Reviews For Guardian Protection Services

(Added July 26/10) I do NOT recommend Guardian protection services. When I had the salesperson come to my house, he was a very unprofessional but I overlooked that because I was interested in getting an alarm system.
I've had 2 instances where my sensors stopped working and had to pay to have them fixed. Once, when I was in Europe, my alarm kept going off unprovoked, and the police at to disable it, leaving my house unprotected for weeks because of Guardian's poor equipment. My biggest complaint with this company is their absurd cancellation policy, which was NOT ONCE mentioned by their sales rep. It would cost me about $1800 to cancel my service with them. This kind of highway robbery should be explicitely explained by the sales rep at the time of sale, not buried in microscopic print on the back of the paper. I am very disappointed with this company, would never recommend them to anyone, and plan to cancel my service with them the very first chance I am able to.

(Added July 26/10) I recently purchased a new home and as a first time home buyer....(read the whole review)

(Added June 24/10) I am in the Army and before my second deployment to Iraq, we....(read the whole review)

(Added May 27/10) Warn people to beware of the small print. Guardian (Protection Services) bought out the small company we had install our system. They told us there would be no change with our service. They did not tell us that when they switched over our service and we signed the contractors document that we were also signing a five year contract – that we did not have with our previous company. We sold our house a year ago and we are still paying for service for a house we do not own !! We will never use Guardian again !!

(Added Mar 24/10) I was a Guardian Protection customer in Pennsylvania and I recently just moved to the Chicago area. I never had any complaints about the service there but I wanted to speak with several companies here to price out my options. I met with representatives from ADT , Broadview as well. I found them to be very pushy after I told them I previously had guardian and they said the response time was slow. I told them I had guardian and that i was always called immediately but Both reps spent the first 10 minutes ripping the other companies. I asked my neigbor what she thought of ADT and she said they raised her rate every year. The rep from guardian was very kind and respected the competition but seemed more focused on protecting my family and home. He took care of my house and than my neigbor switched to guardian as well. We are both very happy with Guardian and my rate hasn't changed.

(Added Mar 15/10) They have been undependable ex.: we answered their call when the alarm got triggered accidentally and tried to call them back. To no avail - they sent the police. Then when we first had the contract set up as a takeover from ADT, they offered to switch out the keypad and we said, no don't bother, it still works fine. Well, later, they said that the replacement would be $135 just for the k.p. when the numbers started malfunctioning. Asked for buyout and it was more than the contract. And make sure you give them 30 days notice to cancel. If you forget: Send a letter to the company's president with these options: They either cancel contract immediately with no penalty or service fees, or you will go to small claims court and file a complaint with BBB. Also, complain to your city attorney and city company is licensed in.

(Added Mar 9/10) In the past I had an ADT Security system. Once their contract expired Guardian contacted me with a 6 month free offer, and then $25 a month. I thought it's pretty good and signed the deal. Right after six month my alarm started going off in the middle of night. When I called they said it will cost me if they come to check it. They gave me a reason that my system was old (from ADT) and it's not covered. Anyways, I ended up signing a warranty contract with them for $9.95 a month. Can you beleive that. With ADT I had same plan for $4.95. They said you have old system that's why it cost more. Couple of weeks ago one night our system displayed a fault at 1:30(AM). Their technician came and found that their wires were connected wrong out side the house and charged us. This is totally absurd. I am paying $10 /month for warranty and this company says that someone at 1:30 in the night changed your wires so we will charge you for the trip. I am done with these guys. I am taking my warranty off, not going to use their system, pay until my contract expires in 8/11 and will never use them or recommend them for any friends.

(Added Mar 4/10) (Guardian Employee) Not long ago I discovered this site and found it rather interesting because it seems that every company on here has the....(read the whole review)

(Added Jan 8/10) I read through all these and can only think that these must be submitted by adt or broadview sales reps. The reason I say this is I have a Guardian Protection System and absolutley think they can't be touched. Yes there is a 5 year contract that helps more than it hurts. I had ADT when i first installed there equipment was poorly installed and for a period of time i was paying for monitoring and (upon being burglarized) discovered I was paying for nothing. And they raised my monitoring rate up a few bucks every year i had them. So I switched to Guardian that had a takeover program that not only saved me loads of money it, locked my rate in and they can't raise the price! Are you kidding. If you want a security system go with the guys who do what they say there gonna do ,and have a quality product. As they say no such thing as free or too good to be true. Remember this when adt tells you "no equipment cost", cause you definitely get what you pay for.

(Added Oct 24/09) I called Guardian Protection Services today to have them conduct a test on my system because....(read the whole review)

(Added Sept 1/09) (Updated Jan 22/10) Guardian wants us to pay $1,049.40 to cancel. We had Guardian once they built our house. They automatically renew their contract without any kind of notice. Now we are stuck with Guardian and I guess we just have to pay them so they can do this to all people =) NICE!
Update:
Guardian is still charging me every month. I am paying them for nothing since Platinum installed their systems.
I have told them to pick up their system but they are not willing too until I pay $1,049.40 for the rest of 10 years. Contract should only be for five years.

(Added Aug 13/09) I purchased my alarm system from Protection Source outright in 2006. Last year Guardian Protection Services bought out Protection Source. In August 2009 one of my sensors quit working. I asked Guardian Protection Services to provide me with the installer code so I could take that sensor off line and replace it. Guardian Protection Services insisted that they have their repair man come out to fix it. They wanted to price gouge me on the repair. Since this has happened I wanted to change monitoring companies but was unable to do so without the installer code. Since I was under no contract and owned my system outright, and was only paying for the monitoring service monthly. They should have provided me with my installer code, because without it it makes my privately owned system useless, because it prevents me from changing to another monitoring service. In effect they were trying to hold me hostage.

(Added July 28/09) If you live in PA, the Attorney General recently passed very strict laws to protect home improvement....(read the whole review)

(Added July 21/09) They also tricked me into signing a 5yr contract.. there is no cancellation process or early termination process.. you are stuck with paying for 5yrs even if you move and don't need the service anymore! Stay away from this company!

(Added June 19/09) They have a contract that locks you in for 5 years, If you don't cancel the contract in writing 30 days before the end of your contract you will automatically be signed up for another 5 years. Dreadful company. STAY AWAY FROM GUARDIAN. They are expensive and the only way they can maintain customers is to trick them into long term agreements. There are plenty of companies out there that provide a service that can be cancelled at any time without penalty.

(Added June 6/09) We've used Guardian for many years. We're monitored out of Pittsburgh, PA. They have always been easy to work with: responsive, helpful, and professional. We have no reason to change!

(Added June 1/09) 10 years and running. Professional install. Quick response to alarms and trouble signals. One night, recently, the window sensor fell off (after 10 years mind you) and before I figured out what happend, they called. They've been awesome. I'll stay with them forever. Fairly inexpensive too.

(Added Mar 31/09) I have been a satisfied customer of Guardian Protection Services for years... I was a customer of theirs when I lived in Pittsburgh, where their corporate headquarters is located, and recently when I moved to Phoenix, I was extremely happy to find out that they had a fully opperational branch to serve my market. They sent a gentleman to my house, who was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. I actually enjoyed the period of time we spent together as we discussed the best ways in which I could secure my home. The technician that they sent to install my system, was polite and well mannered. He was quickly able to install and test the system, all while making himself a friend to my dog and children. The system works wonderfully, I haven't had a single false alarm, and I sleep more soundly knowing that Guardian is there to protect my family.

After speaking with the sales rep, who stopped by after the install to see how everything went, I realized that Guardian Protection was the company that I wanted to secure my new business as well. They were able to install a great system, and this awesome video surveillance equipment that I can view from anywhere in the world. I am not one to normally gush over a good company, but the level of service and expertise that I recieved while dealing with Guardian Protection Services is second to none. I would reccomend them to anyone who is considering security for their business or home.

(Added Mar 12/09) Guardian can't perform- Scheduled an appointment resulting in a no show. I had to call the company 3 times during day to learn that they were not going to make the appointment. Who wants a security company that can't keep their word? Wasted entire day and never received one phone call from the company. Tell your friends and family to stay away from these people; it will be a waste of time and money.

(Added Feb 17/09) Guardian bought out our existing alarm company, Protection Source. With Protection Source, we bought the alarm system and with that we had a month to month contract and with every move, they'd move the alarm for free. When the time came for Guardian to uninstall and reinstall, they said that I must sign a 3 year agreement at their $24.99 monthly fee. This came straight from the manager, and this was after looking at my file and saying that they did not have to honor my contract. Additionally, Guardian did not call my cell phone (as instructed) when the alarm went off from a sensor falling. I was not home and the police went out to the home --- what a mess. The WORST customer service, highly unorganized, and careless. DO NOT trust your most valuable possessions and self with this company EVER.

(Added Jan 26/09) When we purchased our home in April 2008, we signed a contract with Ranger American and before we moved in in July the company had been sold to Guardian. From the first moments of the service we had problems. The alarm would go off in the middle of the night and scare us to death! Thinking someone was breaking in, or there was a fire. BUT we would have to call the alarm company. Then they talked us into installing a voice monitor. Still the alarm would go off and no one would contact us. We finally just stop setting the alarm. When we called the company for the umptheenth time, wanting to get out of the contract, we were threatened to be turned into the credit bureau, or that we had to pay thousands of dollars to buy out the contract. When we asked for a copy of the contract, we were sent just the page that we signed. Not the contract it's self. I asked if there was any options for someone who is just completely dissatisfied. No response, but we just keep getting passed off. We are filing a complaint with the BBB.