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Lee of South Bloomfield OH (01/17/08)
DON'T SIGN A CONTRACT WITH MONITRONICS. My parents and I purchased alarm systems from Monitronics at the same time. Since I could not be home when it was installed, my mother was at my house when it was installed and signed once it was completed. From that time on, if my alarm went off they responded to my parents' house and visa versa. They called us regarding my parents' account and called them regarding my account. They billed us for each other's service. We tried at least 10 times to explain to them the situation and get it straightened out with no success. Not once did they respond to the proper residence when an alarm sounded. My parents moved out of state and transferred their service there. I finally called and told them that I no longer wanted the service because they couldn't get the accounts straight.
An attorney called me about 2 years ago asking for my father regarding his address--but for my account. I told her the situation and told her to get it straight and then call me. I never heard another word....until now. My parents ran their credit reports yesterday and found out that they are being sued for 1547 for my account because I didn't meet the requirements of my contract. They say that my father cosigned and that they haven't been able to reach either of us for the past 2 years. First of all, I'm still at the home that they were supposed to be protecting with the same phone number that they were supposed to call if my alarm went off. Second, my parents are still with Monitronics at their new residence. Third, if my father cosigned, why is nothing showing on my credit report for this? I am now filing with the Attorney General's office to get this resolved.
My parents now have this on their credit report which is affecting their percentage rate in buying a new car. I now have to figure out how to get it off their record and onto mine or just pay it which it not possible right now. Charles of Pelion, SC January 5, 2008
Charles of Pelion SC (01/05/08)
The problem started when I accidentally triggered my alarm one day. To my surprise, Monitronics (the monitoring agency for my alarm system) did not call. I called them to ask about this and they walked me through a test. The test worked. They advised me that I needed to allow the alarm to run for at least two minutes before they would call. That sounds odd. So I purposefully tripped the alarm the next day and let it run for five minutes. No call. I called them back and they ran another test. Wouldn't you know that it worked fine. I contacted the installer of the alarm since I was getting nowhere with Monitronics. He worked on the phone with them and supposedly they found a problem and fixed it, but I didn't believe it. Remember the tests worked. And yes they did call me on the same phone that they should use for the non-test alarms during this test. So there are no issues with phone communication either. Nonetheless they have a backup number that they could use if no one answers the primary number.
So I tripped it again a week later and let it run for five minutes and again got no call. I called back and they ran another test and guess what, it worked. So at this point I'm pretty convinced they just aren't paying attention to the signal. By now I have had it and I'm not willing to do any more tests. I just gave up on it. I decided I would start looking into another monitoring service for my alarm. A few months later I was ready to make the switch. So I called Monitronics to cancel my contract for lack of service. While I was on the phone the contract guy tried to walk through the standard stuff like if I had run a test and how long I let the alarm run, etc. I wasn't interested in talking about it any further at this point as I had already done several tests. While we were on the phone I was googling them and found several complaints against them at Consumer Affairs. So he informs me that I can't get our of my contract early. At this time I was done. After seeing what I saw on google, I had no interest in wasting my time any further. I decided I'll contact my attorney to let him deal with the contract, one that I think is broken by Monitronics because they fail to provide the service in the contract.
Think about this. I get a discount on my homeowner's insurance for having an alarm. What if someone breaks into my house and Monitronics doesn't follow the procedure on their end. My insurance company is not going to be very happy. And that is the least of the problem. So I am adding this information to Ripoff Report and Better Business Bureau as well and I will let my attorney handle my personal dispute from here. But I do have a sore spot for bad businesses so I'd also consider a class action suit.
I'm paying 39.95/mo for a monitoring system that isn't working. If someone breaks into my house the alarm will go off but Monitronics will not call me or the police. I have little faith that I'll get any service if I press one of the emergency buttons (police, fire, ambulance). So worse than the monthly fee is the fact that I am not getting this valuable service. Lisa of Bridgeport, CT December 27, 2007
Lisa of Bridgeport CT (12/27/07)
Monotronics made me write at least three letters requesting that they terminate my service after the contract finally expired. I went through so many horrible experiences with Monitronics I would never use them again. The contract never ends, especially if you move. They are reporting I owe them 80.00 to this day for service because they said they did not receive 2 of the 3 letters I sent them.
Monitronics has reported to credit agencies that I owe them 80.00 for service I did not even use. I sent letters in writing stating I would like to cancel my contract and they said they did not receive my letters. Sara of Arvada, CO December 26, 2007
Sara of Arvada CO (12/26/07)
Do not sign a contract with Monitronics! It is impossible to cancel even if you are willing to pay the balance in full. I had a Monitronics alarm system installed and was told I could cancel if I moved. Shame on me for not reading the small print. Regardless, the alarms were installed incorrectly and had to be reinstalled. I had since painted the house so I had to touch up through out the house for the first installation. Two years later, I was ready to sell my home. I called to cancel and was told I could only transfer to the new owner or have an alarm installed in the new house. I told them just to cancel it, and I would pay the balance in full. I continued to be charged and called back. I was told to write a letter stating I wanted to cancel and include my password. I did this in June. Then I moved.
I continued to be charged and had several conversations with Monitronics. Then the alarm went off for the new owner who had no way to shut it off. She had the fire dept and police show up. I called Monitronics AGAIN. Keep in mind that I have been willing to pay the balance in full but cannot get this thing canceled! I was told I had to write a letter with the exact wording I would like to cancel AND CEASE MONITORING. I did this and again included my credit card number for them to charge the balance in full. Guess what? The alarm went off again for my new owner who had the police dispatched. I called AGAIN and was told she would have to call and have someone walk her through powering down the alarm system. She did. Wow, I actually was not billed in September! But wait, the charges started again in October. I just got off the phone with Monitronics begging them to charge the balance in full to my card so the new owner and I can be done with this. I won't hold my breath. Funny thing is I asked the guy I spoke with if they had any history of my conversations and letters. Sure enough, they have it all but just seem to ignore it! Don't sign a contract with them - it's not worth the hassle if you need to cancel.
Michelle of Olathe, KS December 8, 2007
Michelle of Olathe KS (12/08/07)
We signed a 3 year contract with Monitronics for home security. When we sold our house we wanted to end our contract as the buyers of our home did not want to take over the contract. Monitronics told us that we had to either transfer the service to someone else or take a free move to our next home. We asked everyone we knew to take over service and no one wanted to, so we called back for the free move. In calling back, they started setting everything up for the free move--THEN told us that it would extend our contract another 18 months! Otherwise we would have had to take out the OLD system and transfer it to the new home for a free move with no contract extension.
I let my husband call back as I was furious. They told him they would not have said that it would be a free move with the old system. Basically, we have been told something different by each person we talked to. Also,they referred us to Pro Alarm who could not help us and referred us back to Monitronics. No one is willing to help.
We are continuing to pay 40/mo for a service that we are not using. This may not seem like a lot, but in the next 18 months that equals 720. James of Smithville, MS March 3, 2007
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