Central Security Group (CSG) | Review: Installation And Signal Issues

At the Houston Home Show in February 2009 we signed a 3 year contract with CSG's Agent American Best Security.

We had ADT Service and the Company ADT bought Wells Fargo, and the Company Wells Fargo bought Affordable Security for 15 Years. We had no problems for 15 years but the equipment was old and ADT was providing new equipment for new subscribers only. The Salesman for American Best (no longer with the Company) told us CSG was a sister company of ADT (that is not true) but the monthly cost was less (that was true). Then the nightmare began. The ABS Installer (no longer with the Company)was four hours late in coming in for the Hour and a Half Installation with no calls as to why he was late. He didn't complete the job becaue he was missing a part and would have to come back the next day. Next day he came in with the part but couldn't get the 2nd Keypad to work. A few days later a supervisor of ABS came in to finish the Job and found a dangling wire to the keypad unconnected and that made the System work. But the Supervisor also found the Fob we purchased was programmed wrong which he allegedly corrected.

On June 28 2009, the Houston Police came to our house because a silent alarm went off, and I found a note on the door from HPD and I called CSG to report and a Technician would check the System. On July 3rd 2009 the silent alarm went off again and 4 squad cars with Police guns drawn circled our house and a neigbor who has a key let them in and they found no one, so again I reported to CSG and asked when is the Technician coming. He came in on July 9th and spent an hour and a half and found faulty programming and a defective fob.

On July 14th a bill for $100 came from the Houston Police Department for the second call. There was no negligence on my part but incompetent programming and a defective Fob. So I called CSG and asked for a name of who I can talk to about my problem because CSG's Web Page contains no names. The name given me was ***** *****, Central Security Dispatch Manager and his Fax Number. I faxed the $100 bill and a cover sheet with data. I tried calling (him) 5 times, left a voice mail message which he never returned. Also I talked to 5 women at CSG which was a complete waste of time. Today I received a letter on plain paper, not letterhead, from ***** ****** informing me the Company, CSG would do nothing for me even though I believe there was negligence on the part of their agents and providers. CA stated equipment installed only had a limited liability of 90 days, the extended warranty that I have this situation did not count. He also stated he found no fault in the dispatch center in the fines that were drawn. He also warned me that CSG would pay no fines or penalties if I do not pay the HPD.

His last line in his letter was "This letter in no way implies that Central Security Group is liable for your false alarm charge". ****** ******** is a typical American Manager with no concept of Customer Service, hiding like a coward behind his Voice Mail and refusing to speak with me. Since CSG is going to do nothing, their equipment is foreign made, they might just as well outsource CA's work too.

Potential Customers of CSG need to do research and read the fine print before signing on with Central Security Group, Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). Remember the Salesmen who sold us the equipment (Gone from ABS). Stiffed us on a $100 referral.