Can You Trust Your Security Company

There are hundreds, if not thousands of articles out there on how you should choose a security company, or how to choose a security system, or how to choose from a wireless alarm system versus a wired alarm system. They almost all end up being an advertisement for whatever company or product they are trying to promote. Some work for the company itself, others are just trying to get you to click on one of the ads on the page. Usually they give no useful information.

I am going to try and write an unbiased article on home security systems and alarm system monitoring. I want you to be able to take something away from this that will let you decide on what you need to protect your home.

Let me discuss what a home security system is and does. I have been installing security systems for over 20 years and their basic operation hasn’t changed a whole lot. They are basically just a computer. They will have inputs that will monitor door/window contacts and outputs to turn on sirens or lights and they will have a keypad or other device to arm/disarm and give visual indication of system status. Most will have a phone line connection but that is being replaced with internet and wireless communications.

Most security companies will use equipment from the major manufacturers of these panels such as Honeywell, DSC, GE, Napco and a few others. There are also the security companies that make their own proprietary panels. Their basic operation is the same, they just have different features like talking keypads, lighting control, cameras, email, text messaging etc. Some are hardwired, some can use wireless devices, and some can use both.

When it comes to wired vs wireless I use both depending on the situation. If I can get wire to the device location relatively easily, I use a wired device. If I can’t get wire there, or it would be too labor-intensive then I use a wireless device. The reliability of wireless devices and batteries have increase greatly in the past few years and the costs have dropped considerably, so I don’t prefer one over the other.

As I said the basic operation of the different panels is going to be the same. They all do about the same thing. They all get installed just about the same. The system installation should be the same with “company a” or “company b”. You just have to be able to trust the company. After all, they know where you live and how to disarm your alarm and probably will have a good idea of the stuff you have in your house.

Now, let’s talk monitoring. Again, alarm monitoring works the same regardless of who monitors your alarm system. When an alarm goes off, the panel connects to a computer at the monitoring station. That computer will direct the alarm to one or more operators that will take the appropriate actions. If it is a fire alarm or medical emergency, the appropriate authorities are notified immediately. If a burglary, an attempt to contact the residence is made. When there is no answer, or someone at the residence answers and cannot provide a password, the police are notified. If the residence was not contacted, then the operator will call the next person on the contact list.

Some companies will say their monitoring station is better than the rest. Some may be bigger and have more operators, but they all have to meet the same UL standards for redundancy and backup power and other things. There is not much difference.  Some people believe that a local monitoring station is better that one in a different city.  With today's communication infrastructure there is little difference in making a call across the street or across the country.  Some of the companies advertise the fact that they have their own in house monitoring and that is better than the companies that use a 3rd party monitoring station.  Again, little difference.  In fact the 3rd party monitoring station might have fewer calls per operator in a day and give better service.

As you can see, there is not much operational difference in the different types of alarm system. There is not a lot of difference in the alarm monitoring stations. So why do some companies charge as much as $45 per month or more when others charge less than $20 for the same service? Because they can.

Some of the national security companies like ADT and Brinks have spent millions and millions of dollars on advertising to convince the masses that they are better than the rest. Although ADT now owns Brinks (now Broadview) their advertising still says that each is better than the other. They have convinced millions of people to spend $35 or more per month on their security systems with this advertising. Are they better? They just do what every other security company does.

When choosing a company to install your security or monitor your home, it really comes down to trust. I suggest going with a smaller local company. Usually they are more responsive to customer needs because they are local. They can keep prices down because they won’t have the huge overheads of the larger companies with CEO’s making millions, a huge administrative staff, a multi-million dollar ad budget and so on. Check with the BBB, your local Chamber, complaints.com, neighbors and friends. Many offer month to month monitoring contracts.

Like I said, it comes down to trust. Can you trust ADT. They advertise security for $1 a day. If you go to their terms and conditions page of their web site, you see that you get their package for $32.99 if you order over the internet and don't live in specific areas of the country and don't have to have a sales rep visit your home. I guess there are 33 days in a month. There are additional charges for smoke or CO2 detectors or medical alerts. Like it costs them more per month for you to have a smoke detector in your home.

You are supposed to get a system installed for $99. Well you have to pay $299 at install, then wait for them to send you a coupon, fill out the coupon and send in with a copy of your installation contract and wait a couple of months to get $200 back. Their contracts are for at least 3 years and at the end of the 3 years, it automatically renews. The only way to get out of the contract is to contact them within the specified time period at the end of the 3 years. Miss it, and you are stuck for another 3. Oh yeah, does not include a $25 one-time communication connection fee.

If you pay less than $600 for installation, they own the equipment!!!

Most of the larger companies will have similar contracts.

I thought they were supposed to keep you from being ripped off?