Beware of a company with white shirts walking around saying
ge icon security
I live in a nice mobile home community. I was sitting in my home office in front of the bay window busily working on Wednesday June 11. I looked up and there was a young man standing in front of my home with a clipboard starring at the empty lot next to me with a concerned look on his face. I asked him if I could help him. I have lived here 23 years and this was very unusual.
He started babbling through the window about needing to know the measurements between homes. He was asking so many questions about the property I was not catching it all so I grabbed my ice tea and came out to the deck. (My thoughts were that he was going to move a home in next to me.) If I knew he was a salesman I would of never gotten out of my chair.
Well he said he was good friends of the manager here in the community and she sent him to my home area because I was right by the speed bump and I would be great advertising for them cause everyone stops to go over the bump, he would like to offer me a FREE security system. All I would have to do is post their sign in my yard for 39 months and sign a 6 months contract of $44.00 but he would write me a check for $150.00 to cover half that. After that I would be under NO obligation although I could continue the moderating at NO increase forever if I wanted too.
All I would have to do under contract is post their sign for 39 months. I figured I would be stupid not taking this FREE wireless alarm system with the way the world is getting, and with only a 6 month contract because according to him the manager had no problems with posting their sign.
Through our conversation I asked him at least 3 times if there was any catch and he said NO and he was giving me the same deal he gave his grandmother and absolutely NO ONE will get a deal again like this in our community but asked me to please keep it a secret. He said none of my neighbors would get this great deal. He said everything he offered me was on the up and up. Everything. Nothing hidden. He promised.
He then got on the phone to verify I was the homeowner and put me on the phone and a lady on the other end happened to mention a 39 month contract and he covered the phone and told me not to worry about that part because he was taking care of that for me personally. He said i was not obligated for anything but the sign. So I signed and he wrote me a check for $150.00 to take care of the first 3 months telling me I was responsible for Sept., Oct., and Nov. He even counted with his fingers. He said if I was to continue the service it was up to me. He made it verbally clear I was not under any other obligation.
He then wanted my credit card number to have the 6-month payment taken out of my checking account and I told him NO WAY the deal off. He claimed to be on the phone with his boss but did not believe he was talking to anyone (he just wanted to act important) and said they have NEVER NEVER done a paper billing or at least in the 4 years he'd been selling for them and it would cost him personally $100.00 but he was willing to pay it and take the loss because with the sign in my yard he was going to get a lot of business. I told him I was totally fine with the sale as long as he does not mis-represent anything because I don't deal well with liars and I don't get mad, I get even. He snickered and says I could trust him.
About an hour late the installer Pete came in, can you believe a 9:00 P.M. To install the new alarm system same day. I believe it is so the buyer does not have anytime to check anything out with others neighbors. They also mentioned (promised) there would be NO holes in the walls. They did drill holes in my doors and my wall all the way through the closet.
It took about 2 hours and when Pete finished the installation, he had to go over the entire process and forms with me and I first saw that the salesman marked down $47.00 a month for 39 month. I was in shock... It was supposed to be $44.00 for 6 months. I questioned Pete the installer and he sincerely felt bad and said he left his N.J. Job because of this very same reason. The salesman he installed for there lied to the customers and he could not handle it.
So Pete the installer got Van the salesman on the phone and we I went over our conversation we had on my deck as he starting babbling and babbling angrily to me and said that I miss understood him. I did not misunderstand him; I confirmed everything 3 -4 times. I was totally clear on what he was offering me. I was a salesperson for 27 years. He said he would be out the next day to talk to me in person. (He never showed up, He never called.)
Let me add, he offered me a referral fee of $50.00 if I were to get him any additional business because he is not allowed to solicit in our community (yea) So before I knew he ripped me off I introduced him to my neighbor right in front of the installer Pete and they agreed to also get a system. When I mentioned it to him only 2 hours after the fact he told me it was not I that referred my neighbors it was someone else. He then got angry and said (fine I will give you the $50.00) He knew I referred them in fact his installer was standing right there in my door when I set them up. This salesman would not know the truth if it bit him in the nose. No problem... What goes around comes around... My neighbors back out so I guess he won't get a referral (commission) either.
Well after reading the contract before the installer left I found out it was all-wrong. When we called to question the salesman he got mad and said he was going to have his installer rip it out right then and there at 11:30 at night which would leave all the holes in my wall and doors and have him take it over and install it in my neighbor before he knew they back out. (which by the way) he offered them and much better deals them me. He offer them $41.00 a month and the same $150.00 check.
He was sooooooo angry and I didn't want to get into a heated conversation with him so I told him I had to sleep on it and said he would be out the following day. He said he was doing this as a favor for me not for him. He said I wanted this. I never approach him, I never asked for an alarm system. I was minding my own business and he offered me a FREE system just for posting his sign in my yard.
Pete the installer was not surprised at the attitude of Van and told me he was very dishonest and told me not to deal with Van and offered me on paper $75.00 to send referrals to him instead.
I have till the 16th of June to cancel and I am but unfortunately my living room wall will have a big fat hole in it. I think I would of kept the system if the salesman was honest and upright but I hate lairs. He mis-represented himself and offered and looked at me right in my eyes saying I could trust him.
BEWARE: This salesman Van Oakes tells you he is a friend of the management if you live in a community or he knows your neighbors personally He also tells you a popular neighbor in the area was recently broken into. When I asked the neighbor in question he referred to, I found out it was another lie. My neighbor has had no problems. NOTE: Not sure if all the salesman are trained in this manner but when Van came out he told me everyone was his best buddy especially the community manager.
I realize I should of asked questions but I was told it was FREE so why would I question it? I am not saying it is a bad product, it was a misleading presentation. ANYTHING to get the sale...
BEWARE: I sent this out to several friends in the area and several responded to me and were hit up by this very same company with the very same way.
BEWARE Make sure you ask your neighbors what they were offered before you sign the dotted line. I Guaranteed, their deal was better.
BEWARE: My salesman Van Oakes does not know the truth if it hit him in the face. Watch for this company called GE ICON SECURITIES, They will tell you ANYTHING to get the sale.
Should have listened to my father...
Remember nothing in life is free
Clare
Toledo, Ohio
U.S.A.
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