have hidden fees not mentioned at the time of the sale, such as activation fees, permits, licenses, or taxes that will be added to your bill. By the time most people have completed the financial commitment required by their “free alarm” system they have spent $1,500 to $2,000.

Companies that offer “free” alarm systems can only stay in business by adhering to two basic policies;

1. Make sure the client signs an air tight contract, for a minimum of 3 years. You won’t be let out of this contract no matter what the circumstances may be.
2. Charge the highest possible rates for alarm monitoring, repair service and system upgrades. It costs the alarm company a lot of money to install your alarm system and they will make sure to recoup every penny by the time your contract is complete. No company can provide something for nothing and stay in business.

So what is a “free alarm” really? It is simply a method of financing your purchase over a period of time. There is nothing wrong with this in principal, few of us pay cash for houses or cars. But you should consider that with any purchase, the less money you put down, the more you will pay in the long run. And when you purchase from a particular vendor because of an “easy financing” scheme you may be ignoring other important factors such as product features, quality of service and local support.

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Club Phoenix

My last alarm service provider left me with a lot of unfulfilled promises. Since I switched my alarm monitoring to Quality Alarms, I have found the honesty and integrity that I was searching for in an alarm company.

Troy F.