Chubb or ADT for Residential Installation - Opinions Please

[allanc]

I have two quotations for installing the idential number of sensors in
my home (in Ontario, Canada) .
ADT seems to have a better price considering their cell backup is less
expensive as well as their monthly monitoring fee with all the extras
including the free warranty.
I would appreciate opinions as to Chubb's and ADT's quality of
hardware, monitoring service, etc.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Paul Ekins]

Agreed, In the UK both have a terrible reputation, especially with
residential systems. You would be much better off looking at what the local
companies can offer. After sales service is not always specified in the
quotation but should be taken very seriously when considering a purchase in
a service industry such as security.


--
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.


Paul Ekins

Linc Secure

 

[alarman]

I have two quotations for installing the idential number of sensors in
my home (in Ontario, Canada) .
ADT seems to have a better price considering their cell backup is less
expensive as well as their monthly monitoring fee with all the extras
including the free warranty.
I would appreciate opinions as to Chubb's and ADT's quality of
hardware, monitoring service, etc.

Thank you in advance.

ADT, well, BLOWS.

 

[tourman]

I have two quotations for installing the idential number of sensors in
my home (in Ontario, Canada) .
ADT seems to have a better price considering their cell backup is less
expensive as well as their monthly monitoring fee with all the extras
including the free warranty.
I would appreciate opinions as to Chubb's and ADT's quality of
hardware, monitoring service, etc.

Thank you in advance.

Sir, with either of these two large companies you will probably end up
paying too much. I know nothing about Chubb's service; however, with
ADT, you will likely suffer very long wait times for service. I am a
third party dealer on ADT's monitoring station (by accident, not by
choice) and frankly, I consider their monitoring services to be below
par. Chubb I don't know anything about.

ADT generally use Ademco equipment which is professional grade
hardware. Chubb in our area use private labelled hardware which I
don't recognize, so if you choose to go elsewhere for service,
warranty and monitoring after their contract is done, you might have
trouble finding another dealer who can service their hardware.

I would suggest you might want to shop around a bit more before making
a final decision.

There are some shopping hints on my website on a page called "How to
Shop"

Best of luck

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

 

[allanc]

Sir, with either of these two large companies you will probably end up
paying too much. I know nothing about Chubb's service; however, with
ADT, you will likely suffer very long wait times for service.  I am a
third party dealer on ADT's monitoring station (by accident, not by
choice) and frankly, I consider their monitoring services to be below
par. Chubb I don't know anything about.

ADT generally use Ademco equipment which is professional grade
hardware. Chubb in our area use private labelled hardware which I
don't recognize, so if you choose to go elsewhere for service,
warranty and monitoring after their contract is done, you might have
trouble finding another dealer who can service their hardware.

I would suggest you might want to shop around a bit more before making
a final decision.

There are some shopping hints on my website on a page called "How to
Shop"

Best of luck

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canadawww.homemetal.com

What are both companies reputations in terms of response to alarms?
And.... thank you for your input so far.

 

[Bob]

Sir, with either of these two large companies you will probably end up
paying too much. I know nothing about Chubb's service; however, with
ADT, you will likely suffer very long wait times for service. I am a
third party dealer on ADT's monitoring station (by accident, not by
choice) and frankly, I consider their monitoring services to be below
par. Chubb I don't know anything about.

ADT generally use Ademco equipment which is professional grade
hardware. Chubb in our area use private labelled hardware which I
don't recognize, so if you choose to go elsewhere for service,
warranty and monitoring after their contract is done, you might have
trouble finding another dealer who can service their hardware.

I would suggest you might want to shop around a bit more before making
a final decision.

There are some shopping hints on my website on a page called "How to
Shop"

Best of luck

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canadawww.homemetal.com

What are both companies reputations in terms of response to alarms?


one call and that's all..

 

[tourman]

What are both companies reputations in terms of response to alarms?
And.... thank you for your input so far.

RHC: I can only comment in regards to ADT. Most good stations will do
a thorough sweep of your call list before confirming the police are to
be dispatched. This helps cut down on false alarms which in many
jurisdictions can result in expensive false alarm tickets. ADT locally
only call the home then the police. They also don't recognize cancel
codes (when you disarm, it tells the station that someone has
legitimately disarmed the panel).
They also program their panels with a minute delay before the panel
even sends to the station, which although not really a security
deficiency, can lead to the station telling you they got no signals
when you call in to try to call off the dogs. Or worse, while you're
calling them, they're calling you....line busy....the police are on
their way. I don't know why they operate this way other than to
perhaps cut down unwanted signals to their HUGE monitoring stations
(they have millions of customers...)

In my opinion, this is not the best way to handle alarms and is
definately not the way the station that has the vast majority of my
accounts does it (them...1000 accounts; ADT.....nine accounts). If you
do choose ADT, you might want to query them on how they do it locally
where you are (and be careful believing anything their salemen tell
you....these guys are on commission........talk to their monitoring
station directly, or their service manager)

Remember at all times...in this industry (and certainly in
Ontario)....it's "buyer beware" big time.....

 

[Jim]

What are both companies reputations in terms of response to alarms?

one call and that's all..-

I'd suggest that you contact a few people (end users) in your area,
who have alarm systems and see who they use and how satisfied they are
with the service. I'm sure you realize that any large corporation has
it's problems with service as compared to smaller companys. ( not TOO
small) Bigger companys usually don't/can't give the personal service
and attention that something like the security and safety of your
family and home is concerned. You might want to buy your appliances
from a big company but when it comes to service related purchases,
you're usually better off dealing with someone who's got an interest
in maintaining his reputation local to your area. When you have a
problem with your system, you don't want to be talking to someone
located 1000 miles away or with someone who doing this just as a job.
You want someone who's going to pick up the phone at 9M and help you
with a problem. Look around locally, you're sure to find a neighbor
who's got a good alarm company that has a good reputation and who's
been around for awhile.

 

[allanc]

RHC: I can only comment in regards to ADT.  Most good stations will do
a thorough sweep of your call list before confirming the police are to
be dispatched. This helps cut down on false alarms which in many
jurisdictions can result in expensive false alarm tickets. ADT locally
only call the home then the police. They also don't recognize cancel
codes (when you disarm, it tells the station that someone has
legitimately disarmed the panel).
They also program their panels with a minute delay before the panel
even sends to the station, which although not really a security
deficiency, can lead to the station telling you they got no signals
when you call in to try to call off the dogs. Or worse, while you're
calling them, they're calling you....line busy....the police are on
their way. I don't know why they operate this way other than to
perhaps cut down unwanted signals to their HUGE monitoring stations
(they have millions of customers...)

In my opinion, this is not the best way to handle alarms and is
definately not the way the station that has the vast majority of my
accounts does it (them...1000 accounts; ADT.....nine accounts). If you
do choose ADT, you might want to query them on how they do it locally
where you are (and be careful believing anything their salemen tell
you....these guys are on commission........talk to their monitoring
station directly, or their service manager)

Remember at all times...in this industry (and certainly in
Ontario)....it's "buyer beware" big time.....- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The advice from someone on the 'inside' is appreciated.
I have bookmarked your link and will read in detail.

 

[allanc]

I'd suggest that you contact a few people (end users) in your area,
who have alarm systems and see who they use and how satisfied they are
with the service. I'm sure you realize that any large corporation has
it's problems with service as compared to smaller companys. ( not TOO
small) Bigger companys usually don't/can't give the personal service
and attention that something like the security and safety of your
family and home is concerned. You might want to buy your appliances
from a big company but when it comes to service related purchases,
you're usually better off dealing with someone who's got an interest
in maintaining his reputation local to your area. When you have a
problem with your system, you don't want to be talking to someone
located 1000 miles away or with someone who doing this just as a job.
You want someone who's going to pick up the phone at 9M and help you
with a problem. Look around locally, you're sure to find a neighbor
who's got a good alarm company that has a good reputation and who's
been around for awhile.

That is a good idea.
I will see what I can find out from the neighbours.