Home Security System Recommendation

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

We have an ADT home security system. It's been one problem after another for the past year and a half. The latest problem is the main panel. Worked with ADT via phone, followed all instructions/changed out battery but we continue to have the low battery/problem beeping everyday and it's usually in the very early morning hours. A technician was scheduled to come to house yesterday, between 12-5. Waited all day and finally decided to call only to find out some manager said a different technician had to come out and canceled that appointment but not one called to notify us. That wasn't the first time that happened. It always takes about a week (usually at least two weeks) to get someone out to the house which generally isn't a big deal except with this latest problem and the beeping at all hours of the night. I asked to speak to a manager yesterday, none available but took my number and someone was to call me yesterday but never did. Such poor customer service and I'm just over it and would like to switch to a different company. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Nascardiva · ‎03-10-2010

I'm not sure what area you're in, but I highly recommend Ackerman. They have excellent customer service, and it only costs $18.95/month.

Don't make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

itsmagic · ‎08-08-2011

I can understand your frustration with ADT and unfortunately I don't have an alternate to recommend. But I wanted to say that we also have ADT and have also had the low battery signal problem on the panel in the past. The problem that turned out for us was that our ADT system along with our small freezer were both plugged into a GFCI electrical outlet in our basement (same type of outlet they put in bathrooms that has the built in circuit breaker) and the outlet had tripped off so that our ADT was running off the battery which eventually ran low. Before this happened I had never paid attention to the type of outlet it was plugged into. We ended up having to have an electrician come out and install an electrical outlet just for the ADT system.

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I would suggest finding a local company with good reviews. Chances are, they will be less expensive and more responsive than the national chains.

I use a local company and have been very happy with them. Their rates are reasonable. I pay about $15/month for monitoring. If I have an issue, a technician will be at my house within 24 hours and that technician is usually the guy who installed the system for the original owners of my house 20+ years ago, so he is very familiar with the system.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I'm sorry to hear you've had so many problems with ADT. We've had them for about 12 years in this house and it's been excellent - from the equipment to the customer service. they are always right there to help if there is a problem and even come and replace all the batteries for free.

We live in a small-ish city so there probably aren't a lot of choices here. Hopefully, you can find one that meets your needs.

BornToShop · ‎03-10-2010

I highly recommend FrontPoint Security. We were victims of a home invasion a year or so ago so in order for me to be able to sleep & feel safe, I had to get a security system. They have excellent ratings, no one comes to install, DH had it installed in 20 minutes! We have also received excellent customer service from them as well.

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

There are only two local home security system companies in my area and their reviews are not great. I looked into FrontPoint and their ratings are good, it seems it's a lot of "do it yourself" and "we'll send you the equipment, fix it yourself." They are based out of Washington DC and subcontract.

Chickenbutt: We used to get free batteries but they told me that offer was discontinued.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

My suggestion is to find a reputable local company who installs security systems, and find out who does their monitoring. The local company that installed my system left ADT, so in order to keep our system in the hands of a local team we trust, we cancelled ADT monitoring, and pay our monthly fee to the local company, who then pays the company who does the monitoring. This way we don't have new guys coming into our home every time we have something installed or repaired. ADT once dispatched a repairman who lived 100 miles away to fix an issue with our system, which was our last dealings with ADT. I also think your low battery issue is an electrical issue, not an alarm system issue.

CANDLEQUEEN · ‎03-09-2010

We have ADT as well, and had the same problem as you and finally a representative came out and replaced our panel-it was the problem, it was very frustrating though....I do know that Time Warner Cable has a Security system, one of my friends and her husband signed up and they said it is excellent and it just goes on their monthly Cable Bill.......

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 9/9/2014 RedTop said: My suggestion is to find a reputable local company who installs security systems, and find out who does their monitoring. The local company that installed my system left ADT, so in order to keep our system in the hands of a local team we trust, we cancelled ADT monitoring, and pay our monthly fee to the local company, who then pays the company who does the monitoring. This way we don't have new guys coming into our home every time we have something installed or repaired. ADT once dispatched a repairman who lived 100 miles away to fix an issue with our system, which was our last dealings with ADT. I also think your low battery issue is an electrical issue, not an alarm system issue.

This is good to know...I recently had the low battery problem. It was the first time I had this issue since they moved their call center overseas.

The last time I needed batteries, a local guy came out within 48 hours. He replaced ALL my batteries at once (I pay extra to have that coverage).

This time it was the main back up battery. The CSR said they couldn't send out a tech - I needed to replace it myself. It took TEN DAYS to get the battery....every 8 hours the system went off - waking us up in the middle of the night.

We couldn't get the battery installed, so we had a tech come out...that was ANOTHER TEN DAYS!!!!

The previous owner installed a large system with ADT. I didn't realize that I can get a local company to monitor it...I'm switching!!!!