On April 26, at about 7:26 am, I inadvertently pushed the panic button on my home security system keychain. This system was installed in Sept, by Platinum Protection, based in Orem, UT. I had had no reason to activate an alarm prior to this (and really felt stupid when I realized what I had done, too, since I had no emergency - just pushed the wrong button and then walked to the kitchen, so I missed the disembodied voice from my system talking to me or them to me - thought it was my answering machine). This system is monitored by a company in Dallas: Monitronics, International. When I called the latter to forestall the calling of the local police about 5 minutes later, the operator who answered told me "Security" had already been called. Police never did show up, so I called again - they insisted that "Security" had been called and that they could not call the police until they received - in Dallas - a report from "Security". (I live in Fort Worth, two blocks from a police station/six blocks from a fire station). They then stated (this is the 1st of at least 6 times) that it was a "law in Fort Worth" that a private security company rep come out to see what was going on before local police are called.
About 11:30am I was watering the front lawn; an apologetic guy came up to say that he had come "to the corner" across the street from my house and had "looked" at the house. Apparently, it "looked" ok, because that's all he did. He did not knock, come near my house, or talk to me or anyone else living near me. I advised I could have been dead several times, then asked him what the procedure was for notifying the appropriate authorities; he said the same thing Monitronics had said because it was a "law in Fort Worth". He also said, he was unarmed, had had little training, had only worked there two weeks. They blamed all on the City of Fort Worth one more time, but also said Platinum Protection had told them to have "security" come out because it was a Fort Worth law. I called the FW Alarm Division office (817 392-1300). FW Ord. #15750, Chapt. 12, enacted 11/18, eliminated any such requirement. So Monitronics and Platinum Security/Protection have had 5 years to get their act together and haven't. They're in the Security business and haven't a clue about law changes in that area for more than FIVE YEARS?
I am 77, live alone, on a fixed income, and if all I am able to do is push their panic button and this is what happens, I am NOT SAFE and NOT SECURE. I want to cut their service and get a company which knows what is going on. Monitronics and Platinum have both told me the other company OWNS my contract and there is nothing they can do - both seem to be denying responsibility - Platinum has even said (yesterday) that "Legal" said I cannot cancel without paying a huge amount of money. (I think their "Legal" would be better served resarching law changes, personally, then ripping off little old Texas ladies). I am still being charged every month for sorry or no service.
Be VERY, VERY AFRAID! Both of these companies are greedy AND incompetent. The truth is not in them!!!
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