ADT Alarm systems

ADT Alarm systems

I am a home builder and developer. In January 2002 I was in the process of placing a house that I had recently finished building up for sale. There was a slump in home sales after 9/11, so I decided to rent the house for a year and try to sell it again. I talked with ADT Alarm systems about installing a system in the house simply to enhance its value, and I was willing to pay one years monitoring in advance. The contract the salesman gave me was for 3 years, and I told him I would be selling the house in one year and did not want to sign a long term contract as this was "spec" house, not my home. The ADT salesman told me that the contract could be transferred "without any problems" and insisted they (ADT) "install systems in spec houses all the time."

After a year I sold the house through a lease purchase to another person, but that sale fell through. In the meantime, according to ADT customer service, the account was now in the name of Richard Cooper. I sold the house, again under a lease purchase, to another family. The Cooper's transferred their ADT service to a rental house in Asheville, NC. I did not hear another word from ADT until April 2005 when I received a bill from ADT forwarded from the new owners, claiming I owed ADT $283+ on a "past due" account.

I attempted repeatedly to contact ADT and straighten this out, only to be told "You signed a contract, pay up." I was further told a contract could not be transferred and if I wanted to cancel the contract, I owed them even more money. I wrote emails and letters in May 2005 and received an email stating the matter had been forward to the "resolution" department and I would be contacted shortly. I heard nothing more until 15 June 2005 when I was contacted by a collection agency, who kept putting more and more people on the phone until (after 35 minutes of arguing) I simply hung up.

I have written another letter to ADT claiming that their sharp practices did not sit well with me, and waiting almost 2 years to even contact me was unconscionable. I am also investigating how to bring a class action law suit against ADT in favor of all builders who have been lied to and cheated by this highly unscrupulous company.

WARNING: Do not use ADT under any circumstances. Their salesmen lie and misrepresent themselves to get you to sign a contract, then the company takes a "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) attitude. Their customer complaint resolution consists of personal and financial threats and turning a deaf ear.

Timothy Click this link to e-mail the message author: Email User