Monitronics - sudden rate increase for monthly monitoring service - trouble cancelling service

# 30 for September 26, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on September 25, 2003:

From:

RE: Monitronics - sudden rate increase for monthly monitoring service - trouble cancelling service

In July 15, 2000 my husband and I signed into a 3 year contract with Monitronics. In that period of time we had several false alarm charges due to system malfunction. When there was a sudden rate increase for our monthly service, I decided to contact Monitronics. In my email, I suggested that due the rate increase I felt we should be able to term our contract.

After receiving a copy of our contract I noticed that they state that they are entitled to a rate increase but at that time I also seen in the contract we were suppose to give a 90 day written (nothing said about certified) notice to cancel our service before our original 3 year contract was up in Feb 2003.

July 18, 2002 (more than 90 days) I sent a written letter asking Monitronics to cancel the service in Feb 2003 (the end of our original contract). They too told me that I must have either sent the cancellation to the wrong address or that I didn't send it at all and either way they didn't receive the cancellation 90 days before the end of the original contract so they automatically renewed the contract for another year.

After speaking to several customer service managers (so they said) and collection managers and getting no where I decided to try and write to them instead. I sent them a copy of an email with a response back from their company clearing stating I wanted to term the contract and that if they didn't receive my written notice then the email response should prove that we wanted out of the contract at that time.

I filed a complaint with the BBB for the state of Texas in June 2003. Monitronics legal division responded after 2 months stating that I was fully aware that I did not cancel the service but they would be willing to accept 203.00 (instead of their original 400.00 offer) to cancel my contract. I too, tried to call the legal dept. for Monitronics and was told that only my attorney could talk to that dept. so I made contact with an attorney.

We are still waiting for the response from Monitronics on the letter my attorney sent. I have also made contact with the local news stations but I don't know if that will be of any help. My next step is to file a complaint with the Attorney General in the state of Oregon.

And if all of the complaints you have seen regarding Monitronics and their customer service/relations don't deter you from dealing with this company you might find the following to be helpful.

http://kutv.com/gephardt/local_story_035172609.html

http://kutv.com/siteSearch/local_story_085175730.html