|
|
Jan of Bellflower, CA April 14, 2009
Jan of Bellflower CA (04/14/09)
I signed up for the service. The company sent me used equipment. I asked for new. The operator told me that we needed to get it set up and they would then send me new pieces if it didn't work. Once it was set up, I cannot get any help. I keep getting told someone will call back. They don't. The system beeps in the middle of the night and keeps my household awake. I have disconnected the system and contacted the company to cancel my service on their web site. I was told via an on line chat with Jackie that I cold cancel my account in 10/2010. She would have a manager call me. No one has called.
I have a useless alarm system that I am paying for monthly for two years. Please help. Mary of Burkburnett, TX April 5, 2009
Mary of Burkburnett TX (04/05/09)
I should have known the company was cheesy. I received a flyer in the mail and called them about their services. The fees seemed reasonable and the pictures of the equipment in the flyer looked to be a quality product. I thought it was rather odd that the only way they would do business was through automatic debit from my checking account, but since the monthly fees seemed to be minimal I decided it was reasonable. When the equipment arrived, it looked nothing like the flyer. The door and window sensors were small plastic pieces secured by a sticker on the back! Then I had to set up the system myself yet was still charged a set up fee.
When I later complained that the stickers kept falling off they sent me new stickers! These still did not hold. A few times when the alarm went off, they did not call me to check if everything was alright nor did a courtesy police officer arrive. I then realized that we were never really connected to the police through our phone line nor did it seem, was Protect America actually monitoring their systems. When I tried to cancel the service after a few months, they told me this was impossible until the contract was up unless I wanted to pay a 175 fee. I told them I did not believe this was fair to pay for faulty services. They told me they could not send someone to work the system, but that I could work with them over the phone to set it up.
This still never worked. I decided to wait for the contract to end. When my husband then called them to cancel, they told him it was less than the 60 day notification they required and that we would have to pay for another year. He then told them the same thing I had previously, that they expected us to continue paying for a service that we were not getting. When my husband told them he would stop payments, they threatened that they would continue to bill us and put our account through collections. After looking closely through their nearly 5 page, small print, contract, we found the 60 day notice clause. My husband verbally told them to make a not in our account that we would most certainly be cancelling this service by Aug. They insisted that doing so would mean nothing without a written notice.
We decided to wait and will mail the cancellation notice in August 2009 (just a bit longer than 60 days prior to the contract renewal). However, after seeing that although some people have sent them written notification, the company has conveninetly lost those notices, I think maybe we should make certain they get it by sending cancellation letters every week for the next few months. Anything to make it more inconvenient for them as they have us. How inconvenient do you think it might be if ALL of their clients sent them cancellation notices every week as well?
This company is a consumer leech. Their sole focus is to steal your money for a service that is never provided. They have no business ethics and should not be allowed to continue in business. They should be held accountable for their distasteful practices. No business should be allowed to continue when their sole purpose is to extort money from innocent and honest citizens who actually work for a living. As far as we are concerned, Protect American has stolen over 1500 from us and wants us to pay them even more to cancel a service we've never received! In essence, they are forcing us to pay them so they don't send us to collections...this is extortion. What would happen if all their customers suddenly stopped paying them in protest? Sending all the accounts to collections would surely cause a stir and gain attention. Wouldn't it? Then maybe something would be done about them to protect other consumers. I've never heard of such disgusting business practices (aside from AIG). Annom of Austin, TX April 4, 2009
Annom of Austin TX (04/04/09)
I could not yet have an opportunity to become a customer of Protect America yet, even if I wanted to! The pushiness and rudeness of the sales person, sounded like a young male, was beyond belief. After picking up a promotional card in the mail, I called Protect America to inquire about this company 's new wireless security system for the first time. I did not have time to look into or compare with any other alarm systems or companies out there.
It took me only a few minutes to get the basic features of the promoted Wireless GE Security System on the phone, before the young sales man began to press me to sign up immediately! I said Id better discuss this first with my wife. The sales person immediately scoffed at me as not able to make a decision on such a good deal. Then I also mentioned to him that I did not have time to check on other alarm systems and do some comparisons. The sales person immediately flew into an outrage, scolding me that I only used my wife as an excuse and was actually trying to search for better deals! I said it was true that I had both intentions and I did not think that was wrong.
Click--the sales person hung up on me. I could not believe any company's representative would behave so unreasonable and rude to their potential customers. At the time, before I had chance to read any of the online reviews of this company, either my wife or I was not sure if this rude behavior was only one person's bad manner or a reflection of the company's products or their service. After reading several web pages, Im afraid that this persons behavior was not at all accidental. It seems to fit into a pattern of rudeness and bad service other consumers have complained. I would never do any business with such a company.
T of Lawrenceville, GA March 27, 2009
T of Lawrenceville GA (03/27/09)
I was told that I could use the internet to monitor my alarm system. When it arrived I was not able to do so and was told that it's something they are working on for future use. My alarm system is currently not responding due to Protect America telling me that my router doesn't work and I need to purchase a new one from them. I informed them that I was told it was working fine two months ago when I signed up with them. Then they said that other routers work just sometimes, but I will need to purchase additional equipment from them. I informed them that I have been lied to since day one and I want out of my contact and they said no because I have a 3 year contract with them and my grace trial period is over.
I was told false information about the services about the internet access and phone. Everytime I call protect America they try to sell me new equipment instead of solving the problem. I was recently told that they can not read my sensors and I have to buy new equipment from them even though they agreed that everything was working properly last month. I have only been with this company for less then 3 months and I want out without them messing with my credit, etc. They lied to me stating all kind of services that comes with my package and now they say that it's not available. They sales guy that I have called many time apologized to me stating that what he was told and I need to contact a manager to get what I what I was promised from him. Ron of North Kingstown, RI March 26, 2009
Ron of North Kingstown RI (03/26/09)
This company has a nice scam going! They offer you equipment at no charge, if you agree to a 3 year contract. The salesperson tells you that you can cancel after 3 years, and the equipment is yours. I've been a loyal customer of Protect America for over 5 years. When you agree to the contractual obligation, there is no mention of a renewal clause, which is automatic and clandestine, for 1 year periods at a time at the end of the initial 3 year contract. To cancel this service you must send in writing or email a cancellation at least 60 days before the contract expires.
If you cancel 59 days before the expiration, they tell you that you are responsible and will be billed for another year. Keep in mind that you must be able to prove to them that they received a written cancellation note, which means a certified letter or the like. THIS IS A TRUE SCAM. I really think the company is not in the alarm monitoring business as much as it is in the extortion business. I really feel sorry for the senior citizens who want alarms in their houses, and may be shammed by Protect America.
The fact that this company, who uses our great nations name in its own, would bully honest hard working people into paying for their service sighting a small clause that they didn't initially discuss and after the initial 3 year contractual commitment is met, is truly appalling! Especially when you consider the dire economical situation this country is in with hundreds of families losing their income every day. This type of auto-renewal policy has been deemed illegal in many states like New York (see ADT's settlement with its NY contract holder), and it is only a matter of time until other states adopt similar policies.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
|
|
|
MOST-VIEWED PAGES
|
|
NEW COMPLAINTS
- Allied American Warranty
- Battery Doctors
- Dollar Tree
- Robert Zitofsky, DDS, West Haverstraw, NY
- Country Lane Pups, Purdy, MO
- Bayport Credit Union
- Valley View Bank, Overland Park, KS
- Victory Nissan, Chesapeake, VA
- Victory Nissan, Richmond, VA
- Napleton Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Kissimmee, FL
|
|
|
Print This 
Email This
