Free home security system? Scam?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 2
From: Shreveport, LA
Free home security system? Scam?
Guy just came by claiming to be from Honeywell and promoing a new voice opperated security system.
I can get it for free, plus the $35 a month fee for the service..for simply putting a sign in my front yard?
It's new technology and they want to get it out by word of mouth rather than advertisement?
Was this guy just casing my house?
It will go on the market in 4-6 months for about 800 a system. Nothing's for free....what's going on here?
I can get it for free, plus the $35 a month fee for the service..for simply putting a sign in my front yard?
It's new technology and they want to get it out by word of mouth rather than advertisement?
Was this guy just casing my house?
It will go on the market in 4-6 months for about 800 a system. Nothing's for free....what's going on here?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: AZ.
Originally Posted by websthes
even worse you get a sign in your front yard so all your neighbor's know you've been had.
Maybe he went bankrupt giving away all the free pools..
To me, free is only if one gets something without paying any money, providing any information or doing any service of any kind. That about eliminates almost all free stuff........ IMO...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
$35 a month is outrageous for monitoring fees. My company does commercial monitoring for way less than that. The system they put in will most likely be very limited as well. I would say get in touch with a local low voltage contractor and they can design a very nice system for you that is not outrageously expensive. I'm talkin all the door contacts, all windows, motion sensors, multiple keypads, card access, etc... Also you won't have to have a advertise for them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 0
From: Southern MD
Why not call your local Honeywell office and see if they are, or, are not promoting the progrm?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by bumpzter
Not necessarily a scam. I know of a company that does install basic alarms (control panel, 2 doors, 2 windows, 1 motion detector) for free, but you have to sign a contract for $25 a month monitoring charge.
Had a 'representative' of a security company come by and asked us a few questions, and we were told that we could 'win' an alarm system as bumpzter described.
We actually received the system. We had to sign a contract for 12 months.
The only downside was the maintenance. When a battery went bad on one of the motion sensors, they wanted a couple of hundred dollars to replace the battery and 'update' the system.
Ha! $1.99 for the battery at the local electronics outlet, and five minutes for the system to 're-learn' what was connected and what was 'not'.
As for a sign. . . I'm not putting anyone's sign in my yard. That is just telling everyone that I have a security system, and that they should be more cautious, as to how they break in.
(Let 'em figure it out as the police are locking 'em up!)
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: northwest
i used to be a telemarketer for a "free alarm" company. its not a scam, the system is free, and they do charge 30 bucks a month to monitor it. you do have to agree to the monitoring for 12 months.
its no different than when you get a "free" phone and sign a contract for 2 years with the cell phone company. the phone is no good without the service... the alarm is no good if the cops dont get called, or the fire dept if the house catches on fire.
but the wise people just buy the sign. thats 90% of the solution right there. is a tweaker going to risk it knowing the next door neighbor may NOT have an alarm? no way.
its no different than when you get a "free" phone and sign a contract for 2 years with the cell phone company. the phone is no good without the service... the alarm is no good if the cops dont get called, or the fire dept if the house catches on fire.
but the wise people just buy the sign. thats 90% of the solution right there. is a tweaker going to risk it knowing the next door neighbor may NOT have an alarm? no way.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
From: Home, at last!
Originally Posted by psychlopath
Guy just came by claiming to be from Honeywell and promoing a new voice opperated security system.
I can get it for free, plus the $35 a month fee for the service..for simply putting a sign in my front yard?
It's new technology and they want to get it out by word of mouth rather than advertisement?
Was this guy just casing my house?
It will go on the market in 4-6 months for about 800 a system. Nothing's for free....what's going on here?
I can get it for free, plus the $35 a month fee for the service..for simply putting a sign in my front yard?
It's new technology and they want to get it out by word of mouth rather than advertisement?
Was this guy just casing my house?
It will go on the market in 4-6 months for about 800 a system. Nothing's for free....what's going on here?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Western Pa
Originally Posted by seventyseven250
Or better yet, just steal the sign, it's not hooked up to the alarm.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: northwest
when i worked for the company i saw my boss securing monitoring contracts with the monitoring company for $40 a year. our company was charging the customer $30 a month. of course we had to make money. thats why people go into business. thats how we paid for the "free" equipment.
in todays world do people expect companies to give stuff away and then not get anything in return? thats just nuts.
in todays world do people expect companies to give stuff away and then not get anything in return? thats just nuts.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
You can get monitoring services for $14 a month. They are basically making $20 a month. You can buy a wireless system from RadioShack for $99 (monitor, motion, (2) door switches, and remote) and have it monitored or better yet call your cell phone for nothing.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
Likes: 1
From: Montreal Canada
Originally Posted by F15090300
Or just take it yourself and say somebody stole it so you don't have a big ugly hunk of crap in your yard that you have to mow around.
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