What's the catch in a "free" home security system?
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at
5:03 pm
A salesman came to my door, asked if he could install a security system for free if I would allow him to place a sign for his company on my lawn. I’m obviously not going to agree, but when he comes back, I’d like some ammunition to explain why I am saying "no". Where is he trying to make money off me? Is it a service contract for the system? Will the system malfunction and I will pay for repairs?
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Filed under: Home Security Systems
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Normally, they make their money back on monitoring fees. This is a monthly charge. I think you will be required to sign a one or two year contract for monitoring the system.
I’ve seen something about this on tv in the Uk in the past. From what I remember, the hardware itself is free but you are bound to a contract and liable for ongoing fees.
I was also ask the same question by a salesman. Free security system installed with sign in front lawn. I found he ask way too many security questions, such as do you maintain your own lawn and landscaping or do you have help from your husband? I’m not married, no Man around here except ocassionally my Son who sometimes helps with my yard work. Salesman said I looked like a Woman who could take care of myself, probably have a dog and a gun? I have neither, 2 cats who alert me to any strange noise. Then salesman wanted to know if my door jams were made of soft pine or hard pine, to the best of my knowledge, all pine is soft. He wanted to know if I would mind if he inspected my door jams.
My answers to these questions were, My Husband will be home shortly, yes I have a gun and a dog and I do mind if you inspect my door jams.
I called police dept, they said they do have 13 salesmen in the area and have a license to solicit.
Maybe so, but I wonder with so many personal questions if there wasn’t a side business going on, after all, if they install security system and are crawling all over my house during installation, I am sure they would know how to dis-arm system and with additional info they had obtained about husband, dog and gun, who knows what their intentions would be.
If I were to have security system installed it would have to be Brinks or ADT. I would expect to be charged for installation and monitoring.
As for your reason for saying no, you don’t need to explain anything to him, don’t have to say anything more than no or not interested.
Most of the time they make up that free or no charge installation with higher monthly fees later. They also will try to get you to sign a contract for 3 years or more. I have heard of 5 year contracts. And with most of the major companies and probably the minor ones as well, if you break your contract, you pay a lot of money. This article below talks about some of the ins and outs of companies that offer free installs. Generally you should avoid them. They all will make you pay for their service at some point. Either up front or later or both.
http://www.teepeetech.com/home-security-systems/can-you-get-adt-security-system-free-47.html