| The
"Free" System |
H
& B Security Centre |
| The company
may not be the large international company whose name they use. They
are an independently owned marketing company that sells and installs the
systems, then hands the accounts over after the first few months. At this
point, they are free and clear of any responsibility, and you have to deal
with the large international company. Since you no longer are dealing with
the people who sold you the system, anything that was "said"
doesn’t count. The contract (that tiny gray stuff that fills the back of
the order) rules, and it is stacked against you. READ THE FINE PRINT!!! |
H & B
Security is a locally owned and operated company servicing K-W, Guelph,
Cambridge and surrounding area for over 25 years. We pride ourselves in
quality systems and great service. Just ask any of our customers - you’ll
see our yellow stickers all over town. We will still be here down the road
any time you need help - night or day. |
| You are
locked into a monitoring contract for 3 years. If you have to cancel
early (you move, lose your job, etc.), you have to pay out the balance of
the contract. At the end of 3 years, if you want to cancel (because the
cost has risen too high or you can’t get service), you have to notify
them 30 or sometimes 90 days prior to the anniversary date; otherwise the
contract automatically renews for 2 year intervals - and you can
count on the monitoring being at a much higher rate, and it keeps going
up. And, you are still locked in! (It’s in the fine print) |
At H & B
Security we do not lock our customers into lengthy monitoring contracts.
You are free to add or cancel monitoring any time you like. This means
that if we want your continuing business, we have to make you happy. YOU
are in the drivers seat! Our monitoring costs are much lower, and they
stay low. |
| You do not
own the system. If, after 3 years, you decide to cancel monitoring
because the price has climbed much higher that you started with, they will
come and remove the system. All you are left with is the holes in the
wall. |
With H & B
Security, YOU own the system, which means YOU call the shots! The systems
we install can be serviced by other alarm companies if you wish - you are
not locked into us any longer than you want to be. When you need us, we’re
there fast. |
| The system is
the cheapest one available, is easily defeated, and only
includes 2 door contacts and 1 motion detector - much less than the
average home needs. By the time you get what you need, the price jumps
rapidly (no longer free). The system gives inadequate protection to the
premises while you are away, and does little to protect you while you are
at home. |
At H & B
Security, we constantly test new systems looking for the best quality at
reasonable prices. Since the police charge for response to false alarms,
an alarm system is NOT the place to cut corners and go cheap. You will
simply pay another way, or stop using the system out of frustration. |
| Current
customers report a 4-8 week wait for service, which is required often,
and for which you pay higher than average rates. The wireless system uses
special and expensive batteries in all of it’s transmitters, which
require regular replacement - at your cost, of course. |
If you want a
lower cost system, we also have them at H & B Security, but we’ll
explain the differences so you can make an informed choice. We’ll show
you the strengths and weaknesses of each system, including the
"free" system offered by others. |
| The warranty is
90 days, despite what the salesman says, unless you pay extra to have it
extended to 1 year. After that, you pay for service and repairs, even
though you do not own the system. Warranty service is only available
during business hours. |
Our minimum
warranty is 1 year on anything, and much of our equipment has warranties
of 2-5 years. We must have confidence in our systems to offer that kind of
warranty. We have technicians available 24/7. |
| "If
it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nothing is free." |
