Home Security Systems

Pros: None from my experience
Cons: Poor Support hours. Does not even provide online activation as an alternative.

I am in CA and have been waiting eagerly for my FrontPoint security system to arrive (took over a week since the shipping was 'free')after signing up and having read all the rave reviews about them. I just unboxed my system and to my disappointment found that my unit 's battery was DOA, so I promptly picked up the phone to call SetUp and Activation Support only to be further disappointed to find out that they only provide support between the hours of 7am~7pm  ET. Now Since I am in westcoast, that doesn't do me much good, like everybody else I have a job that would not give me the luxury of leaving work  before 5pm and its almost silly to have to wake up at 4am to setup my alarm system.

Since I have 15 days to 'evaluate' this, I am almost tempted to return it without even turning it on based on this experience.

These guys should at least consider providing tech & customer service support for people in the west coast till 7pm PT.

Pros: no pros
Cons: expensive system.no calls when the alert goes off. Bad service. bad installation.

I would not recommend protection one to any one. I have paid $1,7000 on the equipment the installation.
1) Even though I spent $1,7000 on the equipment I got the cheapest and largest contact. i had problem installing my blind. The company just ignore my request to replace the contact with smaller ones.
2) I have been waiting for for about a month now for someone to move down 4 of the contacts to allow the blind to fit. The window contacts are installed in the top right corner. It is the worst location to install window contacts. Protection one are asking for more money to move them, they consider it remodeling!!! it was the installer bad decision to put them at this place not mine. pulse I am paying $5 extra a month for service fee.
3) The alarm system is hooked up to a light switch!!! I have to keep my lights on all because of their bad installation
4) 5 times the alarm went off, I got no calls from them. I am paying for nothing!!

Pros: Can't think of one good thing to say.
Cons: Incompetent installers

ADT-Such LOOSERS! They had me pay 1/2 up front and had a 6 month window to install a security system in my house during construction. It turns out they only did a partial install and now the walls are up and they want to go in and cut into the walls to finish the job. I canceled the job and asked for a refund 4 months ago but when I call the account department their answering machines are full and I can't leave a message or I leave one and they rarely call back. Now they want to charge me over $700.00 for the partial installation they did which includes stubbing wires close to the floor and leaving most of the wiring on the wrong side of the walls. Working with ADT has been frustrating and I highly recommend that you research any security company that you are considering before signing a contract.

Pros: Wireless
Cons: 12 month autorenewal, $500 termination fee

I've had the service since 1/22/08 and rate it "Acceptable". The people are nice and easy to work with on the phone. I'm paying about $47 per month for service whick makes it pretty expensive.

Pros: None
Cons: Poor technical service, poor customer service, poor billing practices

I took over a Protection One system when I purchased my house. When a component of the security system failed, Protection One refused to repair or replace it. Instead the company insisted that I purchase a new system and pay a higher monthly monitoring fee. I declined and asked for a refund of the monitoring fees that I had paid while the system was out of service and in advance for a three month period. Protection One refused to refund and retaliated by declaring that I owed it for the no-service service call.

Throughout the process, Protection One was unresponsive to calls and letters asking for assistance and finally for refund. The company has twice called and left unprofessional messages on voice mail.

Do not choose this company.

Pros: Referral program; quick install
Cons: Should give 4 months free instead of two for referrals.

Quick install. Very friendly customer service. And I love their referral program. For every person I refer, I get 2 months of free monitoring.

Pros: Excellent customer service.
Cons: Don't know yet.

I ordered an alarm system from Frontpoint Security and was glad I did.
First of all the package came within 2 days. Second, the customer service is outstanding! They listen and respond.
I do like them a lot!

Pros: Absolutely nothing
Cons: You have to purchase what they want you to have or nothing.

Broadview will not sell you what you want or feel you need. I had 3 companies out to see what I needed and all 3 were very close to one another. The ONLY difference was that one wanted to put in a motion detector but I have a 135 pound Shepard and was afraid he would trip the alarm. I called Broadview and talked to "Steven". He told me he could not price a system for me as he had to send out a 'Consulant' to see what I needed. I asked if the 'Consulant' was a salesman and Steven said yes. I told him that I knew what I wanted to purchase and he told me that I HAD TO HAVE A CONSULANT COME OUT IF I WANTED THEIR SERVICE. Needless to say, I hung up on him and went with FrontPoint.

Pros: ease of use
Cons: too few sensors, only allowed 41

Amazing system. I have been a member of alarm.com for about 2.5 years now. They are now partnered with FrontPoint. Their systems are easy to self install and easy to use.  If you do have issues they have wonderful technical support. 

The systems run off cell towers, so you do not have to worry about phone lines.

I love the live video moitoring, the SMS alerts, Video clips in event of triggering, etc. I looked at a few different systems and this one made the most sense.  ATD has a smimilar system, but they charge you a lot more and then do not offer half the features. 

Web interface is amazing and detailed.  Options such as glass break, motion sensor, carbon dioxide, water, outdoor and indoor cams, etc.

Pros: Customer Support and Quality of Product
Cons: Very loud siren inside home (but i guess its needed)

Protection One has grown leaps and bounds over the last couple of years and their commitment to customer care and product quality is unparalleled. I was completely satisfied with every aspect of the service. The security consultant who came out was very knowledgeable, kind, and patient and listened intently to my needs. He did not try to sell me anything i did not want or need and stayed within my budget limitations without sacrificing the protection i wanted. Protection One is a first class business and i would recommend them to anyone.

Pros: readily available by phone, and their refund was prompt.
Cons: faulty equipment, incomplete materials, or instructions, incorrect information about cellular coverage.

Frontpoint sales and service said that it would work via txt messagining but it did not. Then when then sent me the broadband card, they sent a faulty one, and never include the connecting cable, nor did they tell me that I needed one. I sent the whole system back.  Front Point is a great concept but they have not yet worked out the kinks. I told them ahead of time that cell service was very bad but they insisted that with txt messaging it would work. They never told me  that I needed a ethernet cable to install and after driving 4 hours to install the system, I then had to drive another hour to get a cable. After all of that, the broadband card they sent was defective!