One of the major problems in the industry is home alarm "trunk slammers". These people sell alarm systems door-to-door, and the name is consistent with what they do - sell a home alarm system directly out of their cars, and then slam the trunks shut and drive away.
Often times, these unlicensed trunk slammers don't have an office, registered employees, or even insurance. They won't even examine your home or find out what kind of home alarm system you would like. Their lure is to provide free or very cheap alarm systems to anyone who signs a long-term monitoring contract.
Three typical problems with this seemingly harmless method of doing business:
1. The home alarm isn't necessarily free. The equipment may be leased with fees that are built into the monthly pricing that the trunk slammer doesn't explain when going over the contract with you. Once the contract is up, the alarm company can take the equipment back if you don't renew.
2. The contracts don't stay with the trunk slammer. Trunk slammers will buy several home alarm systems from a larger company at a deep discount. They then sign up any potential customer they can find and sell the signed contracts to the alarm company. The customers aren't told who to turn to for service - and then don't know who they should contact if they have questions or problems.
3. You may place private information in the wrong hands. To ensure you can make the monthly monitoring payments, many licensed home alarm dealers require your social security number to run a credit check. With identity theft becoming an increasing worldwide problem, you can't afford to put your personal information in the hands of someone off the street.
Before you do work with any home alarm dealer you're considering, make sure you research them with outside organizations like the Better Business Bureau, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), or your Attorney General's office. They can provide information on service quality and if they have all necessary state and local licenses. Legitimate dealers should have no problem providing you with their license or a list of references.
Despite the temptation, don't go with any home alarm company simply because of the promise of the cheapest system equipment and setup. Start comparing home alarm companies today.
This site is a partnership between BusinessWeek and BuyerZone.com. BusinessWeek, the world’s most widely read business magazine, reaches over eight million readers each week, including online and television viewers. BusinessWeek offers insight on how to harness innovation in an increasingly competitive business landscape. Read BusinessWeek online.
BuyerZone is the leading online marketplace for buyers and sellers of business products and services. Using an intelligent matching process, BuyerZone brings buyers together with the most appropriate suppliers to meet their needs in over 100 purchasing categories, from copiers and POS systems to forklifts and steel buildings. Request a free quote now to see how it works.
In addition to streamlining the purchasing process, BuyerZone provides original research and buying advice to help buyers make the right purchasing decisions. From in-depth Buyer’s Guides to quick tips, BuyerZone experts offer advice that can help any business save money and get the best equipment and services for their needs. Browse our library of purchasing content.
