Vector Security Alarm Customer Review: Auto Renew Contract

We have been with Vector for over 5 and a half years.

We accidently set the alarm off a few times and reset it fairly quickly. In those false alarms no one ever called to check on our safety or situation. We recently moved to another house. My wife was not excited about Vectors lack of attention to alarms so we opted for ADT. When we signed our contract with Vector, we were told that after 3 years we could cancel with a 30 day notice. It sounded like a reasonable contract. When we called to cancel our service we were told that after our intial three year contract was up that they automatically renewed for a another three years. They also explained that we only had a 30 day window to cancel. Since we never canceled, they renewed us for another three years.We had to buy out the remainder of the contract 7 (months)after being there customer for 5 1/2 years. Had we cancelled at the three year date there would be no buy out. If we would have missed another renewal our buyout would have been even larger than it currently was because of a new contract. We already paid for the equipment. They never sent us a reminder of the renewal or option to cancel. When I asked why they do not send out reminders I was told they had too many customers and it was not cost effective. I imagine it is not cost effective when they can just renew a contract and then charge you a buyout fee. They are banking on people not remembering to cancel or needing to cancel in the 30 day window. Of course they offered to waive our buyout fee if we signed another three year deal on our new hose and install the equipment. I decided because of ethics that I would pay the buyout fee but would never sign another contract wih them.

We are currently with ADT, extremely happy with their service. We did sign a three year contract again. ADT does an automatic renewal after the three years but it has a 30 cancelation policy. Prior to the three years we will have to buy out, but after the three years we can cancel with only 30 days notice and we will not be charged a buyout fee. I am not pushing ADT on anyone. There are many good alarm companies we spoke with but ADT was the best fit for us.

I absolutely would not recommend Vector to anyone. Vector has a legal but unethical contract and unethical standards with their renewals. Definitely a buyer beware situation. I have spoken with a neighbor who actually canceled in the requried 30 day window with Vector and they made it unbelievable dificult and then "lost" the cancelation paperwork and automatically renewed him. When he contacted them they said there was nothing he could do because he missed the window. Luckily for him he still had the fax confirmation of receipts and e-mails with date stamps to prove it. They after denying his request reluctantly gave in after he closed his payment account they were drafting from. Vector really is just an unethical company. My buyout charge was well worth the fact that I will never again do business with them.