Warning!!! Home Security Scam!!!

[ATX3HUNNID]

Just a heads up for those of you in search of a home security system. I recently had a sales guy come to my door trying to sell me a home security system through Platinum Protection monitored by Monitronics. He said that they would love to advertise on my house since its located in the middle of an intersection and anyone who stops at that stop sign can see my house.
Of course I told the guy that I would look into his company and get back to him. He was persistant and said that he would waive the installation fee and that I would have a home security system by the end of the night. Again I refused and he gave me his contact info and such...
Turns out this Monitronics International is a horrible company. I just did a little research on them and basically they lock you into a 3 yr contract and automatically renew your contract regardless of what you do to cancel.
So beware of this company! Heres a link that has some testimonials from some of their victims!

Ripoff Report Search Results: Monitronics International

[vvv90]

Some guys tried to sell me a home security system from some company I've never heard of.

At first I was polite. Then he started makin' me real nervous so I mentioned my .45

He got the hint I didn't need it very quickly.

[bac n black]

WOW! Can't believe they can still be in business.

[ATX3HUNNID]

for real I can't believe this CEO is still alive! There was a post on there from an ex employee saying that they were so strick in their call centers that they couldnt even have pictures on their desks or jackets on the backs of their chairs!

[srt8danno]

Originally Posted by vvv90

Some guys tried to sell me a home security system from some company I've never heard of.

At first I was polite. Then he started makin' me real nervous so I mentioned my .45

He got the hint I didn't need it very quickly.

I've used that technique several times....works like a charm!

[OoTLink]

Originally Posted by ATX3HUNNID

for real I can't believe this CEO is still alive! There was a post on there from an ex employee saying that they were so strick in their call centers that they couldnt even have pictures on their desks or jackets on the backs of their chairs!

I wish they did that in some medical offices. The amount of .. CRAP I've seen on people's desks wreaked of lack of professionalism lol.

In a private office I totally agree though, lame.

FWIW: If a company has you sign a contract that does NOT state auto renew, and claims to renew it anyway, you can report them to the state/district attorney's office and get that taken care of hella fast. If your contract doesn't specify that it's open ended, then it's not, and cannot be renewed.

In some states, a company doing auto-renew contracts is supposed to send you a written notice that you have x amount of days to cancel the contract before it automatically renews.

There's no legal way they can pull a fast one on you with a "You must send written requests to XXX po box blah blah within 15-20 days before the end of the contract and allow 8 weeks for processing" clause.