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 ...
James of Evart MI (11/04/06) I signed my mother up for the Life Alert system last December. At that time I was told that the contract was for three years but could be terminated if she died or left her home. The contract says skilled nursing facility. She as moved into an assisted living facility that has medical help and people checking hourly on her.
When the arrangements were made for my mother to move I called Life Alert to cancel the contract. I was told that assisted living did not meet skilled nursing facility. Their only solution was for me to pay for an additional 6 months for a service I don't need. I see that other people have had similar problems with this business.
Tina of Catlett, VA October 16, 2006
Tina of Catlett VA (10/16/06)
I called Life Alerts 800 number that advertised a free brochure. I gave them my adress but not my phone number. I geuss they have caller ID set up on their 800 number because I started getting calls from one of their salesman. I told him I don't like receiving sales calls and when I wanted information I would call him. I had not even shown the information to my parents yet. He got fairly nasty with me. He said his calling was the only way I could get pricing. I told him again that when I wanted pricing I would call him, and that I did not want him calling me again. He started telling me that only he could give me pricing and he was trying to save someones life.
I told him very adamently that I did not want him calling again (He kept talking the whole time I was saying this). I hung up at that point. Not more than 10 seconds passed when the phone started ringing again, and I saw it was the same number and did not answer it. Although I was astounded that he actually had the nerve to call back. This salesman hung up when the answering machine picked up. He then called again. I answered it this time so I could find out why he thought he was above the law. Which as far as I know, when you tell them not to call again they are not supposed to call.
He did not give me time to say any thing before he started a tirade about how rude I am to hang up on him. He started going into his saving a life speech again. And I tryed to tell him that I was serious when I told him not to call, and if he did again I would report him for harassment. Whether he heard any of this I have no ideal, he just kept talking the whole time. I don't even know what all he was saying at this point, because I was trying to get him to listen to me.
Veronica of Mobile, AZ May 22, 2006
Veronica of Mobile, AZ (05/22/06) I purchased a Life Alert System for a friend who is 86 years old. She is no longer able to be by herself and does not live in her home anymore.
When I informed the company of this, they told me that I still had to pay the monthly fee for (6) months, before I could cancel the contract. I feel that this is an injustice to have this in the contract since we are dealing with the elderly and changes can happen at any time.
I am not requesting any money back, just to STOP the payments.
Catherine of Lebanon, VA May 19, 2006
Catherine of Lebanon VA (05/19/06)
I had a representative return my call. I am a Social Work Supervisor and was trying to find the cost for a client. The man that called would not give me the initial and/or monthly cost. I explained to him that i was trying to find the lowest cost for our clients. When I mentioned Social Services his immediate response was you probably can't afford our product. He would answer a question with a question and he finally said when you go to a car dealer they don't tell you the price. This is when I hung up.
I am not looking for damage - would just like to be able to assist the elderly in their own homes with the cost and service. I will never call this company again.
Kathleen of Alexandria, VA April 14, 2006
Kathleen of Alexandria VA (04/14/06) I am writing this letter to express extreme unhappiness at the complete failure of your Life Alert. On March 15 of this year, our mother, who has subscribed to Life Alert service since 2002, lay on the floor in her home for more than 8 hours after suffering a stroke and breaking her arm. The suffering that she endured over that extended period of time, hoping and praying for help to come, is difficult for us to comprehend. Afterward, we found that the battery in her pendant was dead.
The betrayal and anger that we feel at Life Alert system compels us to write this complaint. We are angry that this company, after collecting so much money from our mother, could allow this complete failure to occur. It is incomprehensible to us how this could have happened. We are deeply concerned about other families like ourselves, who place trust in Life Alert company for the wellbeing of loved ones.
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