Do not go protection one

[saad1200]

I would not recommend protection one to any one. I have paid $1,7000
on the equipment the installation.
1) Even though I spent $1,7000 on the equipment I got the cheapest and
largest contact. i had problem installing my blind. The company just
ignore my request to replace the contact with smaller ones.
2) I have been waiting for for about a month now for someone to move
down 4 of the contacts to allow the blind to fit. The window contacts
are installed in the top right corner. It is the worst location to
install window contacts. Protection one are asking for more money to
move them, they consider it remodeling!!! it was the installer bad
decision to put them at this place not mine. pulse I am paying $5
extra a month for service fee.
3) The alarm system is hooked up to a light switch!!! I have to keep
my lights on all because of their bad installation
4) 5 times the alarm went off, I got no calls from them. I am paying
for nothing!!

summary:
expensive system. they do not call when the alert goes off. Bad
service. bad installation. Save your many and time and go to some one
else

 

[Robert L Bass]

If you paid by credit card, contact your card provider
(usually your bank). File a "charge-back" request
based on merchandise not being as described and
failure to provide contracted services. The credit
card company will withdraw the money from the
alarm company's bank account and return it to you.
This will cause the alarm company to completely
change their service priorities.

Next, regardless what they do for you -- good or bad
-- at this point, write a letter to the local newspaper
and television station consumer editors. Just write
one letter and send copies to every station and every
paper within a 100-mile radius. Describe accurately
and concisely what they screwed up. Include a
photo of the contact interfering with the window
blind. Explain that they connected the transformer
to a *switched outlet* which is specifically prohibited
by the manufacturer's instructions and the electrical
code (they have to be installed according to the mfrs
instruction manual) and how this makes the alarm
system go into "trouble" mode if you turn the light off.

Document every conversation you have with these
scoundrels. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Also, contact your state Consumer Protection agency
and ask to speak to someone in the alarm licensing
office. Explain what has been done to you and that
the alarm company has cheated you by refusing to
provide what you paid for -- a properly working alarm
system. Ask for an official complaint form. Include
a copy of your complaint plus any response you get
in your letters to the media.

All this might seem like overkill to some but it's
important to understand that the company has
cheated this customer. Now they are refusing to
honor the warranty (they installed the transformer
wrong) even though he's paying for warranty
service. That and the poor quality workmanship
(installing sensors in such a way that the gentleman
can't even close his blinds) is indicative of a bad
alarm company.

If this was the first time we'd seen such horror
stories about that company perhaps I'd have
suggested a more friendly approach. Unfortunately,
there us a long history of customer abuse and
shoddy workmanship from P1 dealers. Nothing short
of a "shock and awe" (apologies to the Shrub)
campaign is appropriate.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Frank Olson]

I would not recommend protection one to any one. I have paid $1,7000
on the equipment the installation.

Your installation should mention something about a warranty. If you
*own* the equipment then the warranty should cover labour for the first
year.

1) Even though I spent $1,7000 on the equipment I got the cheapest and
largest contact. i had problem installing my blind. The company just
ignore my request to replace the contact with smaller ones.

The "contact" you're referring to is probably the wireless transmitter.
It's usually located on the wall adjacent to the window. The sensors
(contacts) are on the window track (or inside the track if concealed
contacts were used).

2) I have been waiting for for about a month now for someone to move
down 4 of the contacts to allow the blind to fit. The window contacts
are installed in the top right corner. It is the worst location to
install window contacts. Protection one are asking for more money to
move them, they consider it remodeling!!! it was the installer bad
decision to put them at this place not mine. pulse I am paying $5
extra a month for service fee.

Protection one will have to move the transmitters if they're interfering
with your blinds. Call them back and mention their warranty on
installation.

3) The alarm system is hooked up to a light switch!!! I have to keep
my lights on all because of their bad installation

That's another warranty issue.

4) 5 times the alarm went off, I got no calls from them. I am paying
for nothing!!

It may be that a "cancel code" has been programmed into the system (or
there is an additional delay on communication to enable you to turn off
the alarm before a signal is sent). You're going to have to actually
put your system on test and ensure it's properly transmitting alarms and
restorals outside of the programmed delays.

summary:
expensive system. they do not call when the alert goes off. Bad
service. bad installation. Save your many and time and go to some one
else

Conclusion:

Protection One is one of the "bigger" alarm companies out there. If
their installer didn't provide you with the expected service, then their
service department should look after you. Speak with the local service
manager and if that doesn't help contact their corporate office. All
this information should be on their contract.

DO NOT contact the papers or the local radio station. Doing so without
all the facts at your disposal will make you look like an idiot and
there's already one "idiot" that's left you with advice you really don't
want to follow.

 

[Crash Gordon]

I'll tell ya why it's a remodel and not a warranty, because it's happened to
us several times....we install wireless system...and put the transmitters in
the most logical spot after asking; Mr. Smith do you intend to install any
special window treatments or wooden window blinds? No.

Three weeks later we get phone call from Mr. Smith that they had window
blinds installed and WE have to move our transmitters...or have to repair
them because the window blind guys took them down (and probably lost some
parts or broke a few).

Well...maybe we will or maybe we won't fix something that's not our
fault...kinda depends. Whoever's equipment is installed first has right of
way





| saad1200 wrote:
| > I would not recommend protection one to any one. I have paid $1,7000
| > on the equipment the installation.
|
| Your installation should mention something about a warranty. If you
| *own* the equipment then the warranty should cover labour for the first
| year.
|
|
| > 1) Even though I spent $1,7000 on the equipment I got the cheapest and
| > largest contact. i had problem installing my blind. The company just
| > ignore my request to replace the contact with smaller ones.
|
| The "contact" you're referring to is probably the wireless transmitter.
| It's usually located on the wall adjacent to the window. The sensors
| (contacts) are on the window track (or inside the track if concealed
| contacts were used).
|
|
| > 2) I have been waiting for for about a month now for someone to move
| > down 4 of the contacts to allow the blind to fit. The window contacts
| > are installed in the top right corner. It is the worst location to
| > install window contacts. Protection one are asking for more money to
| > move them, they consider it remodeling!!! it was the installer bad
| > decision to put them at this place not mine. pulse I am paying $5
| > extra a month for service fee.
|
| Protection one will have to move the transmitters if they're interfering
| with your blinds. Call them back and mention their warranty on
| installation.
|
|
| > 3) The alarm system is hooked up to a light switch!!! I have to keep
| > my lights on all because of their bad installation
|
| That's another warranty issue.
|
|
| > 4) 5 times the alarm went off, I got no calls from them. I am paying
| > for nothing!!
|
| It may be that a "cancel code" has been programmed into the system (or
| there is an additional delay on communication to enable you to turn off
| the alarm before a signal is sent). You're going to have to actually
| put your system on test and ensure it's properly transmitting alarms and
| restorals outside of the programmed delays.
|
|
| >
| > summary:
| > expensive system. they do not call when the alert goes off. Bad
| > service. bad installation. Save your many and time and go to some one
| > else
|
|
| Conclusion:
|
| Protection One is one of the "bigger" alarm companies out there. If
| their installer didn't provide you with the expected service, then their
| service department should look after you. Speak with the local service
| manager and if that doesn't help contact their corporate office. All
| this information should be on their contract.
|
| DO NOT contact the papers or the local radio station. Doing so without
| all the facts at your disposal will make you look like an idiot and
| there's already one "idiot" that's left you with advice you really don't
| want to follow.

 

[Frank Olson]

I'll tell ya why it's a remodel and not a warranty, because it's happened to
us several times....we install wireless system...and put the transmitters in
the most logical spot after asking; Mr. Smith do you intend to install any
special window treatments or wooden window blinds? No.

Three weeks later we get phone call from Mr. Smith that they had window
blinds installed and WE have to move our transmitters...or have to repair
them because the window blind guys took them down (and probably lost some
parts or broke a few).

Well...maybe we will or maybe we won't fix something that's not our
fault...kinda depends. Whoever's equipment is installed first has right of
way

Which makes it all the more ludicrous to "contact the local newspaper
and television station consumer editors", don'tcha think?

 

[Crash Gordon]

absamalutely





| Crash Gordon wrote:
| > I'll tell ya why it's a remodel and not a warranty, because it's
happened to
| > us several times....we install wireless system...and put the
transmitters in
| > the most logical spot after asking; Mr. Smith do you intend to install
any
| > special window treatments or wooden window blinds? No.
| >
| > Three weeks later we get phone call from Mr. Smith that they had window
| > blinds installed and WE have to move our transmitters...or have to
repair
| > them because the window blind guys took them down (and probably lost
some
| > parts or broke a few).
| >
| > Well...maybe we will or maybe we won't fix something that's not our
| > fault...kinda depends. Whoever's equipment is installed first has right
of
| > way
|
|
| Which makes it all the more ludicrous to "contact the local newspaper
| and television station consumer editors", don'tcha think?

 

[Robert L Bass]

Do you figure the installer also put the transformer
in a switched outlet *before* the customer installed
a switch?

Look, we all know what a rotten outfit P1 is. They
treat customers worse than Sonitrash. They screwed
this installation up. They need to go back and move
the transformer anyway. If they were a decent firm
they'd move the window transmitters at the same
time as a courtesy (*assuming* they didn't already
know there would be blinds).

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Robert L Bass]

Well...maybe we will or maybe we won't fix something

that's not our fault...kinda depends. Whoever's
equipment is installed first has right of way...

Often (though not always) the most logical place for a
transmitter is on the wall near the window with the wire
from a recessed or a miniature surface mount contact
buried in the wall. The same applies to many door
transmitters. When the window design permits this
approach will avoid most problems with blinds, shades
or whatever else the customer has.

That said, it is the contractor's responsibility (as a
professional, he should know that these things can
interfere with common window treatments) to ask
the customer if he plans to use blinds, shades or
whatever. My windows have heavy, wooden shutters
inside them. Since I installed alarms for a living for
many years, I know in advance what I need to do to
protect my windows without interfering with the
shutters. The average homeowner does not. It's
one of the things I routinely ask DIYers when
helping them choose an alarm system.

BTW, speaking of DIYers, tonight I walked a home
owner through connecting and programming his first
alarm system -- a Napco Gemini P9600. He already
had the system wired up from earlier guidance. It
took 35 minutes on the phone to guide him through
configuring the software, writing the program and
downloading it. We spent a few minutes more
going over the siren driver hookup and a few misc.
details. After that he tested everything, sent alarm
signals to his cell phone (prior to connecting to the
central monitoring station) and taught his wife to
use the system. Tomorrow they start their vacation,
presumably spending some of the roughly $2,000
they saved on a "professional" installation. Best
of all, they won't be posting horror stories about
Brinks, Monitronix, P1 or some "authorized dealer"
because the person who installed the system
actually cares about what he's protecting.

I suggested 911Alarm for the monitoring. They're
decent, honest folks and a number of my clients
have spoken well of them in the past.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Crash Gordon]

switched outlet is kinda dopey yah.


| Do you figure the installer also put the transformer
| in a switched outlet *before* the customer installed
| a switch?
|
| Look, we all know what a rotten outfit P1 is. They
| treat customers worse than Sonitrash. They screwed
| this installation up. They need to go back and move
| the transformer anyway. If they were a decent firm
| they'd move the window transmitters at the same
| time as a courtesy (*assuming* they didn't already
| know there would be blinds).
|
| --
|
| Regards,
| Robert L Bass
|
| =============================>
| Bass Home Electronics
| 941-925-8650
| 4883 Fallcrest Circle
| Sarasota · Florida · 34233
| http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
| =============================>
|
| > absamalutely
|

 

[Robert L Bass]

switched outlet is kinda dopey yah.

They're incompetent. They need to fix this.
If they still refuse, I've given the gentleman
some ideas as to how to fight back without
the expense or bother of taking them to
court.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Frank Olson]

BTW, speaking of DIYers, tonight I walked a home
owner through connecting and programming his first
alarm system -- a Napco Gemini P9600. He already
had the system wired up from earlier guidance. It
took 35 minutes on the phone to guide him through
configuring the software, writing the program and
downloading it. We spent a few minutes more
going over the siren driver hookup and a few misc.
details.

Heh... Suuurrre, Bass... 35 minutes to "configure the software, write
the program AND download" the panel... On a P9600!!? I'll bet the
keypads all display "Attention Burglar! Go Ahead Make my Day." too.

After that he tested everything, sent alarm
signals to his cell phone (prior to connecting to the
central monitoring station) and taught his wife to
use the system.

<snip>

 

[Frank Olson]

I suggested 911Alarm for the monitoring. They're
decent, honest folks and a number of my clients
have spoken well of them in the past.

911 Alarm has "no employees". I wonder how the hell they monitor their
clients. Do you think Nick's got a similar setup to the one you used to
have in your garage?

http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/CSLB_LIBRARY/License+Detail.asp?LicNum=610373

There's also another license number:

http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/CSLB_LIBRARY/License+Detail.asp?LicNum=731746

Pity your BBB report isn't as good as 911 Alarm. I figure Nick doesn't
know about your abysmal record or he wouldn't link to your website.