This is one of the many companies selling in-home alarm systems that are supposed to help the elderly and disabled summon help in an emergency. Some of these systems work better than others; all of them are expensive and, in many cases, the contract terms are objectionable. For example, LifeAlert customers tell us that the company holds them to the three-year contract even if the elderly individual dies before the term is up.
A few recent complaints ...
Debbie of Laurel, MD June 9, 2009
My Mother, lives in Western PA, agreed to this service some time ago prior to her first fractured pelvis in 9/2007. I have power of attorney over her affairs and I reside in Maryland. I canceled this service after I put her in a 24hr assisted living facility in 12/07. Her home is EMPTY and doesn't even have a phone line running to it.
I thought all was well until 30 minutes ago when young Eric from Lifealert called from 'collections'. Eric says he needs his box back or the contract will be billed on July 1, 2009- today is June 9th at 5:30pm ET. I live 5 hours away- one way (there is no airport). Eric and I go round and round about this 'contract' that I thought was canceled. He says that it will be billed.
I ask for a Supervisor and he says he is the Supervisor. I explain that I am a little more educated than to believe that. Eric states he is the Boss and the box needs to be picked up by UPS. I ask well, where is the box or the label for the box for UPS? I get no response. I explain that no one lives in the house and check the call record- the 'button' hasn't been pushed since 07. He says it has. I say, the house is empty and there is no phone service so it was pushed by a ghost and you got the signal how?
Seriously, this company must be stopped- they prey on the elderly and the naive who are too tired to fight so they pay. I am not paying and since I found this site, I will make it a priority that EVERYONE I know avoids this LIFE ALERT in California.
I have just found an address in Encino to mail this 'equipment' back to- its coming eric with your name all over it!
Great equipment that apparently can send messages telepathically. I have to drive 10 hours (roundtrip) to retrieve a box and mail it from Maryland- it will be certified return receipt- so that this CON artist doesn't charge my frail elderly Mother, who is on a fixed income and can't afford it to begin with.
Luel of Durant, OK March 24, 2009
Luel of Durant OK (03/24/09) My 93 year old mother fell in her kitchen and when she activated the pendant button, nothing happened. She dragged herself to the living room, pulled down the phone and called me. I in turn called 911 and emergency personnel from the ambulance service and fire department were dispatched to her home. She had sustained two broken bones in her forearm at the wrist.
Later when I contacted Life Alert that their product did not work, they offered to reduce the monthly amount, but did not seem to understand that it wasn't the money I was upset about, it was the fact that the device did not work as advertised. When I read the number off the back of the pendant to the person who answered the phone, his words were, That's a really old number, you've had that one for a while. You'd think their own records would indicate older pendants when they had gone to a new model. I'm disgusted with the whole bunch.
I had the service installed in Aug. of 2005, and she needed help in Feb. 2009. They never sent a new pendant in all that time, even though they said the base unit would pick up the signal if it was weak and automatically send a new one to replace it. That never happened. I have written them for a refund of at least part of the rent. We'll see what happens. Thanks for letting me vent!
Rob of Marion, TX March 15, 2009
Rob of Marion TX (03/15/09) My mother just had an angina attack and drove herself to the hospital, 2 stents later she is back on her feet. I was thinking about getting life alert The web site makes you call!! big negative and then I came across the complaints web site about life alert. They need to realize these are real people (mothers,fathers,brothers,sisters)from what i read it is like buy items at walmart and trying to return defect item it doesn't seem like a company really interested in helping. I think I do not want to get involved with a company that cant even have a web site with all of there details (prices ,contracts,rules and policies) Something stinks here!!
Mark of Gladstone, NJ March 2, 2009
Mark of Gladstone NJ (03/02/09) life alert contacted me saying they had an emergency installation by e-mail for e. neibling at 12pm est. they said they were not going to pay me because i didn't wait for them to call me back. i had a customer later that day so i did th installion. the son in law rigged it all wrong so i fixed it properiy. they owe me 50.00 dollar plus mileage 60 miles round trip. mrs neibling was very happy i came out and explained how the unit worked because nobody every explained itr to her
I NEED TO GET PAYED I WENT OUT OF MY WAY. PLUS E. NEIBLING WAS BLIND AND THE COMPANY (LIFE ALERT) DID NOT KNOW. THE SYSTEM WAS UNDER THE END TABLE. I PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND SHOW HER PHYSICIAL WHERE THE HELP BUTTON WAS AND TOLD HER TO WEAR THE NECKLACE ALL THE TIME IN CASE SHE FELL. NOT ONLY DID I FIX THE UNIT AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO MRS NEIBLING I SAVED THEM FROM A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT
Mary of Sarasota, FL February 28, 2009
Mary of Sarasota FL (02/28/09) My 89 year old mother has this product and it has not worked for two months. During that time we have tried unsuccessfully to have it repaired. They have sent two filters' which they said should clear up the problem, but it has gotten worse. Today I tried testing it and after the machine said that it was making an emergency call for several minutes, with no one coming on the line, I hung up. I called and was repeatedly put on hold and twice disconnected. After calling another number and being passed from one person to another and then put on hold again, I hung up. This company is extremely incompetent, as well as over priced for their service. Mom lives alone, and this product offers her no security at all (and none to me either). When we were waiting for more than a week for the first filter to arrive, I asked if they couldn't overnight it to us and the customer service rep said they don't have overnight mail! They also told me that the reason she is having a problem is because her phone service is Embarq, and they often have trouble with it...which to me is reason enough to cancel the contract.
Fortunately, she has not fallen and needed the service, but if she does you can bet there will be a lawsuit. AT this point, I just want her out of the contract and I will return the machine with pleasure.
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