Skip to main content

BBB warns consumers about home security scheme

The sign in front of your residence touting your home security system might help ward off would-be criminals, but it also could serve as a magnet for unscrupulous salespeople. A door-to-door salesperson, noticing this sign, might stop by to warn you your alarm system needs updates or it's defective and needs to be replaced. Or the salesperson might tell you that your current alarm company has been sold and you need to have a new one installed. That salesperson may switch you to a different alarm company, often without your knowledge — leaving you with two contracts to pay and with difficulty breaking either one without paying extra fees. Better Business Bureau received more than 5,200 complaints about alarm companies nationwide in 2017, making it BBB's 25th most-complained about business. BBB warns consumers to use caution when approached by door-to-door salespeople urging them to switch alarm companies. If a salesperson shows up and claims there is something wrong with your security system, call your alarm company to verify what you're being told. Don't give into a high-pressure sales pitch. A reputable company will allow you time to make an informed decision. A 77-year-old man in the St. Louis area told BBB a salesperson told him his current alarm presented a fire hazard. Also in the St. Louis area, a 94-year-old woman told BBB she was told by a salesperson her alarm system needed to have its keypad replaced. Both were switched unknowingly to a different company by salespeople. Caution is the best policy. Don't be pressured into committing on the spot to a change in your alarm system that could leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars. Remember, you are never under any obligation to purchase something from those who show up to your residence unannounced. Consumers should consider the following tips as they interact with door-to-door salespeople: Research the business and owners carefully before signing a contract, providing any sensitive personal information or paying any money. BBB suggests checking the company's BBB Business Profile at bbb.org or by calling 888-996-3887. Do not invite a stranger into your home unless you have made prior arrangements to meet with him or her. Many communities require a special soliciting permit for companies selling door-to-door. Before buying anything, ask to see a copy of a permit, as well as any personal identification. Take down that information in the event there is a problem later. If you do decide to buy, pay with a credit card in case you need to challenge the purchase later. The Federal Trade Commission Cooling-Off Rule requires that door-to-door salespeople disclose to customers the customers have a right to cancel sales transactions of $25 or more within three business days. Michelle Gleba is the Mid-Missouri regional director for Better Business Bureau.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Security company in Bellevue vandalized

BELLEVUE, Neb. (KMTV) - An Omaha home security company based out of Bellevue is using its own camera to help track down a thief who stole items from outside their building. Chris Malmberg, the owner of Omaha Security Systems Inc. says an unidentified man stole nearly $300 worth of landscaping Sunday night. "The motion sensors went off and I got a notification on my phone that he was there. We saw him take the plants, we watched him drive away and then immediately contacted police," said Malmberg. "He was real nervous, but he ended up stealing shrubbery, Hosta plants, I mean - never in my life have I ever known somebody to steal landscaping." Malmberg said the plants could be replaced, but what's frustrating is that this is one of several vandalism incidents his business has experienced since OSSI moved into the building near Jefferson and Mission Ave. "We've had vandalism, we've had items stolen, or attempted to be stolen, with the security that we...
Post a Comment
Read more

Study: Majority of U.S. Broadband Households Concerned About Security of IoT Devices

As Internet-connected devices become more ubiquitous, security and privacy concerns of end users are also on the rise. Simply installing security systems in smart homes is no longer enough. Security integrators must also consider bolstering cybersecurity measures when installing their systems. A recently released whitepaper from IoT research firm Parks Associates, titled “Residential Security and Encryption: Setting the Standard, Protecting Consumers,” reveals that 64% of U.S. broadband households are concerned about security and privacy when using their connected devices. Parks Associates also found that the majority of homeowners assume security integrators are addressing their cybersecurity concerns. In fact, a Parks Associates survey of U.S. security owners found 63% of professionally monitored subscribers believe the wireless signals from their system are encrypted, even though encryption is currently not the industry-wide standard. While the whitepaper outlines a few ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ring Alarm review: A great DIY home security system with the potential to become even better

Ring builds some of our favorite video doorbells and security camera/outdoor lighting mashups. Now the company—recently acquired by Amazon—is moving inside the home with a strong and inexpensive DIY home security system: Ring Alarm. It’s a fantastic product today, and Ring says it will only get better with time. Ring Alarm is positioned as a mainstream home security system, and while you won’t find a great deal of innovation here (there’s nothing like the Nest Detect sensor that comes with the much-more-expensive Nest Secure system , for example), it’s already equipped with everything it needs to grow into a comprehensive smart home system. Ring Alarm doesn’t support smart lighting controls, door locks, thermostats, garage-door openers, or other common smart home products today, and there’s a very short list of supported third-party products. But it lacks nothing needed to support those and similar devices down the road. And in an intervi...
Post a Comment
Read more