Alarms for homes, pools, garages and other structures can be a great way to protect what is yours. These are very important, and many will have them for the peace of mind, even when they might live in a very safe place. Most people worry about two things when they get a new system, and both are easy enough to deal with. Some worry they will always be setting off their own alarms, and some worry what alarm installation will do to their home. They should worry about the company they invite in. A quick BBB Online Google will alert you to any suspicions you may have of poor quality work or bad business practices.
Many companies may not put their employees through a thorough background check. This is important because it is very possible for someone to install an alarm in a very high end home with intent on later coming back after possibly leaving the company and making a big score.
Home Alarm Scams To Be Aware Of
Examples of scam type tactics: Salesman from some alarm service shows up at your door pitching a $5,000 home security system, with a 90% rebate issued after a year.The Missouri Attorney General filed consumer fraud charges against an alarm company and one of its salesmen for using bogus rebate offers and high-pressure sales tactics to sell alarm systems, which should have cost less than half of what they charged their customers.
Another example in Scotland where a number of complaints from pensioners, all between the ages of 79 and 95 were registered. They had received calls from people claiming to be working for the fire service or a company connected to the fire service. The recipients became concerned when the callers suggested a home survey and began to ask detailed questions about their homes. The majority of the complainants were in Edinburgh but there were also calls from the Borders. The targeting of more aged customers is a bad sign. They can be easily scared or confused depending on the ages. Keep good communication with your parents concerning these types of scams. Just advise them to call you or better yet not to invite anyone in.
One woman in Maryland visited her parents’ home and saw an alarm system installed earlier that day by an aggressive door-to-door salesman. According to her, her father, who is 91-years-old and hard of hearing, didn’t understand what was going on when the alarm was installed within 45 minutes of the salesman’s call. According to the Maryland Attorney General’s office, more than 125 complaints involving home security systems have been filed in the past two years.
A reputable company will urge you to compare the systems, monitoring fees, and contract terms of at least three companies before making a purchase. And don’t just buy from the door-to-door salesperson. Before you sign any agreement, make sure the company is licensed and ask for and check their references.
Opportunists - have door to door jobs - delivering flyers or selling vacuums & all the while looking for an opportunity to rob people. These burglars look for empty driveways and accumulating mail then knock on the door. This person will claim to be lost and ask for help. There are many honest door to door workers and of coarse these opportunist burglars make it difficult to trust any one who comes to your door.
Prowlers - are sneaky burglars. They carry tools to pry windows and doors open and make the least amount of noise. Prowlers know the response time of security companies and how long they can take to burglarize your home. This type may have worked at a security company.
Smash & Run react at an opportune time of a moments notice, kicking in the back or garage door or smashing a window. Smash & Run burglars usually want fast cash for bad habits like drugs or alcohol.
Pros often work for businesses that you notify if you're absent such as lawn or pool companies. They wait for you to go on vacation, and then strip your house clean.
