Security System

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We will be out of our contract with our existing seurity alarm system company in a few months. There monthly fee for monitoring is way to high. Can I switch to a low cost provider when my two year committment is over?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Not sure but one of my best friends is a regional MGR for ADT. If you want me to ask him let me know.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Yes, since my system is ADT.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Yes, since my system is ADT.

Well if you want to switch out of ADT then asking my friend is not the way to go. You would need to ask the other company that you are going to if you can use the same system. I would guess to say that most of the system such as the wired or eyes will work but they might have to change your Control panel and key boards.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

You might consider taking this opportunity to upgrade your system with a "smart" controller. If you are a DIY-type person, you can really customize your controller to fit your needs. These smart controllers can be hooked up to the internet and integrated into your home's HVAC, lighting, A/V systems, as well as control your security environment. It is really up to you how much you integrate.

The amount of customization you can do with these are amazing. One example is that I can have my system send me a text message / email when any event happens. As my daughter gets older, I could see using this to alert me that she is home from school, etc. and I don't need to hunt her down and the boy she is with.

A couple of the top controllers are from HAI and Elk Products. If you install yourself, you can save $$ (and you are never locked into a contract). If you want monitoring of your system, you can get it from independent companies (not tied w/ your hardware) for $5-$15/month.

Kurt

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

I will pull out the paper work and see when my ending date is for sure, and determine next steps. I pay over $40.00 per month and just got an increase notice. We used it a lot when we were in the transition mode and spending most of the time in MO, but now that we spend most of the time in TN, we don't use it as much.

I think I have 3-4 months to determine what to do before my contract is up.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

I changed mine awhile ago to a different company without an issue, but I did run into a problem with the original company. They said because I didn't sign the contract within the allotted period of time and didn't write a cancellation I was expected to pay for the whole next year.
This was not a major company, but a smaller independent.
I now have no alarm system, just the hardware which I had put in by an independent contractor.
I should try a major contractor, but my experience with the smaller ones, just turned the whole experience sour for me.

[arlene22 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close arlene22]

My BIL owns an alarm company. When we bought a new house that had an alarm system already installed, it was no problem for them to take over the monitoring. There was no need to change the panels or anything. We did this twice (with two houses, I mean).

[JMPM4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JMPM4]

Low cost security system needed

I would be interested in low cost security system (not low quality). That don't sound right does it. I know you get what you pay for. Have you heard of a good deal?

[arlene22 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close arlene22]

Most of the cost of a security system is in the monitoring agreement, not in the upfront system installation. In fact, many of the big chain security companies give you free systems in exchange for a long term monitoring agreement.

FWIW, my BIL (who owns a security company) always says that if you want to find a good security company, find out if they install Radionics equipment. He says that that company is very particular about who they will let install their equipment and insist on special qualifications and training, etc. If you have no other way of knowing if the company is a good one, that is one way to tell.