Safe Home Security review: there is no out of the contract! 102

My problem has been going on for over 1 year when through a routine service call (preventive maintaince, system check, etc) I discovered that SAFE Security's monitoring stations were no longer able to monitor my Sprint Fone Safe equipment.

According to the SAFE Security technician, this was due to an upgrade of SAFE's monitoring station systems. While SAFE was fully aware of the situation, the only remedy/option I was offered was to purchase new equipment. Despite the fact that new equipment was the ONLY way for them to continue to offer monitoring services, SAFE did not offer any other concessions/remedies such as discounted monitoring fees or even a discount on the new equipment they were trying to force me to buy. SAFE Security simply expected me to pony up the money for new equipment, and refused to cancel the agreement though clearly (through no fault of mine) they were unable to provide monitoring services.

I refused to be forced into an equipment purchase that I was not obligated to contractually, and told them as much. They pointed out that I had signed an agreement with them. I pointed out that there was two sides to this agreement, and they too had failed to live up to their end. (by upgrading their systems so that they could no longer monitor my equipment) PLUS, my contract included equipment maintenance.

I had many phone conversations over the next 11 months with various SAFE Security representatives where I repeated this same story. The end result was always the same, they wanted to talk me into buying new equipment. When I would not budge, they would point out my alleged "breach of contract" yet take no responsibility for their own breach of the agreement.

The last phone call I had with a SAFE Security representative, she told me they would sell me the new equipment at a discounted rate and write off the alleged balance due only if I agreed to purchase the new equipment. I told her that regardless of whether or not I agreed to purchase new equipment, that the balance should be written off because they cannot bill me for and expect me to pay for services they DID NOT provide. (and SAFE Security is KEENLY aware that they cannot provide me with services.. hence this is why they keep trying to sell me new equipment)

Finally last month I get a "Final Notice" statement threatening to discontinue my monitoring services if I do not pay the past due monitoring fees. The most laughable part was that the "Final Notice" includes a very ominous message about how I could end up with NO PROTECTION if they discontinue my services.. I had to laugh.. I had already had a year (probably more) of no protection from these clowns.. What was actually going to be DIFFERENT if they followed through on their threat.. I sent a written response recapping the entire fiasco, and how the only remedy I would find satisfactory at this point was for them to credit this balance, and leave me alone.

SAFE Security's response to my letter was to send my account to the firm of Rosenthal, Morgan, & Thomas, Inc. I sent them the same letter letting them know where I stood on this matter, and that I firmly disputed this balance. In response they sent me a copy of my contract and continued to stand on my alleged breach of the contract.

We received THREE calls in one day from this firm. (home phone, my cell phone, my husband's cell phone) Their representative Luther Elliot (probably NOT his real name) only left a message on my husband's cell phone (he left NO message on the other two numbers). I spoke with this Luther Elliot this morning (June 9, 2009). He informed me that he had contacted me because his recommendation to his client was that they should seek civil litigation against me. However, he wanted to give me an opportunity to settle this matter outside of court. I informed him that the BEST thing he could do was to advise his clients to seek civil litigation against me in this matter. I told him that at this point since both sides are clearly at an impasse that perhaps the ONLY way to settle this matter was to go before a judge. While SAFE Security seems to want to stand on "breach of contract", my position is that the minute they no longer were able to provide services that they effectively terminated the contract. Funny how they do not see their actions in this way.

I plan to continue to dispute the charges. In my opinion, SAFE Security is unethical, and conducts business like corporate terrorists. I would NEVER recommend this company to ANYONE. This story was the last straw for me with these clowns.. If I told you of my entire history with this company going all the way back to my early days with them including their relationship with SESSCO and the story of how I ended up with the Sprint Fone Safe equipment.. Well I just won't go there..

Let me summarize

• Sometime before May 2008, SAFE Security upgraded their monitoring station systems.
• SAFE Security never notified their customers of these system upgrades.
• SAFE Security never notified their customers that these upgrades might prevent some older equipment from communicating with the monitoring station.
• SAFE Security's system upgrades prevented their monitoring station from being able to communicate with my equipment.
• Therefore SAFE Security was unable to provide monitoring services

It's very simple. No service provided = No money owed for service

This is still a disputed debt. The only remedy SAFE Security ever offered was for us to buy new equipment. NOWHERE are we contractually obligated to buy new equipment to keep up with SAFE Security's system upgrades. It is SAFE Security's own actions which prevented them from being able to provide monitoring services. SAFE Security is continuing to attempt to extort money from us for services they are fully aware that they could not provide.

I bought a new securty system from SAFE HOME SECURITY for over $1, 500 back in 2000. The system virtually NEVER worked. I had a maintanace contract but every time they came to try to fix the system they charged me but never got it up and running. I tried to terminate the service but they aggressively threatened sue; ruin my credit; etc. I reluctantly paid for the service calls and the monthly fee through the end of the contract even though I never turned the thing on for years. That was in 2002. Fast forward to 2009 and it has been brought to my attention that they are reporting to credit agencies that I am delinquent on my account! 22 times! I have not recieved any written coorespondence; phone calls; emails; or any notice whatso ever. I paid them in full - thousands of dollars - for a system that never (I mean never-ever) worked. Now they just keep hitting the delinquency button every month. I called to try to resolve the matter but they don't even have record of the account. SAFE HOME is not only incompetant but irresponsible. I am shocked they are still in business. DO NOT USE SAFE HOME SECURITY.

I went to the BIG E in Mass and there was a raffle to win a SAFE HOME SECURITY system. Apparently I won and so I made an appointment... luckily I decided to look them up online because I have had a run-in with a moving co. and had to go through the BBB, so now I look EVERYTHING up before I go with it. My advise is to research before you go with any service. I learned a valuable lesson with the moving co. issue... one I will NEVER revisit. The names of the two salesmen that have been calling me are Anthony Martin and Joe Adams... I tried to find if they list salesmen names online to make sure I was reading about the right co. I must be, the rep. said he was out of Windsor, Ct but gave me a 413 area code [protected]) but I couldn't find a Safe Home Security in Windsor nor the number I have. I called the 1-800 number listed on the SHS website to see if I could get some info, but I only got a recording... but on that recording it said "Please leave your name and number and one of our salesmen will get back to you..." so I am guessing they have people who do the leg work for them. I am going to cancel my appointment first thing tomorrow morning and I will tell them why. The BBB is all over them. I will, however, feel badly if they are not affiliated with SHS inc... but how many Safe Home Security's could there be? Right?

He is a ### for going with SHS - AVOID theese guys at all costs ! it has been over 6 Months and my system is still not working right I pay $41.95 and this is to INCLUDE a service agreement however every time I call in they want to charge me $300.00 to send a person out to check the alarm I have filed a complaint with the ATGO in MA they are working on a Class action lawsuit with CT ATGO Well, Brinks Here I come...

There is no out of the contract! They would not allow to terminate the contract. They are saying that it gets automatically renewed for 1 year if you do not cancel 30 days prior to termination of contract. This is absolutely ridiculous. I signed a two year agreement with Safe Home Security. My two years was up on April of 2009. I called May 08 to cancel, and was told that my account was automatically renewed for another year, because I missed the 30 day cancellation notice by twelve days. I spoke with the customer service, and he agreed to meet me in the middle. I was offered to reduced rate, with a 36 month contract renew ell. I obviously denied his gracious offer. There has to be something that can be done!

Here the agreement.
ALARM SERVICES & MONITORING AGREEMENT 1. TERM, PAYMENT AND RENEWAL. 1.1 The initial term of this Agreement is 24 months (the "Initial Term"). Dealer will provide Services and Subscriber agrees to purchase the System and pay for Services beginning when (subject to the Familiarization/No Dispatch Period) Dealer connects the System to a central monitoring station ("Monitoring, Facility"), and the Monitoring Facility receiver a satisfactory test signal from the System. THIS AGREEMENT AUTOMATICALLY RENEWS FOR SUCCESSIVE ONE (1) YEAR PERIODS ( each a "Renewal Term"), UNLESS SUBSCRIBER OR DEALER GIVES WRITTEN NOTICE OF CANCELLATION AT LEAST THIRTY (30) DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE INITIAL OR A RENEWAL TERM...

I do file a complaint at https://www.cba.ca.gov/forms/complaint/complaint.html

I was under a 3 year contract with a month to month payments of about 50.oo from sep 2004 to sep 2007. It’s now May 2009, and I just moved out of the home I had SHS installed in. I wanted to cancel service once I moved. Now SHS is telling me I’m still under contract. How do you get out of this mess with this company? I never received any new paper work for a contract.

I've tried all levels of this company with no recourse they keep saying they will call back, or they are in a meeting. Maybe I can try the TX Attorney General and BBB.

I paid my 3 year contract each month on time and then when it was up I asked to cancel. They said it had already been renewed for another 3 years and I can not cancel without a 30 month penalty. I've tried all levels of this company with no recourse. I've moved, I don't even live at the house or in New England any more and they are still billing me. They should be put out of business.

Having same problem with SHS. The charged me for $938 after i told them to terminated the service. This has a negtive impact on my credit report. Anyone has tried to sue the company in small claim court in CT? What happen after the state attorney general sued them?

Does't this seem a little like an attempt from our competition to discredit SHS? ADT ads all over while people complain about a 5 year contract that is designed to protect the customer from any price hikes? Seems like it is ADT who needs to watch their business practices. I have been with the company for 3 years now, the equipment is state of the art, and the service is terrific!

We had the service put on in November, 2005 and was told that if we moved (we were renters), that we would be able to transfer the service. However, when we went to transfer the service were told that they do not offer the service to renters and therefore the contract should not have been honored to begin with.

We called and wrote to cancel the service in March, 2006 (since we were told that we could not transfer it), the phone service had been transferred so there was no open line to even allow for monitoring. They stopped automatic withdrawals from our account the day after phone service was disconnected from the original address.

About 3 months later they began suing the property owner for early termination of contract (which we were told was not going to be any more than $1200 for their high-end service which we did not get) and is now taking the property owner to small claims court for just under $2000 in maintenance fees.

When dealing with the attorney's office out in Boston for this, the person that I'm dealing with there (Mr. Abdow) can't even be bothered to fully read the documentation regarding the case until he's on the phone with me and even then only reads bits and pieces and doesn't even have a clue as to what is going on. When telling him that it was his client (Safe Home Security) that stopped the automatic monthly withdrawals as well as had been trying to bill for maintenance on a property that didn't even have phone or electric service, it was almost as though the light bulb went off, to which he said that he was going to try to contact the client about settling and would get back to me.

It was when he finally realized that it was SHS that stopped pulling the money out of the account that he began backtracking. Not even 2 minutes after getting off the phone with me, he called back, but I was on the phone with a doctor’s offices and so was unable to flash over. He then left a very curt message and when I was able to return his call, after first being on hold for almost 10 minutes, was finally put into his voicemail; at which time I had also asked him to not leave such rude messages on my machine as the reason for my not answering his call was because I was on the other line with the physician’s office. He didn’t call back until the next day (Wednesday), but since I’ve been running around to more doctor's appointments, I haven’t been able to return his call yet.

Before realizing that they (SHS) were the ones that stopped pulling the money out for automatic withdrawals, he tried to tell me that there was no way that they would settle for anything less than the $2600 (which is $600 more than what it says on the small claims forms) and that if I didn’t like it then I had better make certain that I go to court for when it’s scheduled. When I told him that I have been laid up for the last 3 weeks and haven’t been able to move and have been in and out of doctor’s appointments for this time while still having testing done, he became even more of a jerk. I told him that even if I was able to walk that there was no way I’d be able to make a court appearance for that time in the afternoon because it was only a short while before my children would get home from school to which he retorted “so you can’t get the afternoon off from work? Do I need to send a letter to your employer?” Another point made about how Mr. Abdow just does not listen nor pay attention to the case in front of him.

I am planning on getting in touch with the Connecticut Attorney General's office about this company as well. The entire reason for us having signed a 5 year contract with being renters was because we were told that we would be able to have the service transfer with us when we moved; something that we found to be untrue once we actually tried to do it.

i am currently in the same situation with this company... i am unable to get out of the contract which was
still renewed even though i sent in a cacncellation notice aprox 45 days before the end of the 1st 3yrs contract. That was in june 08, the biggest issue is that there is no monitoring because there is a problem with the contacts, but i am still being billed monthly. this company clearly has no morals or ethics and should be shut down. their employees are extremely rude.

Having same trouble with this company. had a fire that damaged much of my house. I called them to cancel my contract rightfully under sect 20 . they refused to cancel me, started sending me past due notices and threatning letters. so i wrote the att. gen in CT to file a complaint with his lawsuit. 2 months now and not even a letter from safe home. WRITE THE ATT. GEN FILE YOUR COMPLAINT, THE MORE, THE BETTER

Same boat here. Why did I get myself INVOLVED with this company? They gave me a free alarm in exchange for 5 YEARS of service at almost $50 bucks a month. Fine and dandy, right? WRONG! Try and cancel the service once the contract expires. "Oh, I guess you didnt read the fine print. KA-CHING, HEHEHE!"

Everyone's right here; you CANNOT get out of the contract even though it ran out! Who keeps track of when exactly you signed a contract 5 years ago? This company is very deceitful. My contract got extended for 1 year, then AGAIN from April (when I was explained about "the letter") until October of this year, because that's the month I signed the original contact. WTF does that have to do with the tea in China?!

Never again. God I hope people read this before dealing with this company.

What are you doing about paying the alarm bill? I now have a collection agency calling me. Thanks.

The exact same thing is happening to me. I contacted the Connecticut attorney general's office as someone mentioned and they have told me that to send in a letter to become a part of the suit they have against Safe Home Security. I am sending the letter in today. I urge anyone else having this issue to do the same. The web address is

http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=390334&A=2788.

I agree with all of the complaints I have heard about SAFE security or Security Alarm Financing Enterprises, LP. They have poor business and customer service practices. I would never use their service and the Better Business Bureau or anyone should shut them down. Don't ever sign a contract with them or you will regret it!

I am also in the same boat. I signed a two year agreement with Safe Home Security. My two years was up on October 11th of 2007. I called October 23rd to cancel, and was told that my account was automatically renewed for another year, because I missed the 60 day cancellation notice by twelve days. I spoke with the customer service manager, and he agreed to meet me in the middle. I was offered a three month credit, reduced rate, with a 36 month contract renew ell. I obviously denied his gracious offer. There has to be something that can be done!

The CT Attorney General is suing Safe Home security for contract violations.
Contact them for assistance.

http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=390334&A=2788.

I agree, I am also aware that some of the employees there are past criminals. One of which is Dimerius Madden (Rocky Hill Office) a felon on a two year parole for felony criminal assault with a weapon. No background check I guess. Why would anyone use this service.

This is absolutely true. They would not allow to terminate the contract. I am also in the same situation. They are saying that it gets automatically renewed for 3 years if you do not cancel 60 days prior to termination of contract. This is absolutely ridiculous.