Suspending your ADT Home Security System

[StargazerParticipant 12505]

Hey brothers, I just spent a harrowing two hours working my way through the ADT Home Security System phone maze in the hopes of finding out if I can temporarily suspend my service during the 4 to 6 months that I will be inbetween residences.

The short answer, NO.

The long answer… yes… if you know how.

So when you sign up for ADT, you get a contract which is a lot like a mobile phone contract… monthly service for X years in order to secure a “discount” on their overpriced monitoring hardware. In that aspect, they’re a lot like Scientology (who gives ‘loans’ for their own books that lock you into indentured servitude).

If you happen to be moving between properties, they will transfer the account, charge you $95 for the move and give you some more crap to help take away the sting. BUT if you’re going to be inbetween homes for a while, you STILL HAVE TO PAY the monthly monitoring fee… even though you are not technically receiving any service.

The alternative is to cancel the service outright, in which case you have to pay 75% of the remainder of the contract balance… which can really run into some money.

After getting the runaround and talking to three different people who gave me different versions of this story but told me that someone else could help me to suspend the service, I was sent to a “retention” specialist who told me I could suspend then spent a half hour trying to talk me out of it… before finally admitting I could not suspend the service.

At that point, I decided I’d had enough and was willing to pay the termination fee rather than keep paying the monthly charge, even though the termination fee was sizeable, just as a “f~~~ you” for pushing me around all afternoon.

Now here’s where it gets interesting: The person who handled my termination request said they would bill me for the remainder of the contract but would CREDIT ME THAT AMOUNT on a new contract if I wanted to sign back up again in the next two years.

So I got what I wanted (no monthly bill) and if I decide to re-instate the service in the future, I’ll effectively have not have paid the termination fee. Basically that’s called “suspending the account”.

The bototm line? Don’t sign up for anything that includes a required term of contract. Not a marriage, not a home security system, not a cell phone, nothing. Pay as you go and stop paying when you’re done.

Thank you for reading.

[TattooDaveParticipant 6952]

Dude, that sounds totally harsh but totally realistic. I used to have a national carrier for my cell phone then I discovered it wasn’t worth it. I still have a $400 debt chasing me. They can just f~~~ right off.

A contract is null and void if the terms the true terms of the contract were revealed. You don’t have time to Chase that fantasy in a courtroom. Tell them you’re in the military

I can see their heads have been twisted and fed with worthless foam from the mouth. Bob d

[AwakenedParticipant 35200]

EVERYBODY and EVERY BUSINESS WANTS THEIR lil piece of YOUR FLESH !!

In a World of Justin Beibers Be a Johnny Cash

[Author]

Posts