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Tricia of Dayton, OH May 6, 2008
I have had my Brinks Home Security since i moved into my home in August of 2007, After a month or so of service my control panel began beeping several times daily, Saying it had CP trouble and CH trouble, I would call them and complain and they would run a test which would render my telephone dead for more than an hour., Well today 9 months later, i called again to complain and i was rudley told that my alarm system i have been paying for all this time has not had a signel going to their office since Oct. of 2007
Well to say the least i was in total shock! I have left my girls alone to run errands, felt safe while i was sleeping and today i was completely ripped of all the safety i thought i had in my home, Brinks customer service was rude to me and uncaring and acted as if this was my fault somehow. They knew all along that my home was not being protected and told me that they DO NOT monitor my home 24 hrs a day as they suggest in their advertisement ect. They offered to give me a 1 month credit for my inconvience! Can you belive this, i completely trusted that my family was safe and it was all a complete LIE! My home could of caught fire and NO FIRE DEPARTMENT would have came , My home could have been invaded and NO COPS would have been called.I can not believe for all these months i have bascially paid for nothing. Well i dont feel safe in my home any more with there service and i do not reccomend them to anyone .
D. of Kanasas City, MO March 17, 2008
Long story short, I decided to purchase a home security system with Brinks. I could not have a credit score of 570 or lower or else they couldn't help me. I knew I was well higher than that report since I check on my credit report all the time. But to my surprise he gave all my information to someone on the telephone and then said, after they ran my credit report, that my score was well under 570 and I would need a 300.00 security deposit. The consultant kept asking me, will you pay it? I get my credit report score each month from the three credit reporting agencies and was confident I would have no problem. I went to my files to show the consultant, this is my score of just last month way past 570, he wasn't sure what the problem was but would check on it. I never heard back. Beware of the schemes of BRINKS, after he saw my score papers he packed up and left not sure what to say next. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT.
Fred of Mead, CO December 17, 2007
The Brinks installers (All Tech LLC) installed a complete home alarm system in my home. During the installation, they unplugged my freezer and left it unplugged. This caused 1,500 worth of food to be destroyed. Because we didn't have receipts, they told us there was no way we could prove the claim so they were only going to give us 500. We told them we kept the damaged food and the prices are still on most of the items. They added up to over 1,500. They were mostly steaks and other high-priced items.
Brinks told us to basically pound sand, and they weren't going to pay. We're out 1000. Their customer service people were rude. Their response to us was just try and prove our claim in court. We ended up taking the 500, but we're still out 1000.
Oliver of Edison, NJ November 17, 2007
Signed up for Brinks Security. the technician explained the cost for motion sensor was 195. Technician stated that was the cost of the equipment (not lease or use or installation) I also purchased extended plan so no labor cost. Subsequently learned of fallibility of system by cutting phone line. I inquired about prevention and was told of radio back up ( Should be primary if you asked me or cellular) I was told of an additional 200 fee and 7 monthly.
I stated we had extended plan. Jeremy, the rep told me it was for the equipment. Then I learned in fact the 195 cost for the motion detector and 200 cost for radio back up was not purchases; the equipment still belongs to Brinks. The first representative tech misrepresented the facts. He said the cost of the equipment was for the hardware...yet I don't own the equipment. In fact it is for installation and use. It was never disclosed despite direct questioning. Lin of Duluth, GA November 4, 2007
I was a customer of Brinks Home Security for 5 years until last month I switched. Brinks' monthly fee is 10 higher than its competitors. When I called to cancel, I really got a surprise. They said they own the equipment (control panel, keypad, motion detector, window detectors, etc.) installed in my home, and they need to remove them. I spent more than 400 for installation (promotional standard package 99, additional keypad and motion detector at 300+). They told me all this money was for installation labor. I certainly don't agree; the salesperson did not mention anything like this but instead made it sound like if I fulfill the contract (3 year) I got to keep the equipment. I did not let them take the equipment because the motion detectors and window detectors are being re-used, although I have control panel and keypads in a box.
A week later they sent me a bill of 500 for the equipment. There is a clause in the contract saying they are the owner. But I was not aware until they pointed out over the phone during the argument. As you know, there is no way to read through the several pages of small font, printed contract before you sign it. My argument is (1) the salesperson should make me aware of the consequence of canceling their service; (2) they should explain why the equipment now costs 500, not 200 or 800, and whether depreciation is considered.
Alex of Newark, CA October 31, 2007
I called Brinks to cancel my service (after 4 years of service), and they told me that they would have to come in and remove the equipment. When I signed up for the equipment the salesperson told me that the equipment would be mine after the service agreement (3 years). I even called their main number and confirmed that with another salesperson. It seems to me that this company is deceiving their customers by having their sales force push for something that is not true. Brinks' customer service claims the contract says that the equipment is theirs and they have the right to remove it.
After removing the equipment, holes were left in the walls and the technician refused to clean the mess. People should stay away from Brinks. I would never use them again and will speak against them any chance I get.
Alex of El Paso, TX October 14, 2007
I have not had a reliable security alarm system since the first day that I got the system. There are trouble codes everyday and when I call Brinks, nothing has been done to date. The alarm provider is AAA Alarms in El Paso who have not given me good service either. I am currently at the mercy of a three year contract with Brinks. I would love to change service providers as soon as possible. I have 1 Million in property that I feel does not have protection.
William of La, CA October 9, 2007
On my birthday, my home was broken into while I was out of town. The burglars set off the Brinks system, and they went to the key pad, pushed the fire alarm, and basically defeated the system. The fire department came instead of the cops, sitting outside in my front yard, waiting for entry authorization, while the burglars went out the back. Not just that, but Brinks misdialed one of my emergency contacts who was my neighbor that was home at the time. They offered no apology or remedy, and most of the people I spoke with, including local manager Job Rivas, were all very arrogant. I asked them if they at least had reliability to hire literate people, since they claimed no liability even for the misdial--which I only discovered when they sent me the incident transcripts. I went up the ladder to finally reach a Ben Everett in Dallas. He made an offer to reimburse me, but then I could never reach him again. I informed them I was no longer paying the bill since the system was useless, failed twice in the same incident, and it still got charged off to my credit.
In the end, I had my home violated because the burglars apparently knew how to defeat their system. My possessions were gone, they claimed no liability for stopping the police once the burglars pushed the fire alarm, even though break-in was initially signaled, or that they misdialed my emergency contact, but still charged me for their lack of service/failure.
Lydia of Chicago, IL July 31, 2007
I have been using Brink's home monitoring service for over 4 years. Recently I decided to cancel the service and when I called to cancel, I was told that I will have to pay the remaining 7 months left in the contract. Although my three year commitment has been fullfilled, I didn't realize that the contract also states (in fineprint under Section 3, subsection A.):
"this agreement will automatically continue for successive one year renewal terms unless you or Brinks give written notice of cancellation to the other at least 60 days before the initial or renewal term ends."
I feel that it is very unfair and misleading for any vendor to enforce such an outrageous term. According to Foley & Lardner, LLP www.foleylardner.com):
"The Illinois Contract Renewal Act makes an evergree clause in a contract entered into after June 1, 2000 unenforceable by the party that prepared the contract, unless the clause is clear and conspicuous. Although the law does not define conspicuous, the Uniform Commercial Code does; and the usual practice has become to meet its requirements by using all capital letters and bold-face type."
Then, by the unifrom commercial code, Brinks contract is not conspicuous. I feel that consumers are being taken advantage by Brinks Home Security System. Shane of Tomball, TX July 16, 2007
We recently decided to cancel monitoring by Brinks Home Security and have a new company take over the monitoring. Brinks has informed us that they wish to send out a technician to remove all Brinks equipment including wiring and sensors throughout the house. When I purchased the house in 2001, it already had all the equipment installed.
At the time, we purchased or should I say paid for two smoke detectors that were supposedly faulty. Brinks is now claiming that they own all the equipment and wiring installed in the premise and claim if we do not allow them to remove all wiring, sensors etc. then they would send us a bill for 500.00.
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