December 1998 I contacted Honeywell to replace my malfunctioning alarm panel in return for 3 year contract for alarm monitoring. At that time, I did not "catch" the automatic renewal clause which requires me to notify them 60 days prior to this auto-renewal date in mid-December in order to cancel. It also allows them to raise the price, which they did. They also changed their names twice—once to HSM and now to Stanley Convergent.
In late I tried to cancel and go with another cheaper company. I was given the royal run-around, the upshot of which was they told me I was paying for maintenance of the system. Since I thought we might soon be selling our home, I stayed with them in case we had a problem.
In March of we rushed put our home on the market, fearful that the housing crisis would require us to keep it listed for an extended period. We were fortunate, and it sold in June. I cancelled all services including disconnecting the phone. I called Stanley and was told I'd need to fax a cancellation request, and was then given (in succession) two different erroneous numbers to fax it to.
After finally faxing it to Debbie via Kevin, we moved out. We were good customers for 10 years, were paid up, and I thought no more about it until I received another bill forwarded from our old address. I contacted Debbie, who first told me she had no record of my cancellation, and then told me I'd have to talk to Melissa. Melissa told me I could not cancel because she had a signed contract. I told her the three year period was up long ago. She told me that didn't matter, and I would have to pay for six months of monitoring regardless of whether or not it was my intention to renew, whether we moved, whether the service was actually provided etc. I asked for a copy of said contract, (several times) and it was eventually sent with the auto-renewal clause highlighted.
So it seems I had to guess when we would sell our house, and then by October 15th of the prior year ensured that this company received a certified letter canceling monitoring. (In retrospect, I see why I got the runaround the first time I tried to cancel. It must've been just before the cancellation window closed and they were using delaying tactics!) I do not believe this is reasonable.
Also, I would think a service company would want to keep a positive reputation with good customers in our situation order that they might return after buying a new home. Now Stanley seems intent upon besmirching my otherwise impeccable credit so I CAN'T buy a new home! Is this legal? Why hasn't this been all over the news and internet?
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