Gee, That’s Reassuring…Oh Yeah, ADT Can Kiss My Ass
Post #1 about moving. I’m going to count them so that in the event I’m on Post # 548, I’ll know I need to shut up about moving already.
One of the things I’ve had to do to get ready to move, was to get our dismantled alarm system fixed. To save you from having to click the link and get caught up, I’ll quickly recap my (mis)adventures with said alarm system.
- We were robbed while moving
- Tate had to go out of town right after the robbery, so I messed with the alarm system
- I f*cked up the alarm system, causing it to set
- We had no code to disarm the alarm
- I called the cops to help, they laughed
- I disassembled the alarm
Caught up? Good.
So I called ADT, for the very good reason that they were the first alarm company I came to in the phone book. I got the ole run-around at the local office so they sent me to their 1-800 number. Not surprisingly, I got the ole run-around when I called the 1-800 number and was switched from operator to operator.
“No, I don’t have an account. I just need someone to reset a code or something.”
“You’ll have to call your local office.”
“They said I had to call this number.”
“That’s strange. Let’s see what I can do.”
“That would be great.”
“I called the local office and they said that it’s not worth their time.”
“No they dint.”
“Yes, they did. If you’d like to sign a 36-month contract we can help you.”
“Kiss my ass, you anal-wart-heads you.”
(I didn’t actually tell them to kiss my ass or call them anal-wart-heads.) I did tell them that I thought this was a poor business practice and that when I am in need of having an alarm system installed or monitored that I won’t be calling their sorry-ass excuse for an alarm company. (I didn’t actually say the sorry-ass part.) ADT Home Security Systems blows donkey balls.
So next up in the phone book was Brinks. Brinks Home Security Systems was very helpful. They came the very next day to help. Brinks Home Security Systems didn’t give me the ole run-around. Me loves Brinks Home Security Systems lots.
Actually the first guy that came out to fix the alarm told me that since the alarm was set he wouldn’t be able to re-program the alarm. He explained that it was set up this way so that potential thieves couldn’t break into your house and simply re-program your alarm system, then proceed to rob you blind. A new motherboard would need to be ordered and I’d be charged for at least an hour of labor.
“Fine, fine, fine. Whatever,” I said. “We just need this alarm system fixed.”
He told me he’d return the next day. But the next day, a different Brinks Home Security guy showed up. He proceeded to start pushing lots of buttons on the control panel and within about five minutes, he’d re-programmed the system.
“I just saved you a bunch of money. I hacked into your system and reset the code.”
While I do love to save money, I’m a WHOLE LOT disturbed that my alarm system was so easily hacked. Gee, that’s reassuring in the event of my house being robbed. But the good news is, is that the alarm system is now fixed and I’m ready to be hacked by every potential thief in Lower Alabama.
Did I mention my disdain for ADT Home Security systems? No? Well, ADT BLOWS.
Brinks Home Security systems gets my Binky Bitch seal of approval.
Well…maybe you have to be really smart to hack into one? Chances are you aren’t going to find very many smart thieves, ESPECIALLY in Alabama, right? ha!
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..Don’t Lie to Your Kids! Hate On Santa Instead
That really does give me the creeps to think an alarm system can be so easily bypassed. WOW! Makes me rethink getting one. But if I ever do get an alarm system it certainly won’t be ADT.
Wright’s last blog post..Feeling The Burn
hmmm…I wonder if that Brinks guy was one of those “criminals gone good” guys…you know? The ones that choose a life of installing security systems instead of petty theft?
Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that.
-HH
Heidi Hyde’s last blog post..If I Say Pretty Please?…
I had ADT once upon a time. I hate them too.
And why is it that all they guys who install/fix alarm systems are vaguely creepy?
Jerseygirl89’s last blog post..And What Was Your Faovorite Part?
Yeah… that’s weirds me out BIG TIME! Do they teach you how to hack into a system when you get trained for the job? Anyway, we just have a loud dog and “heat.” No one hacking into those!
Jamie’s last blog post..Celebrate the Season
Way back in the day when my husband worked for Brinks (and may have been a petty criminal as well), he told me it’s the sign that’s worth the $$. He said any thief who knew his business could get into any Brinks/ADT system easily.
When we moved, he bought a shotgun.
Jenni’s last blog post..Yeah, I Know
My parents got the sign not the system one time. They weren’t robbed so maybe you just need the sign. I am sure its much cheaper!
justmylife’s last blog post..Just a short overview….
Thanks for that. We were about to set up an alarm system with ADT but now I think not. I’ll probably be calling Brinks. Glad your alarm is working now!
skiplovey’s last blog post..My sympathy knows no bounds, oh wait yes it does
Never had a system but when I was a kid my step-dad put those stickers on our windows.
Now we just have a psychotic dog that will throw herself against the glass front door and act like she’s going to take your head off. It is incredibly irritating but I’m pretty sure it is also a good deterrent.
ImpostorMom’s last blog post..Dinner is fun!
That is so aggravating! More and more I’m beginning to believe that customer service is dead.
andi’s last blog post..It’s possible my children may be less cute in the wee hours
OMG!!! I was on the phone with ADT yesterday and I was seriously raising my voice.
ADT does blow!!!
Amy’s last blog post..On a lighter note….
We have the junkyard dog. I think that keeps people out. We also have a lot of geriatric neighbors (easy prey - oh no she dint!) so they are a bit of a buffer for us (she did.).
We have one neighbor that has ADT. Their sign out front gets stolen about 4 times a year. I think it is all about the sign.
Mama DB’s last blog post..I’m tired just thinking about what is coming
Well, you’ll probably only get robbed and hacked by security system professionals…
Emily R’s last blog post..Lighter. Stay tuned for fluffy.
If I were you, I would call Brinks and tell them to use that on their future advertisements. “Binky Bitch Seal of Approval.” Sales would skyrocket!! :o)
If I start feeling like we need a security system, my plan is to buy two big ol’ German Shepherds and name them “Smith” and “Wesson.” LOL!
Jenny’s last blog post..Pregnancy Q&A
I will never look at alarm companies again…. You made me snarf diet coke all over my pink cashmere…..
Amanda’s last blog post..Semi wordless wednesday…..
We have an ADT sign outside of my home to ward off any burglars. We don’t really have the system…. just the sign.
OHmommy’s last blog post..Postmaster, please deliver….
ADT is, in fact, the worst security company ever. That’s who I dealt with here:
http://scenicoverlook.blogspot.com/2007/10/false-alarm.html
On a funny note, the local guy called me last week b/c he saw that we’d canceled our service (months ago, so glad he noticed our departure immediately) and wanted to know what he could do to get us back. After I finished laughing hysterically I told him ADT was the worst service we’d ever had and I’d feel safer with an attack gerbil than them.
Shelly’s last blog post..Santa Presents
ADT totally F’d themselves by F’ing with you - they didn’t know they were dealing with Le Binky Bitch! LOL
I use my good ole doggies for deterrance on thievery, though their monthly maintenence fee of shitting their weight in poop in my yard is getting a little tiresome.
Mommi Tutu’s last blog post..This Just Takes The Cake
I hope Tate’s gonna be around the next few months. Cause I’d be really creeped out by the quickly disabled alarm, too.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..WW #17: It’s the NeW 20??
I only wish you had ACTUALLY said what you WANTED to say. That would have been highly enjoyable, and totally deserved.
bananas’s last blog post..P.S. I love you!
ADT is the spawn of the devil, you are so right. When we moved into our current house, there was a system already installed. Given the fact that we have two dogs who work far better than any alarm, we wanted it taken out. Guess how they unistall an alarm . . . go ahead, guess. They cut the wires and yank the panel off. Ta-da! We’re done! They left freakin’ live electrical wire hanging all over the place. Jackasses.
Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Oh Yeah, One More Thing
I’ve been a total slacker in making the comment rounds..forgive me.
I can’t wait to hear more of you’re exciting adventures in moving, with two young sweet babies. Sounds like good times ahead! : )
Jean’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
LOL. Love it. If I ever get an alarm system, I’ll be sure not to use ADT.
Sarcasta-Mom’s last blog post..The Holiday List of What Could Have Been
I now know if I am ever reccommending security system companies to my US friends I will NOT reccommned ADT.
He just hacked your system? That is too freaky for my tastes.
Veronica’s last blog post..How I Came To Be Doing What I’m Doing. Part 3
I’m going home and removing the ADT sign from my yard. I mean, it’s not like I actually had the system, so what will it hurt.
Sugar Kane’s last blog post..The Ghost of Christmas Present
Note to self: NO ADT for the house. Thank you.
Devan’s last blog post..Men who are children
note to self - ADT sucks donkey balls.
got it!
wow…that’s really scary how easy it is to hack into alarm systems like that! that’ll make me sleep better at night!
btw, i’ll keep reading your moving posts if you read mine…two months till we get the keys, so i have a feeling i’m gonna be writing a lot more about it in the near future!
cate’s last blog post..create some buzz for cre8buzz!
The way I look at it, if a bad guy wants to get in your house he’s going to get in your house alarm system or not. But that’s not very reassuring to you, is it? Sorry!
My advice - big, loud dogs. They may not stop a burglar but at least you’ll know if someone’s trying to get in.
Mrs. Chicky’s last blog post..Get in my belly!
Gah what a pain in the ass. You have far more patience than me!
Miss’s last blog post..An open letter to the bitch that almost ruined my Friday night
Good to know which alarm companies actually give a damn.
And wow, it’s that easy to hack into the system? Maybe we won’t waste the money on an alarm system.
Christina’s last blog post..Hey Look, It’s A Train Wreck. Let’s Watch.
ADT sucks… Brinks rocks. Got it.
Rachel’s last blog post..Melts in your mouth, recipe goodness
i don’t expect to be installing a security system anytime soon, but if i ever do, it’ll be brinks all the way!
There is no possible way I can beat the Queen’s comment so I’ll just give her some mad props and be on my way…
Alex’s last blog post..Random thing we think is funny
This is post # 2 about moving. #1 was to tell us that you’re moving.
Heather’s last blog post..Twelve
Having had the runaround from Sears Service, and our new medical insurance company - I totally hear you on that - I hate it - but at least you got to talk to humans at some point right?
Love what the Queen of Shake Shake said lol!
Annie’s last blog post..Crawling into a bubble.
You should make your new password anal wart heads.
Alison’s last blog post..I’m Not a Bad Mom, I just need a bathroom break once in awhile
You have moved me to make my first comment! I’ve worked in the alarm monitoring industry for 12+ years and your story doesnt surprise me in the slightest. I don’t work for either of the companies you’ve mentioned. But, it’s not hard to hack a system (or re-program as we call it). Yes, any good technician could do it. Yes, a professional criminal could do it. I’ve got a lot more to say about the alarm industry but I don’t want to hijack your comments. Email me if you like.
Melissa’s last blog post..Goodbye Summer!
Come on…ADT didn’t really say it wasn’t worth their time, did they?
RWA’s last blog post..An explanation…of sorts
For the last few years my security system has been a very large dog (malamute - probably not the right breed for Alabama). He works great. He’s not mean - doesn’t chase people or even care that they exist. Just his size is a great deterrent. Unfortunately my “security system” is getting old - oh and if any thieves come prepared my “security system” can be “hacked” by any means of Scooby snack.
Erica (Mom’s Journal)’s last blog post..Daycare dilemmas
yes they suck
[...] rat bastards ADT refusing to help me? I got my revenge via blog. (Update: I get lots of creepy google hits from people researching how to hack into home [...]
I left ADT after three years of employment at the National Marketing Center (NMC) in Jacksonville, Florida. The pay was good, the benefits were good, but job satisfaction evaded me for the entire three years. My job was to assist customers in reactivating and reprograming existing ADT alarm systems in their homes remotely over the phone. I was also an ADT customer for three years; ADT employees get a 50% discount on installation and monitoring. During the three years I was a customer, I found that my alarm system was typically effective and that the monitoring center did a pretty good job of responding to the few false alarms I experienced. There was one incident that prompted me to leave ADT (as an employee and as a customer) that occurred several months ago. A fellow employee in my department, for reasons unknown to me, decided to tamper with my personal home alarm system programming using the remote downloader hardware/software ADT utilizes for reactivating existing alarm systems.
This person changed my master arming code and disarmed my alarm system while my wife and I were both away from our home. When we returned home we were obviously concerned that not only had our alarm been disarmed, but we could not re-arm the system either. I discovered the program tampering to my alarm monitoring account when I returned to work and made copies of all program documentation and reported the incident to upper management. No action was ever taken, that particular employee is still at ADT, and I’m no longer an employee or customer there. I have filed a complaint against ADT with the Florida Department of Consumer Affairs because of this incident.
I’d like to let everyone who stumbles across this post know that paying for alarm monitoring should be a thing of the past. Most everyone has a cell phone these days, so why not monitor your own alarm system. With simple programming on the alarm keypad, you can change the phone number that the alarm system dials from the alarm company’s monitoring center to you personal cell phone number. You can call the police, friends, and neighbors and have them check on your home just as easily as some $8.00/hour monitoring center employee can. Most alarm company monitoring centers are required to contact the homeowner or a key holder to the home before they can notify the police anyway.
To monitor your home alarm system via cell phone, you’ll need a few things. First, you’ll need the manufacturer’s installation and programming guide for the make/model of your alarm system. This will walk you through the programming steps for changing codes, phone numbers and so forth on your alarm kepad. Second, you’ll need the phone number and monitoring account number that your alarm is currently programed to dial. You can get this information from your alarm company’s monitoring center operators; if not, ask around in your local area and find a alarm technician (or ex-alarm technician) who can find this information for you (usually for a small fee or favor). Third, you’ll need the installer code for your particular alarm system. This code will allow you to access the advanced programming for your alarm at your keypad. Once you have the programming guide, all phone numbers and codes, it’s just a simple matter of following instructions and typing in numbers on your keypad.
It’s really quite simple; if you can set up address book phone numbers in your cell phone, you can reprogram your alarm system. When the alarm goes off in your home you’ll be notified directly on your cell phone, and you can in turn call the police yourself.
Now, if all that’s too complicated for you, or if you can’t obtain all the codes and information you need for your alarm, there is another option that will still allow you to monitor your own alarm system. You’ll have to purchase a digital alarm phone dialer. You can usually find one of these at your local Radio Shack or electronics store or by searching on-line. These automatic phone dialers can usually be had for around $80.00. A digital dialer can easlily be wired (just two wires usually) to the siren output connection in the main control panel of your alarm system (that’s the metal box that houses the main circuitry and system back-up battery for the alarm system). When the digital phone dialer is installed you’ll unplug the alarm system from your home phone wiring and plug the digital alarm dialer phone cord into any phone jack in your home. The digital phone dialer will come with wiring and programming instructions and are much easier to program than the alarm system itself. A big plus with most digital phone dialers is that you can program two, four, or even six phone numbers for the system to dial in the event of an alarm. This allows you to program your cell phone, neighbors phone, friends, other family members, etc…please note; however, you should not program the dialer to call police or other emergency services; that’s unlawful in most areas.
So, stop paying $30, $40, $50 per month or more for alarm monitoring and take control of your own home security. You can do this with a lot of the alarm systems that are out there; it’s just a matter of doing some research and/or spending a little cash, and doing a little wiring.
For those of you that do not have a home alarm system and are thinking about getting one for your home a company called X-10 has a pretty good do-it-yourself system that comes with keypad, remote keyfob, six number digital voice phone dialer, five window/door contacts, two motion sensors, and an additional wireless keypad, all for under $200.00. Just google X-10 and you’ll find their website. I bought one of these systems for my 75 year old mother-in-law and it works great. I installed the entire system and programmed it in under two hours.
I’m not a what you would call and expert alarm technician, but then electronic alarm systems and alarm system monitoring is not rocket science either. Even the latest and most advanced electronic home alarm systems still use the same basic circuitry and components that have been used in home alarm systems for the past 30 years or more. I have to laugh whenever I see ADT’s new commercial where they talk about their “new” keychain remote control…they’ve been selling that same remote for at least 20 years now.
You’ll pay $400/year and up for monitoring with most alarm companies, and yes, they do sometimes provide technical service if the alarm breaks, but most problems you would ever have with a home alarm system you can fix yourself (if you have basic mechanical skills), like replacing the system backup battery, reattaching a lose door or window contact or replacing batteries in wireless door/window sensors and motion sensors, etc…
If the alarm system is just totally screwed up, you can easily replace the entire system yourself for less than one service call from an alarm company technician.
I hope the information I’ve provided on this post is usefull to some of you out there. At least you know that there are alternatives to paying extortion fees to an alarm company and being locked into a 3 year contract. I’m sure that there are many other alternative home security solutions out there that cost way less than ADT that I have not mentioned here; so get off this blog and start doing your research.