Complaint / Review
Monitronics International
Self-renewal Contract Without Disclosure to Customer or Notification

I, too, have my own horror story about Monitronics. My husband signed up and we fulfilled our 3-year contract. The contract was such fine print, font size 4 or 6, that you actually need a magnifying glass to read it and I have excellent up-close vision. Point 1: No one ever discloses the terms because Monitronics wants to keep you, the consumer, trapped. Point 2: When the customer service notifies you via phone that your contract is set to automatically renew, but all you have to do is send a letter, they do not mention the terms of the contract, or offer the date to you, so you can terminate in time.

The customer service's soul purpose is to tell you your letter was received 1,2, 3,4 days too late, and you must, therefore, continue your contract for another year. They say they will give you a "break" and not charge you for the full 3 years even though you were tricked into thinking you could actually cancel. My letter was written on the right date but received 2 days late (28 days before my contract Anniversary date) when it automatically self-renewed without my knowledge.

Clearly, had the customer service been concerned with the customer, I would have received a contract that was readible, mimimum font size of 10, and made aware of the clever, tricky, "hook" that they were placing me on. Also, customer service would send out a written notice 90 days before the contract renewal data warning the customer that they would be obligated for a self-renewal term if they did not respond in writing 30 days before their anniversary date. Their customer service is to serve Monitronics, not the customer.

My account has been turned over to collections and CMI is threatening to tarnish my credit report (blackmail) because they are being paid to collect from dishonest thieves. I never used my system after I sent in my letter. It's a SCAM and I, too, am an innocent victim who has been preyed upon by these scavengers! I think there is some legislature in the works to have companies like this disclose in writing, but it is too later for me.