CPI Employees Speak Out

"I used to work for CPI a few years ago. Depending on the security consultant you may find that not all the details are disclosed as they should unless you ask. The main thing to do is to read everything before you sign. More than likely you will not like what the details say, but the devil is in the details nonetheless".

The two way communication response systems may seem nice, but in reality, they really won't get you a better response from the authorities than will the one-way, through-the-phone system does (you pick up the phone to tell the CPI security system monitoring station employee that you have a break-in or it's a false alarm). Even if you don't pick up the phone they will still call the authorities under the assupmption that you have a break-in if say the door alarm goes off, or a fire if you have a smoke detector connected to the system.

Remember, that even though they promote a free security system (a minimal system) there is is a 60 month contract, you can pay more for your monitoring to reduce the contract period (they have offered options such as a 36 month contract, but you will have to ask them about the details). Anything above a basic system will and can run up to a fairly expensive system. The reason being is that they do pay commissions to their security consultants and they do want to sell you more by all means to make more money for themselves through there commission pay structure. However, there are several independent contractors that can install a very good alarm system for your home and do it much cheaper and better in most cases. They can also get your monitoring done by either a local or national monitoring station for much less and without a long term contract to do it.

The way CPI makes its money is by getting you committed to one of their long term contracts. It's not wrong to do that, but do you want to commit yourself to a company for 36-60 months and find out that you don't like their service? Their claims to having the fastest response in the industry and being in business for "xx" amount of years is deceptive. So is their claim to being "the only company with the 2-way system, Fast Response System, or whatever they may call it now. They may not make that claim now, but they did when I worked for them and it was just not true.

An alarm system may or may not be effective in deterring a burglar, or getting fast help in case of a fire. You have to decide what is best for you and your family and if you want to spend it on a company that may not be all that it cracks itself up to be. CPI Security Systems does a great job of promoting their products and services, but they really fall short in customer service and ethics when dealing with their customer base. You may like their service but check out their BBB rating and see for your self what areas they have consistent complaints about then decide for yourself if they are the company for you. Know what I know about them, they would never earn my business, and during the years that I worked for them I never had an alarm system installed in my home by them, that should say something.