Hello all, I would like to tell you about an experience I had with adt. First off, I have read many comments about you should have read the contract and I acknowledge that only an idiot signs a contract that they have not read. However what do you classify a person who was lead to believe that they were signing a reciept for the install of a panic button but may have signed a contract.
That seems confusing so let me elaborate. I rented a convenience store and started the process of putting together a business plan for the opening of said store. I was concerned about security and noticed a pre-existing adt system. Naturally, I called adt first to get a security qoute, since the equipment was already installed. The adt dealer came out and checked the old box but could not tell me for sure wether it would work because there was no phone line active. We agreed that I would hook up phone service and he would send an installer out to check the system. Knowing that I would want a panic button I asked about the instillation and the rep told me for 75.00 dollars the installer checking the system could put one in and make sure it would work with the new system.
Now focus on the fact that this was all supposed to be preliminary to deciding if I even wanted adt service. First, I needed to know if the old system would do what I wanted it to. When I asked about service agreements the rep told me plainly "you will have more options if the old system works because the long term contracts with high cancellation fees is to recover the cost of newly installed equipment if said customer terminates early". This sounded normal like with a cell phone if you get the special deal on the phone the cost is tied into the contract, so if no new equipment is installed reasonable to think better service contract.
This is where things get fishy. I signed a receipt for a credit card charge of 75.00 dollars to install the panic button so that the installer could come by later and check the system out. This was just a simple sales receipt no fancy contract. (reads as "I read the receipt every word") It was just a receipt nothing else. The only way my signature is on a contract is via fraud or slight of hand, at this point. Later, when the installer comes by to check the system and put panic button in I made sure to clear with him that I was not connecting security service at this point only wanting the "free assesment" offered and the button installed to make sure that it will work. At this point I did sign an agreement that I read that was just about the responsibilities of securing the panic button against false alarm. He said any panic button instillation would require one of these and I felt it was not agreeing to service since it was clearly just about the panic button.
A few days later while working in the building a cop showed up and said the alarm had gone off. I talked to adt and they assured me things were cleared up and that I had no contract for service so I was not obligated by anything. This happened again months later and went the same way, they told me no contract all screwed up don't worry it is taken care of.
Now I am receiving calls from a collection agency over the amount of the contract. I have made multiple requests to every level of adt, local, state, and national to send me a copy of the contract. The local guy (also the rep that came out) told me that we had a contract but that he could not furnish the exact contract with my signature but he would furnish a copy of a similiar contract minus my signature. State told me the same as the local rep although it may have just been the head of that dealer not corporate. Corporate told me that they keep all contracts in a warehouse and that they would send me a copy of the exact contract with my signature and that if the one I receive is not signed by me or has someone else's signature to contact them immediately.
I think that the response from corporate was very appropriate and that they seem to be honestly trying to figure out what happened here. My concern is that corporate did tell me that I paid a 75.00 dollar instillation fee for the security system and that it may have constituted an agreement to provide security services. Well that is bull hockey since I was having them install the panic button, not security system, so that I could assess the operability of the pre-existing equipment. How does that constitute and agreement to five years of service, especially since the sales rep just explained to me about how I would have more options on service and that we could arrange that when I had the service hooked up.
I am now waiting to see what corporate sends to me as proof of a contract.
I just wanted to post this to help others see that these sales reps are not a part of the adt company and have free reign to lie and cheat you into a contract. Don't just read what you are signing make sure when you sign something it is what you read. I do not know if anything was switched around or what and will not make accusations (this could be a mistake that is cleared up) but I am accusing the local edmond and oklahoma city adt dealers of not providing accurate information to me and not promptly taking care of this matter.
I will respond to this with information as I get it.
Ryan
arcadia, Oklahoma
U.S.A.
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