Too bad most of these reviews are from people just getting it installed or going to get it installed. I have used ADT in the past, and a private company -- but for this new house I let Brinks do the installation (4 years ago).
Due to personal economic issues, I needed to stop the monitoring for a period of time. Brinks disables the system ENTIRELY. Even though I have paid for options (exterior siren, lights, various other options), they have rendered my entire investment worthless. When I called them to disconnect monitoring, they promised that "the system would work as a stand alone system, NO PROBLEMS". When it did not, they said they wanted an ADDITIONAL $1600 to send the unlock code. Basically, after spending $40 month for 4 years, they want me to buy their circuit board and 4 sensors and a keypad for $1600. I told them when the economy turns around, I would sign back up for monitoring - they said then you can wait until then to have a functional alarm.
A quick Google search will tell you that this is a common strong arm tactic they use, and you are better off buying any system, use independent monitoring and send them a certified letter telling them where they can pick up their equipment. I have NEVER in 50 years dealt with a company with such a poor attitude towards their customers. The more you look into Brinks, the more you see that they prefer to use lawyers and contracts than customer service. I will never recommend (and will strongly discourage) anyone that I care about from doing business with companies like this. Shame on Brinks (corporate).
Update (Added Oct 15/09):
Same company - same attitude - different name. In talking to a Brinks provider, they told me that the name change was partly to hide from all of the customer complaints on their strong arm (AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL- not the local level) tactics to keep you on their monitoring agreement for life. BOTTOM LINE: IF YOU WANT AN ALARM SYSTEM - AND MAY OR MAY NOT NEED MONITORING - THERE IS NO WORSE CHOICE THAN BROADVIEW OR BRINKS SECURITY. Pick up the phone, call the first 10 independents that you can find, and they will all tell you horror stories of customers with similar complaints as mine, as well as "I refuse to talk about 'that' company, as their lawyers have.....(fill in the blank)"
Due to personal economic issues, I needed to stop the monitoring for a period of time. Brinks disables the system ENTIRELY. Even though I have paid for options (exterior siren, lights, various other options), they have rendered my entire investment worthless. When I called them to disconnect monitoring, they promised that "the system would work as a stand alone system, NO PROBLEMS". When it did not, they said they wanted an ADDITIONAL $1600 to send the unlock code. Basically, after spending $40 month for 4 years, they want me to buy their circuit board and 4 sensors and a keypad for $1600. I told them when the economy turns around, I would sign back up for monitoring - they said then you can wait until then to have a functional alarm.
A quick Google search will tell you that this is a common strong arm tactic they use, and you are better off buying any system, use independent monitoring and send them a certified letter telling them where they can pick up their equipment. I have NEVER in 50 years dealt with a company with such a poor attitude towards their customers. The more you look into Brinks, the more you see that they prefer to use lawyers and contracts than customer service. I will never recommend (and will strongly discourage) anyone that I care about from doing business with companies like this. Shame on Brinks (corporate).
Update (Added Oct 15/09):
Same company - same attitude - different name. In talking to a Brinks provider, they told me that the name change was partly to hide from all of the customer complaints on their strong arm (AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL- not the local level) tactics to keep you on their monitoring agreement for life. BOTTOM LINE: IF YOU WANT AN ALARM SYSTEM - AND MAY OR MAY NOT NEED MONITORING - THERE IS NO WORSE CHOICE THAN BROADVIEW OR BRINKS SECURITY. Pick up the phone, call the first 10 independents that you can find, and they will all tell you horror stories of customers with similar complaints as mine, as well as "I refuse to talk about 'that' company, as their lawyers have.....(fill in the blank)"
This Brink's Home Security customer review has been submitted anonymously by a present or former Brink's burglar alarms client. Please note that Brink's uses a sub-dealer program, which usually means that a local company will install and service your alarm, and Brinks will monitor it. So a review listed here may not be for or against corporate Brinks, but a completely independent local dealer. If you submit a review, please indicate whether the review is regarding Brinks corporate, or the local company who installed your system.
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