(Added July 4/11) I to am a victim of the scam pulled off by Protect Your Home.  Unbeknownst to me, I signed a 3 yr contract for alarm monitoring.  And get this, I am renting an apartment for only 1 year. What sense does that make?  Not once did the phone rep or the tech who installed the alarm system inform me of what I was getting into. I signed and initialed the contract under the pretense that I was agreeing to the fact I had their equipment and I would allow them to automatically debit my account. I was considering cancelling my services, so I contacted Protect Your Home and this is when I discovered what I was locked into. Apparently you have 3 days from the date of installation to cancel.  When I looked in the folder to locate this contract, it was no where to be found.  The technician didn't even leave a copy of the contract for me to review.  I have sent a complaint to the BBB to report them in hopes of a reprieve.  I am so disappointed in this company and do not understand how they can get away with misrepresenting themselves and leading people blindly into a 3 year obligation without even disclosing this very important piece of information.  I still haven't received a copy of this "so called" contract.  Anyone out there who are considering this company to protect your home, think about long and hard before doing so.

(Added July 4/11) In February I called ADT/Protect Your Home Co to have an alarm installed.  I was quoted a price to have the system fully installed in my house including door sensors for the front door, and two rear glass doors.  Once I agreed to have the system installed and the tech came out to my house, I experienced ADT's first false advertisement.  The system included in the price quoted to me does not include monitoring glass breakage of the rear doors.  Instead it only monitors someone opening the door.  I know how to lock my doors, I'm specifically concerned about someone breaking the glass and walking through the door without opening it.    I was not in the mood to argue with the tech so I paid the extra amount.  Several months after the installation, I received a phone call saying that I had to pay a permit fee.  I am certain the sales man I spoke to originally said that they would cover all permits.  I told the person who repeatedly called me at work that I was told I did not have to pay this permit fee.  After several calls, I asked to have the system removed and a full refund to which I was told that I would still have to pay out the 3 year contract.  I asked to speak to a manger who immediately told me that the permit was already pulled and that I did NOT need to pay it.  I asked him why I was harassed to pay this fee to which he simply apologized and assured me it would not happened again.  Earlier this week (end of May) I got another call at work telling me I have to pay the permit fee.  I told the person that I already spoke to a manager to which she said that the Manager said that now I had to pay the permit fee.  I wrote ADT directly but four days later I still have not heard back from them.  I can only assume that they approve of Protect Your Home's unethical behavior and deceptive sales strategies.  Yesterday I received a letter from ADT/Protect Your Home with a collection notices saying that I am overdue on my payment.

(Added June 14/11) I called Protect your home after receiving a flyer in my newspaper. When I called i did not know that Protect Your Home was a dealer for ADT.  The salesman was very informative and was giving me a good deal but all that ran through my mind was "If it is to good to be true..."  I was transferred to a supervisor because I was not buying. He was a true salesman pushy and really could not understand why with the deal I was getting that I was not buying. That saying kept going through my head,"If it is to good to be true..."  Since i did have 3 days to change my mind and the supervisor told me that i could cancel and not have the instilation I said ok.  People who complain that they spent 100's of dollars after the installer came out need to understand that they are only getting what was promised over the phone not what they thought they should get.  Yes we did spend more but I wanted a fire alarm system and glass breakage in the back of our home.  We understood what we were getting and then the add ons were extra but we didnt have to buy them "It was up to us" Dave our installer was very professional and polite.  He did a lot of education with us that helped us decide what protection we wanted in our home. He also explained we still had 3 days to try out the system and if we didnt like it we could get a refund.  So far so good. Protect Your Home is honest and upfront with their customers you just cant assume you need to ask questions.

(Added June 14/11) I also feel that the VISA gift card is a total scam. My system was installed in January and I have called twice a month since then. They keep telling to wait for a letter and then an e-mail and then a letter. Neither ever comes. RIDICULOUS! Then just don't tell people you are going to give it to them...

(Added Jan 26/11) I had my kitchen painted and the painter push my store gas coil which cause the gas to link from the stove. The gas was strong when I came home. The Carbon Monoxide dector did not work. Before I replaced my system with ADT my smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector worked. I check the system and it was not working. The smoke detector was not working either. The ADT authorized dealer installer disconnected the carbon monoixide and the smoke detector. Upon futher inspection the motion sensors that was installed did not work. They were stuck to the wall as props and if Big Foot walked past them it would not have sounded the alarm.  I called customer services I waited over 25 minutes on line. Then I found out that ADT was not my dealer and that Defender Protect Home System installed the system. So now I am fearful of my house burning down, being suffocated by carbon monoixide and I have to sit home with my gun in hand so that no one will break in my house.

(Added Jan 5/11) I just had an ADT system installed and was "promised" a $100 Visa gift card.  Well, once the time period expired to cancel my service, I received and email with a "certificate" to request my visa gift card...all I have to do is print, send $4.95 S&H and wait 4-6 weeks.  So in order to get what was promised I have to pay.  This was not stated when I ordered the system.  When I called customer service about this and requested the $100 just be credited to my account instead; the "supervisor" Sam was condescending stating well "no one is making you redeem the gift card".  The point of my call was that I wasn't given an option when I first called for installation... to this; Sam stated "well the salesperson doesn't know you have to pay to get the card.  In my opinion, this is an underhanded sales practice by ADT.  Now I am stuck with this company that starts out with faulty practices for 3 years...buyers beware!

(Added Feb 25/10) I had my alarm installed in late August. As of yet I have never been able to use this alarm.  Every time I have activated the alarm it goes off falsely. I have three small children who are terrified of the thing because it has gone off in the middle of the night so many times. I have had a service person come out (which cost me $25) and replace the equipment in the one room but it still sets off the alarm. On top of that I was offered a $200 rebate Visa card for purchasing the system- I have never received it. I have made several calls and no one can find the documentation or any trace of that conversation. On top of that I just realized I have been double billed since October. ADT has been drafting out of my checking account and another ADT company that they evidentally sold my contract to has been charging my credit card monthly. I supposedly have this resolved but I have yet to receive my $224 credit into my account from ADT Protect Your Home. I paid $800 for this system and can't use it. The customer service was great while they are trying to get you to buy their product. After you have purchased it good luck. I had one customer service person tell me that everyone was at lunch and I would have to call back later. I thought ADT was a huge company but it seems that they must only have a handful of employees to handle the phone calls. My opinion is to use this company at your own risk.

(Added Jan 29/10) I recently bought a home that had an existing security system.  The system was installed and monitored by ADT.  The previous owners (elderly couple) told me they were forced to pay the remainder of a 3-yr contract that they did not know they had signed.  I found out later that my in-laws had purchased from ADT without being made aware of the 3-yr contract as well.  ADT sales reps called my new home several times a day (to the point of harassment) trying to sell us a new security system.  I informed them that I wasn't ready to purchase because I did not have a chance to shop around and did not want to get locked into a long term commitment.  I also had an existing system and my only desire was to activate it.  The sales person assured me that there was no long term contract and that I could cancel at any time without penalty.  I agreed to let them come out and activate my existing alarm system.  When the installer showed up, he wanted to charge me $400-500 (above the $850 credit) to replace my existing security system with new equipment.  My existing system was current technology (1 of the 2 most popular systems on the market), it was not old, out-dated or malfunctioning.  He also presented me with a 3-yr contract.  I told him at that point that he could re-install my old system and get out of my house.  He asked me to allow the install to finish (so he would get credit for the job) and told/showed me that I was able to cancel (penalty free) during the first 72 hours.  I agreed because he was very polite and professional and had already spent several hours doing pre-work with the phone system.  After cancellation, I was contacted several times with inquiries as to my reasoning for cancelling - some were polite and to the point, some were argumentative and sales oriented.  I ended up removing their system and re-installing/re-programming my old equipment myself while I argued with "customer service" reps and waited 2 weeks for them to retrieve their equipment.  My overall impressions:  ADT will lie to get you on board.  ADT will fail to properly inform you of terms of sale (contract).  ADT preys on the ignorant, insecure and elderly.  ADT marks up the price of their equipment to cover installation and service costs (actual equipment cost is generally <50% of what they quote you).  There are plenty of other companies that will provide you with the same UL listed monitoring services that ADT provides at a fraction of the cost (25-35%) and with no long term contract - although you must purchase, install and maintain your own equipment.  Before purchasing from ADT, think it through and decide what level of involvement you require from an alarm company and how comfortable you are with providing/obtaining your own service/ maintenance.

(Added Jan 9/10) I read my contract, I abided by my contract and they still screwed me!  I specifically check quarterly billing - they decided to take the information from the check I provided for the installation fee and start automatic deductions! Isn't that illegal! They miss used the information on my check - that has to be fraud!  I faxed the requested information over to ADT research department on 12/7/09 to initiate the investigation for a refund of $105.00 in bank fees due to a with draw error on the part of ADT and I was told it would take 30 days for the research to be concluded. On 12/8/09 a supervisor called me back from ADT and confirmed that my information had been received, again letting me know it could take 'up' to 30 days. Today is the 8th of January 2010, and I have no refund to my bank account and today is the 32nd day since my information was faxed over and I have no result.  In this economy it is ridiculous that anyone should have to wait 32 days and more to receive what is rightfully theirs due to the negligence of others and I think that people should be aware of the treatment they are to expect when dealing with ADT. When I asked what was taking so long, since I provided the proof for the investigation, I was told there were many others also needing such attention.  What a wonderful thing to learn about the company protecting my home.