Brinks COMPROMISES YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY AS A STRONG ARM TACTIC TO FORCE YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR CONTRACT. THEY SAID "Too bad your system will not work at all (no siren, lights, etc.), even though you have paid your contract in full if you don't keep our monitoring service. We send a code over the phone line to PREVENT ANY ALARM OPERATION -- not just block it from phone monitoring. Just like the many other complaints about Brinks, after 4 years as a "paying customer", I was unemployed and needed to reduce expenses. I called Brinks to request removal from the monthly monitoring (40 month). I was promised my security system (and the many accessories THAT I PAID FOR AND OWNED) would still work as a stand-alone service. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Once they sent the blocking code over the phone lines (Warning to other consumers, disconnnect your phone line 24 hours in advance of a disconnect from their service -- you will at least have an alarm system) my alarm did not work. When I called customer service, they promised AGAIN to fix it -- until a supervisor (read that high pressure salesman) got on the line to tell me I needed to send them 1600 to BUY the system -- and EVEN THEN, it would NEVER work with another monitoring service. This is the most criminal corporation I have ever dealt with. It is like dealing with those groups who sell vacation time shares -- hold you hostage and then try to steal from you. SHAME ON YOU BRINKS -- You are the kind of company that give salespeople a bad name. Think I will go talk to a politician or car salesman, at least they are many times higher on the integrity scale.
Catherine of Chicago, IL June 4, 2009
I am a police officer in a large metro area, who answers calls. Last year I took a attempt Burglary report from a woman who had a Brinks alarm. She informed me that the offenders had cut her phone line and that disarmed her alarm system. She had sustained a few thousand dollar losses. She said to prevent that she had to purchase a wireless upgrade. So in order to have a reliable alarm service and not just a p deterent (until the criminals figure out that to disarm the alarm just cut the phone wires, and then the deterent won't be there).
Consumers will have to pay an additional 275.00 installation fee, and a 10.00 monthly monitor fee. If a burglar knows that the cutting the telephone wires will result in disabling the alarm, what is the point in having an alarm? Brinks never explained this to me, when I called to ask about this the Rep said the alarm is a deterent. I can purchase a loud siren from radio shack.
This is not fair to Brinks alarm consumers, as they believe they are protected and is something the consumers need to be made aware of. Also in my city burglar alarms are not a priority call, and I have been dispatched to a residence long after the burglar has left the scene. too many false alarms and low manpower. I believe that not too many folks are aware of this phone line situation.
sherrie of san diego, CA June 17, 2009
We wanted to continue the brinks home alarm system that was already in place when we purchased the house 9/08. when contacted by the sales rep. Richard Nombrado he informed us that we could add the basement area for free. If we ever wanted to separate the systems we could and then there would be a charge but otherwise it was free and included in our 30 a month payment. He had my husband sign for the contract as I had left. The next day when the unit was to be installed, he had me sign another contract which was for the downstairs unit. I didn't know that we were signing 2 separate contracts until we started receiving 2 different bills for unit a and unit b. This is one house with a basement area...not apartments. When we contacted Brinks corp. they said they would fix the problem. We continued to receive 2 bills and called our local office who said that since we had signed 2 contracts for 3 years each we were stuck with the payments.
Ashley of Cumming, GA May 12, 2009
A few weeks ago my husband was laid off from a very WELL paying job which he had been employed with for over 10 years. We called Brinks to inform them of our new financial hardship and to see if we could suspend our service until he found another job. We had already turned off our home phone service since it was an extra expense that we just could no longer afford. We had also already worked out suspensions or financial hardship claims with all of our other creditors...credit cards, satellite, cell phone, mortgage, etc. with no real difficulty.
We were appalled after speaking with Brinks. They offer no hardship clause nor will they work with you if you need to cancel your service do to job loss. We were in the last 9 months of a 3 year contract which we had been paying on well and never really had any issues or complaints about.
When we signed the contract 2.5 years earlier we fully expected to maintain the service for the duration of the contract, however due to mitigating and uncontrollable circumstances we could no longer afford the service. We are trying to be responsible Americans and do everything we can to pay our debts, however Brinks has been the MOST difficult and unrelenting company we have had to deal with!
We were offered the following:
1. You may cancel your service and pay a cancellation fee of 30 x 9 months remaining on your contract.
2. You may subscribe to a different service which is 5 more per month and you must pay a 175+ dollar installation fee!
As you can imagine neither of these options were acceptable since they did not help us cut our monthly costs at all! We had no choice but to cancel service since we no longer had home phone service and are now being charged outrageous fees! We are currently in the process of contacting lawyers to mitigate the matter for us and even take this to court if nessecary.
I find it appaling that they can do this to their customers and get away with it when LARGE banks are helping people cut their mortgages and all of america is suffering right now. This company is only concerned about themselves and has NO RESPECT for their customers regardless of how long or how well you have been a customer to them.
I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND BRINKS TO ANYONE I KNOW! Consequences: our credit is now ruined and we are having to try and work with an attorney to get the matter reconciled.
Deb of Fairview, TX April 17, 2009
I moved and had to move my Brink's service. A month later Brink's still did not have my correct address where my alarm is installed and told me my account was cancelled by me and they billed me for 800+ because they claimed I did not fulfill my contract! But they were taking my money on my monthly auto-pay, so how could they say my account was cancelled? Then I could not access my online account with Brink's to change payment form, so they emailed me a new password.
The password did not work, so I called again and was told I can not access my online account because my account is cancelled. I said, but you are taking my money on my monthly payment! I have had Brink's for 10 years and I don't know what has happened in the last year or so, but the customer service is horrible, and I am stuck in a 3 year + contract (which they claim has been cancelled), and I can't change service. I am appalled, and disgusted with Brinks and concerned whether they are even really monitoring my home.
Wasting hours on end on the phone with multiple Brink's people, none of whom tell me a same story. Nobody there knows what is going on!
Darren of Paradise, CA April 8, 2009
This is a sub-contractor for Brinks Home Security. Contact on our rear door was placed in middle of the glass door. When opening, contact hits frame of door. Adhesive was used and not permanently screwed in. First, we cannot fully open door. Second, contact needs to me moved to proper corner of frame. Three, alarm sounded 2am in morning due to improper contact placement. Four, Brinks calls for alarm event, I explain the problem. Was told they would be happy to repair at no charge. Brinks main office scheduled appt for tech to come for Weds, April 1, 2009. No call, no show.
I called three times since then, and get same lame answer that they would be happy to send tech out from main Brinks corp. Requested call from business owner on Thursday, April 2, 2009. They informed me it would take up to 48 hours to get call back. No call back due to a weekend. Called again and informed them that I would not honor their contract, if they are not going to honor the proper installation as they said they would at no charge. Finally talked to subcontractors secretary directly last Friday. I told her that the 48 hour turn around for a call back is going to be longer than 48 hours. Suggested manager/owner contacts me as soon as possible. Still no call.
Called Brinks this morning, again getting the same lame message. They will send a message to contractor. As of today, April 8, 2009, no contact from subcontractor listed above. First complaint I have ever had to make as I have worked in corporate business management in years past. This is by far the most unprofessional service we ever had. Was wondering if I can pay another electronics engineer to come and repair and send the invoice to above named business. Before we default on payments, I deemed it necessary to file this complaint to protect later when we refuse to pay or get referred to a credit agency. They just need to complete the job before we send any money for their lack of customer service and professionalism. We have a life and a lot to do to sit around and wait for these people to show.
The only consequence that may incur is the potential of this company referring us to a credit agency for non-payment and late charges due to default on their part of an improper installation. And again, possible loss of work hours to be available for a tech if they ever come. Already happened one time, we refuse to take paid time off to be available for unprofessional conduct on their part.
Anthony of Palm Coast, FL April 3, 2009
When we built our home in Fla in 2005, we had Brinks install the home security system as we had used them before in Texas.Brinks charged us approx 1,600 broken down by items on thier installation order. We just recently cancelled the alarm monitoring and to my chagrin, the contract states that after all this time, the equipment still belongs to them. Unfortunately, we did not take the time to read the contract, so we are somewhat at fault ,although when we dealt with the salesperson from Jacksonville, he never once mentioned that the cost was all for installation and the equipment would always be owned by Brinks. We called Brinks today and the customer rep. just pointed me to the contract and said there was nothing they could do.
The result is we have paid almost 3,000 to Brinks, we cannot use the equipment and their equipment is not compatible with any other alarm monitoring co. We do declare that Brinks was deceptive in their dealings with us and want to make the public be aware of this. Do read your contracts but more importantly, we strongly recommend you DO NOT USE BRINKS.
Ida of Elizabeth City, NC March 27, 2009
I order Brinks Homes Security months after my new husband and I moved into our new home. There was a rash of home robbery in our community. The home already had all the Brinks equiptment, all we had to do was turn it on. The sales person was too eager to have me to sign the contract & turn on the equiptment building off the fear of home invasion and robbery. I never heard it explained that if you chose to no longer use your service, you will be billed for 3 years of contracted time. Six month or so, my marriage went bust, I had to move out in the middle of the night. I sought refuge with my 91 yr old mom.
I called the Brinks, cutting off service, explaining my hardship situation (due to economic times, am not able to find work in my mom's rual town & now I am her caregiver).The husband & I got divorced and the home sold. Brinks told me to write a letter to billing dept explaining my hardship. then they denied me... and sent the denial letter to the sold property That was over 2 years ago. Now my credit report is scarred up and the best they can tell me is to transfer the service my husband paid for over to my 91 yr old mom's house in another state...and let her pay for it! This is an OUTRAGE!
Please, where is the Class Action suit. My bill at Brinks is Now 700. WHY? Are they crasy, where is the buy out clause? They make no offer to work with costumers on any level. Please. Lawyer, contact me. I am ready! The consequences is called STRESS! who wants to have terrible migrane headaches every day because you can't work out solutions with your creditors!
Sue of Aurora, CO March 19, 2009
I had a false alarm sound that would not turn off. Brinks was totally unaware of the alarm which makes me wonder if they were monitoring at all. Their commercials are very misleading. I believe their equipment is faulty and when you contact them, you get very poor and unsatisfactory service from their customer service department. Their contracts are too long term, especially for the poor service you receive.
They keep billing me for service I don't receive or that is totally unsatisfactory.
Barbara of Miami, FL March 16, 2009
I had a Brinks alarm installed the end of last year and after reading one of the complaints I am going to reread the contract and make sure a date is in because I am going to cancel the day it is up. I keep getting false alarms. Once I told them my password and Brinks still sent the police out. I have a letter from the City of Miami that I get two a year and then I must pay 50.00 for each one after that. Every time the false alarm goes off, it is a different zone which makes me think all their equipment is defective. Also when you call to report the false alarm you are left on hold for some time. I never had this problem with ADT. I made a real mistake switching.
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