Brinks Alarms: Beware of the Fuel Surcharge Tax

[George Orwell]

I like to inform consumers when I feel they are being wronged. A run-in with Brinks leads me to believe that I am not alone in my 2 thoughts....

I recently had a problem with my Brinks alarm. I was trying to test the system and realized I didn't have a live connection with the monitoring group. For those not familiar with the Brinks alarm system (or don't currently own an alarm that is monitored), your are expected by Brinks to "test" your alarm once a month. This is done by asking the system to send a signal to the central server to ensure the unit is performing correctly (verifying a live signal) and then sending a counter-signal back to the device to let the user know (with a loud beep) that a successful connection was made. After repeated tries, I decided to call Brinks to get help with this problem.

We purchased through Brinks because we wanted a reputable company. We were assured of their great technology and years of expertise in residential service. We were also assured of their no-hassle technical service should we have a problem with our system at any point. Imagine my surprise when I asked for a technician to come out and Brinks hesitated. They first asked if I had a digital phone. I told them I did but it was in place before I had the system put in (which I was told at the time wouldn't be a problem). They repeatedly stressed that their system has problems with digital phones (monitoring requires a connection via the telephone line). They (Brinks) wanted to let me know that a charge would be made if it the problem wasn't theirs. I told Brinks I didn't care as the phone was well in place before and the system had worked fine for months. What I also found out was technicians only work Mondays to Saturdays and only during work hours. With the exception of a Saturday visit, I would have to take time-off work to be home between the hours of either 9:00am - 12:00am or 1:00pm to 4:00pm. I booked a Friday knowing my wife would be home on one of her days off.

I called later that day to see how things went. My wife told me the technician had come and mentioned that Brinks was having several problems with their systems similar to ours. He ended up fixing the system but then asked my wife for a $5.00 fee to cover the fuel costs for the trip. She paid the fee but knew full well that I would have not endorsed such a cost.

I called Brinks yesterday to examine the plausibility of the cost. Here is Brinks arguments for charging the $5.00 fee:


* Its a Canadian Law to charge the $5.00 fuel surcharge.

* Its Brinks policy.

* Everyone is charged and has been charged since March of 2007.

Here are my arguments:


* Firstly, there is no such Canadian Law that asks all services calls for warranty approved work to be charged a $5.00 surcharge for fuel.

* The very meaning of the word "surcharge" implies this is a company policy to add an additional cost to its clients, not a Canadian Law demanding such a fee. Also, Brinks constantly referred to this $5.00 surcharge for fuel as a "Fuel Surcharge Tax", talk about trying to group words together to make the argument.

* The Protective Service Agreement that I signed with Brinks to enter into this arrangement in section 6. under "Repair Service" does not mention any such surcharge to warranty approved work. There is mention of acts of god, misuse, negligence, fire, but no mention of a surcharge that will accompany a visit where the system is not performing to its designed specifications.

In the end, the Service Call Manager (of course I had it elevated) gave me another number to call to get my credit of $5.00. He said that he would neither agree or disagree with me on this matter as he did not have the authority to change company policy. This in itself is an admission of error on the part of Brinks.

If anyone else has had similar challenges, the number to call is: 1-800-437-3611. They are only open Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm.

Source: http://my2thoughts.blogspot.com/2008/01/brinks-alarms-beware-of-fuel-surcharge.html


Il mittente di questo messaggio|The sender address of this
non corrisponde ad un utente |message is not related to a real
reale ma all'indirizzo fittizio|person but to a fake address of an
di un sistema anonimizzatore |anonymous system
Per maggiori informazioni |For more info
https://www.mixmaster.it

 

[Jim]

I like to inform consumers when I feel they are being wronged. A run-in with Brinks leads me to believe that I am not alone in my 2 thoughts....

I don't pay fuel surcharges. Neither do I charge my customers fuel
surcharges. A few people who've added a surcharge to their bill, I've
just not paid it and ..... they don't try to collect it either. I'm
sure they will just take if from those who are stupid enough to pay it
and forget about the ones who don'tbecause it's not worth losing a
customer over. My water delivery company insisted that I pay it and I
cancelled and have another water company. He was stupid for insisting.
If he would have raised his prices I would have at least considered
staying with him. When I got the new company who had slightly higher
prices than the old company, I told him why I was leaving the old one
and he said don't worry, his price was firm and no surcharges were
planned. Smart guy.

I simply have raised my prices.

I really don't get the point of charging a "surcharge"

Like, ...... does anyone believe that the price of gas is going to go
down substantially enough so that they'll be able to recind the
"surcharge" in the future? So then will "fuel surcharge" become a
standard line item on every invoice? Something that can be increased
or lowered as the price of gas fluctuates through the years ......?
or what?

What's the point? When the price of parts or wire goes up, is it
acceptable to add a "wire or parts surcharge" ? How about " increased
electric bill surcharge"? Or, "my wife wants a new fur coat,
surcharge"? " I need to cover my trip to Las Vegas, surcharge"

Just raise the price!
Jeeeeeeeze!

 

[Bob]

I like to inform consumers when I feel they are being wronged. A run-in with Brinks leads me to believe that I am not alone in my 2 thoughts....

I recently had a problem with my Brinks alarm. I was trying to test the system and realized I didn't have a live connection with the monitoring group. For those not familiar with the Brinks alarm system (or don't currently own an alarm that is monitored), your are expected by Brinks to "test" your alarm once a month. This is done by asking the system to send a signal to the central server to ensure the unit is performing correctly (verifying a live signal) and then sending a counter-signal back to the device to let the user know (with a loud beep) that a successful connection was made. After repeated tries, I decided to call Brinks to get help with this problem.

We purchased through Brinks because we wanted a reputable company.

I see where you went wrong.

 

[[email protected]]

I see where you went wrong.

They try that here in state of pa there in trouble the ag has already
warned buisness owners about it.

 

[George Siegle]

They try that here in state of pa there in trouble the ag has already
warned buisness owners about it.

What was / is the warning?

I know of guys here not calling it a fuel surcharge, but have just increased
service calls to cover the amount to hide the name "Fuel Surcharge."

 

[Jim]

They try that here in state of pa there in trouble �the ag has already
warned buisness owners about it.

What was / is the warning?

I know of guys here not calling it a fuel surcharge, but have just increased
service calls to cover the amount to hide the name "Fuel Surcharge."

"Hide the name Fuel Surcharge"?

Isn't that called increasing prices because the cost of doing business
has gone up?

As I mentioned earlier .... I'm sure no one added a "wire surcharge"
when the cost of wire went up. You just increase your prices to
reflect the cost of doing business. Ta DAaaaaaa!

 

[[email protected]]

"Hide the name Fuel Surcharge"?

Isn't that called increasing prices because the cost of doing business
has gone up?

As I mentioned earlier .... I'm sure no one added a "wire surcharge"
when the cost of wire went up. You just increase your prices to
reflect the cost of doing business. Ta DAaaaaaa!

You can increase your service fee or cost of your product as a cost
increase in doing buisness.

 

[Matt Ion]

You can increase your service fee or cost of your product as a cost
increase in doing buisness.

I guess the difference is in how intelligent you think your customers
are. Some will complain about increased service rates ("Prices are
going up AGAIN?!"), but if you tack it on as a "fuel surcharge" they
understand (even if they're not happy about it). Others will just
recognize it as the euphemism that it is (and still not be happy about it).

 

[Doug]

I guess the difference is in how intelligent you think your customers are.
Some will complain about increased service rates ("Prices are going up
AGAIN?!"), but if you tack it on as a "fuel surcharge" they understand
(even if they're not happy about it). Others will just recognize it as
the euphemism that it is (and still not be happy about it).

I think the issue is that people are not telling the customer in advance,
so if you tell your customer the service call is $135.00 for the first
half hour plus a $5.00 fuel surcharge or even if you add $5.00 on and tell
them its $140.00 for the first half hour then its OK. What I believe the
problem is when you tell someone its going to be $135.00 and then when you
are finished you tack on a $5.00 fuel surcharge.

Doug

 

[Jim]

I think the issue is that people are not �telling the customer inadvance,
so if �you tell your customer �the service call is $135.00 for the first
half hour plus a $5.00 fuel surcharge or even if you add $5.00 on and tell
them its $140.00 for the first half hour then its �OK. �What I believe the
problem is when you tell someone its going to be $135.00 and then when you
are finished you tack on a $5.00 fuel surcharge.

Doug-

You mean, if I tell them that there's going to be a wire surcharge,
and a fuel surcharge, and a battery surcharge, and an employee wants a
raise surcharge, and my boat needs a new radar surcharge, etc, that
you think they'd pay them? I mean, ...... as you say, as long as they
understand why and in advance ...... they shouldn't be upset.

Hey, NEAT! This could be a whole other untapped source of income!!!!!!

 

[Matt Ion]

You mean, if I tell them that there's going to be a wire surcharge,
and a fuel surcharge, and a battery surcharge, and an employee wants a
raise surcharge, and my boat needs a new radar surcharge, etc, that
you think they'd pay them? I mean, ...... as you say, as long as they
understand why and in advance ...... they shouldn't be upset.

Hey, NEAT! This could be a whole other untapped source of income!!!!!!

"How much for this system?"
"Oh, it's FREE!"
"WOW, REALLY!"
"Yeah... but we add on a fuel surcharge... and a labour surcharge... and
a wire surcharge... and an equipment surcharge... and a whiskey
surcharge... and a crack-and-hookers surcharge... and..."

 

[Frank Olson]

"How much for this system?"
"Oh, it's FREE!"
"WOW, REALLY!"
"Yeah... but we add on a fuel surcharge... and a labour surcharge... and
a wire surcharge... and an equipment surcharge... and a whiskey
surcharge... and a crack-and-hookers surcharge... and..."

I saw a GE Security (Edwards) invoice today. They're charging a minimum
of two hours per service call at $159.00 per hour and a "truck charge"
of $54.00. Now... just for the hell of it... let's figure the guy
does four service calls a day (for sake of argument)... That's $216.00
a day... The unmarked Caravan he was driving leases for about $318.00 a
month (loaded). He probably goes through about 1 and a half tanks of
gas a week (say 45 litres) at $1.50 per... that's $67.50... Their
truck charge is a rip off. I'm surprised their customers "stay" their
customers.

 

[Jim]

I saw a GE Security (Edwards) invoice today.  They're charging a minimum
of two hours per service call at $159.00 per hour and a "truck charge"
of $54.00.  Now...  just for the hell of it...  let's figure the guy
does four service calls a day (for sake of argument)...  That's $216..00
a day...  The unmarked Caravan he was driving leases for about $318.00 a
month (loaded).  He probably goes through about 1 and a half tanks of
gas a week (say 45 litres) at $1.50 per...  that's $67.50...  Their
truck charge is a rip off.  I'm surprised their customers "stay" their
customers.-

Because it's ...... only a surcharge. It's not REALLLY a regular
charge. You know, it's like a make believe thing. Like .....
it's ..... SUR-real

 

[tourman]

On Jul 23, 12:56 am, Frank Olson

Their truck charge is a rip off. I'm surprised their customers
"stay" their customers.

RHC: Good question ! Hey, I know....they'll likely locked into a long
term contract and can't leave.......)

 

[Jim]

On Jul 23, 12:56 am, Frank Olson


�Their truck charge is a rip off. �I'm surprised their customers
"stay" their customers.

RHC: Good question ! Hey, I know....they'll likely locked into a long
term contract and can't leave.......)

It's more likely the end user was too stupid to realize that you don't
get something for nothing and that going with a national company to
get a "Free" alarm system if the first sign of a rip off.

Let me put it in terms you might understand.
It's not the gun that commits the crime, it's the person holding it.

Likewise .............
It's not the long term contract that holds the customer against his
will with bad service, it's the company who wields it.

Somebody please re-post this.
Thanks.

 

[tourman]

It's more likely the end user was too stupid to realize that you don't
get something for nothing and that going with a national company to
get a "Free" alarm system if the first sign of a rip off.

RHC: Well finally you post something that we can agree on.....

Let me put it in terms you might understand.
It's not the gun that commits the crime, it's the person holding it.

RHC: Absolutely !! Good analogy.....

Likewise .............
It's not the long term contract that holds the customer against his
will with bad service, it's the company who wields it.

RHC: Damn ! There's hope for you yet....

Somebody please re-post this.
Thanks.

RHC: No need. I didn't bother to put your filter back on yet since I
wanted to see if you planned to spew more hate towards RLB. I hope you
are enjoying gloating over his misfortune.

BTW, my post was a "tongue in cheek", lighthearted post to take a poke
in the ribs at Frank's comment (and I'm sure everyone but you saw
that...). If a customer pays for his system fully up front AND is
stupid enough to also sign into a long term contract that doesn't do a
damn thing for him, so be it ! A fool and his money are soon
parted.......

I just had a new client who had to pay out $850 to buy his way out of
a contract in order to come to me for decent service (and that's after
buying his system fully up front).

And that's no "poke"......(nor do I intend to continue this tired old
line about long term contracts)

 

[Frank Olson]

RHC: Well finally you post something that we can agree on.....

RHC: Absolutely !! Good analogy.....

RHC: Damn ! There's hope for you yet....

RHC: No need. I didn't bother to put your filter back on yet since I
wanted to see if you planned to spew more hate towards RLB. I hope you
are enjoying gloating over his misfortune.

BTW, my post was a "tongue in cheek", lighthearted post to take a poke
in the ribs at Frank's comment (and I'm sure everyone but you saw
that...). If a customer pays for his system fully up front AND is
stupid enough to also sign into a long term contract that doesn't do a
damn thing for him, so be it ! A fool and his money are soon
parted.......

I just had a new client who had to pay out $850 to buy his way out of
a contract in order to come to me for decent service (and that's after
buying his system fully up front).

And that's no "poke"......(nor do I intend to continue this tired old
line about long term contracts)

In the case of Edwards/GE, it's not a "long term contract" you sign...
You buy their equipment and you're locked in to their service. That
includes the price gouging. We bought a smoke module for a 6500 system
about a year ago. They charged us $542.00. When you look at the card
there's maybe $20.00 in parts on it and the board looks like someone
used a dremel tool to cut out. I built better projects in my
electronics class in Grade 11 and 12. Sheesh!!!

 

[Petem]

In the case of Edwards/GE, it's not a "long term contract" you sign... You
buy their equipment and you're locked in to their service. That includes
the price gouging. We bought a smoke module for a 6500 system about a
year ago. They charged us $542.00. When you look at the card there's
maybe $20.00 in parts on it and the board looks like someone used a dremel
tool to cut out. I built better projects in my electronics class in Grade
11 and 12. Sheesh!!!

are you talking about a 6500 custom panel?

if so this dinosaurus should be removed.. not repaired!!

but i can understand you.. this thing is unkillable

at one of my old customer place there was one, a waste pipe brock close to
it and all the toilet from the 2nd floor to the 4ft floor dropped there
stuff on a jonction box (not closed of course , been left open by a edwards
guys after a small inspection) let me tell you that it was a mess..

the customer was a catholic school for girls (where girls sleep there) and
of course didnt had any money to spare on a new panel.. well after a few day
of cleanning all the parts and drying the main box , it started back.. we
got a few card to replace ( bells output) but it was working.. the bell
didnt ring when wast water came to it cause it was shorted at first ..

 

[Jim]

RHC: Well finally you post something that we can agree on.....




RHC: Absolutely !! Good analogy.....




RHC: Damn ! There's hope for you yet....




RHC: No need. I didn't bother to put your filter back on yet since I
wanted to see if you planned to spew more hate towards RLB. I hope you
are enjoying gloating over his misfortune.

Robert, if you've read my recent posts you'd realize that there's no
"hate" involved and never was. You interpret it that way, that's your
problem. If it truly were hate, I'd have killed him myself. Hate is
blind. The value of my life and well being is supremely more valuable
to me, than his. In view of his illness, it was inevitable that he
would die soon. I didn't make it happen. Wishing is just a way of
expressing a desire. My desire is that he would go away. Wishing he
would die, in my view, was the only way we would be rid of him. Now we
will be. Clean, clear and simple. Am I happy he's going to die? I'll
just say that I'm happy he'll be gone. I'd have been just as happy had
he stopped doing his nasty deeds. His contributions would have been
exemplary. He wouldn't stop voluntarily. Now he has no choice. All the
same result. One way or the other, it makes no difference, the result
will be the same.

He built walls instead of bridges. He placed obstacles instead of
making paths. He destroyed rather than created. His whole existance in
Usenet was wrought with arrogance, sarcasm, venom, contempt, taunting
and no respect for the mores of social intercourse. This is his
legacy. He made his bed and soon he will sleep in it. There can be no
respect (except for your misplaced adoration) for a person of such
rancor. It is obvious to anyone, of any intelligence at all, that
someone of that ilk does not derserve consideration of any sort from
the people he's maligned for years. Regardless of how he will depart,
the result will be that he will be gone from here and finally there is
hope for this Newsgroup to grow into something that he refused to let
happen.

I think it rather unique that this group has not progressed because of
him and now .....it will ....... because of him. Isn't that called
Karma?

BTW, my post was a "tongue in cheek", lighthearted post to take a poke
in the ribs at Frank's comment (and I'm sure everyone but you saw
that...).

Sorry, but obtusenes is more in your realm than mine.

But ....... One poke deserves another.

If a customer pays for his system fully up front AND is
stupid enough to also sign into a long term contract that doesn't do a
damn thing for him, so be it ! A fool and his money are soon
parted.......

If a customer gets a lower price for an alarm system and is required
to sign a long term contract because there's no other choice,(because
all alarm companys in the area use them), and receives supurb service
along with it, where is the fool? I'll tell you where the fool really
is. It's the stupid alarm company who doesn't have term contracts and
gives away a little bit of the value of his business away, with every
account. Now THERE's a fool for you. But I'm sure you're familiar with
him.

I just had a new client who had to pay out $850 to buy his way out of
a contract in order to come to me for decent service (and that's after
buying his system fully up front).

Dumb customer. Should have done his homework. Yet you place the
entire blame on the unsavory crook who took advantage of his
stupidity. This recently came up in another thread about who was to
blame for the Indian guy down south who got beat up and his store
trashed by Red Necks, after 9/11. Do you place total blame on the Red
Necks or is some blame shared by the Indian guy who owns a store in a
Red Neck area, who has dark skin, wears a turban, looks Arabic and
continues to run his store in an area occupied by ignorant assholes,
after the country has been attacked by people who look just like him?
Same with the white guy who walks down a street in a black ghetto, at
night. Excuse the pun but, everything isn't always black and
white ....

But anyway, it seems then that you're promoting the policing every
trade and business, for the bad guys who take advantage of dumb
customers ..... huh? Quite a task you've set for yourself. There is no
end to dumb customers and people who are willing to take advantage of
them. You can disparage the people who misuse the long term contract
to hold people hostage, but to hold the legitimate use of the long
term contract it-self to blame, is stupid. I've used them for years
and don't hold any customer hostage unless they owe me money for
services rendered and sometimes I don't even bother then. Where do I
fit into your spasmodic, redundant castigation of long term contract
users? You paint all with the same brush and as long as you do, I'll
oppose what you say.

And that's no "poke"......(nor do I intend to continue this tired old
line about long term contracts)

Yeah, I know. It's always the same with you and your obsession. Poke
and run.
It's just suppose to be acceptable for you to make YOUR remarks and no
one is supposed to respond ..... that about it?

Not gonna happen .........

Talk about someone not being able to see the obvious .............

 

[Jim]

"Frank Olson" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le
message de groupe de discussion : 4MPjk.42204$nD.3830@pd7urf1no...







are you talking about a 6500 custom panel?

if so this dinosaurus should be removed.. not repaired!!

but i can understand you.. this thing is unkillable

at one of my old customer place there was one, a waste pipe brock close to
it and all the toilet from the 2nd floor to the 4ft floor dropped there
stuff on a jonction box (not closed of course , been left open by a edwards
guys after a small inspection) let me tell you that it was a mess..

the customer was a catholic school for girls (where girls sleep there) and
of course didnt had any money to spare on a new panel.. well after a few day
of cleanning all the parts and drying the main box , it started back.. we
got a few card to replace ( bells output) but it was working.. the bell
didnt ring when wast water came to it cause it was shorted at first ..-

That's the "crappiest" story I've heard in a long time.