AMERICAN HOME SECURITY

Description of Work: On September 15 or 16, 2016, I contacted Mr. Erv Ambrose of Burtel/American Home Security to discuss the possibility of an upgrade to our home security system that was last upgraded in 2009. Mr. Ambrose sent me several proposals and noted that since we were long time customers, they would discount the price by $379 for a system that utilized our WIFI connection with a cell phone backup. The price for the upgrade would be $825.74. I thought this was too much since we have been Burtel/American Home Security customers since 1991. Therefore I contacted another home security company about installing a new system. On October 28, 2016, I notified Burtel/American Home Security that I wished to cancel our contract effective immediately. On October 29, 2016, I was notified by Mr. Rodney Dew that the contract we signed in 2009 for five years had been automatically renewed in 2014 for an additional five years and that we still had two years and seven months to the end of the contract and that if we wished to cancel, we owed Burtel/American Home Security $1333.00. Mr. Dew pointed out that: “Point 12 of the contract states under "EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS": "Subscriber further agrees not to enter into a monitoring agreement with any other alarm or monitoring company or their agents during the term, either initial or renewal, of this Agreement. Should Subscriber enter into such an agreement with another company, Subscriber agrees to pay AMS the entire balance remaining on this Agreement to the end of the then-current term.” It should be pointed out that this particular paragraph is on the back of the contract in small print. When I questioned the automatic renewal of the contract, Mr. Dew then informed me that: “Point seven on the second page of your contract supplies the verbiage regarding the auto renewal. The small box above your signature on the first page is where you stipulated the term of the agreement as being five years. You will also find your initials in the box agreeing to the term.” The initialed box contains no information about automatic renewal but refers you to the back of the contract where “point seven” can be found, again in small print. Like others who've reported problems with Burtel/American Home Security, I feel their business practices are predatory and shady to say the least. Their “reward” for 25+ years with them is to demand further payment. I would have stayed with Burtel/American Home Security except their prices are now way out of line with others in the industry. As a matter of fact, my new service installed their equipment, upgraded to a WIFI/Cellular phone back up at NO COST TO ME. I wish to warn others that if you are thinking about signing a contract with Burtel/American Home Security, be sure you read the fine print, do not agree to the “Exclusive Rights” or the “Automatic Renewal” provisions of the contract, make the contract for as short a period as possible and keep your hand on your wallet or purse.

Description of Work: Signed an home alarm monitoring contract in 2004. Be VERY careful of any alarm monitoring contracts you sign with this company. I have been a loyal customer for 12 years and recently found out that the contract I signed 12 years ago included an "auto renewal" clause for five year terms, with no further acknowledgement or signature required. Furthermore this contract has an "Exclusive use" clause which does not allow me to switch to another monitoring company without paying the entire balance remaining on the current contract. Canceling the current term also requires you to pay the entire balance remaining on the current contract. There are alarm monitoring services now available for 1/3 the cost of my current contract with no long term commitments required. I have lodged a complaint with the BBB about what I consider to be shady business practices.

Description of Work: Installed home monitoring equipment and contracted out monitoring services.

Description of Work: Installed complete security system with key pads

Description of Work: Discontinued service because I was moving

Description of Work: American Home Security provides my alarm service.

Description of Work: Added monitoring devices to prior home system, provided monitoring services 7/2003 - 11/2009.

Description of Work: INSTALLED FIRST ALERT SECURITY SYSTEM IN MY HOME AND PROVIDED MONTHLY MONITORING SERVICES.

Description of Work: A SECURITY SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED.