Opinion - KnightWatch Security - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

[allanc446]

I would appreciate any comments on KnightWatch Security of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.

I am inquirying about hardware, installation, service level, etc, etc, etc.

Thank you in advance.

 

[allanc446]

responding to
http://www.secure-gear.com/security...ch-Security-Toronto-Ontario-Canada-58687-.htm
allanc446 wrote:

RHC: According to their website, they are a Brinks dealer which would
personally put me instantly on guard.

Check their rating at the BBB (which might not tell you anything
really unless they have a lot of unanswered complaints). Other than
that, watch out for the usual "hooks"....ie: phoney free
systems,
overpriced long term contracts, auto renewal contracts for long
periods etc. Check out EXACTLY what they include in their service, and
EXACTLY what their warranty covers and doesn't cover (these are often
forgotten things that can jump up later to bite you in the butt)

Other dealers I've talked to tell me Toronto is a hotbed of cutthroat
competition with a significant number of unscrupulous companies
around. So as always, buyer beware

If you have some time to read, go here....www.homemetal.com

Well, I could not find Knightwatch on the Better Business Bureau site.

I am not very familiar with this industry so I have to ask what is 'wrong'
with being associated with Brinks?

Also, you do not install/service Toronto do you.

Thank you.

 

[allanc446]

responding to
http://www.secure-gear.com/security...ch-Security-Toronto-Ontario-Canada-58687-.htm
allanc446 wrote:

RHC: Allan, no I do not service or install outside the immediate
Ottawa area since my "total service concept" would be
impossible to
administer.

I do not know anything about this specific company so I can only offer
generalities. Brinks is one of a number of large mass marketers, all
of whom usually offer only the minimal system to capture an overpriced
long term contract. Or if they offer you a full service installation,
it comes at a huge price differential over that of an independant
company. Any time you deal with companies like this, you must be
careful since it's pretty much a given that you will not get the all
that you might get when dealing with a GOOD small to medium sized
independant. It definately pays to shop around in this industry since
it is VERY much "buyer beware". In my obviously biased
opinion, ALL of
the larger firms can't possibly offer you the best deals since they
have huge overheads to cover and can't offer you a more personalized
level of service due simply to their size. On the other hand, small
companies come and go in this business, so you have to be just as
careful dealing in this arena too, although it's no where near as bad
as the ADT's of the world would have you believe.

If you care to poke around my site, there are all sorts of pages
covering these cautionary points and others. As well, when you get
your three quotes, feel free to call me (numbers on my website) to
discuss them in comparison.

Best of luck in your shopping

www.homemetal.com

-------------------------------------
Regards,

Allan C

Hello again.
Yes, I have read some of your pages and found your site to be very
informative.
To be honest, I have 4 personal referrals ... 3 for AlarmForce (I am
fairly certain that I am not going in that direction and 1 for Knighwatch.
A quick search at canada411 for 'alarm systems residential' displays at
least 5 pages of companies.
There has to be a way to narrow this down to some sort of 'short list'.
Do you know of a WEB site that I could visit that help me in determining
who to call for quotations?
Feel free to Email me if that type of information should not be posted
here.

Thank you in advance.

 

[allanc446]

responding to
http://www.secure-gear.com/security...ch-Security-Toronto-Ontario-Canada-58687-.htm
allanc446 wrote:

RHC: Allan, this is correctly the most difficult part of the decision
making process. All I can tell you for sure is the following....stay
away from Alarmforce, they are as close to a scam as it is possible to
be without actually being one......poor equipment and minimalistic
coverage. You get recommendations from people because Alarmforce does
a great job of marketing themselves and they seem to be unique in the
business that their clients are totally sold on them. This is probably
because the types of shoppers that buy into this nonsense are the
people who don't know squat about what they are really getting. A
little smarter approach to shopping and looking into what a system
should be comprised of would have told them pretty quickly that this
junk is not even remotely close to being a professional alarm system.
The other big guy ADT is way overpriced and by the time you buy a
proper system, the original "free system" ends up being about
double
what a smaller dealer can deliver, AND you're still stuck with a
horrible long term contract with some of the most restrictive terms in
the business. But they like most others use quality equipment from the
three big manufacturers common in Eastern Canada....DSC, Paradox and
Ademco (labelled often as Honeywell).

Pick a couple of small to medium guys and give them a call. See who
comes out on time, see who treats you with due respect and see who is
the most flexible about the things you need covered. Then go with the
company you feel most comfortable with.

Here's how to compare the three quotes you should get:

Add up the total costs for each for....upfront price, monthly rate
times 60 for comparison over the longer term, cost of a service call
to cover a battery and one to cover changing out a door etc, cost of
warranty, and what the warranty covers (batteries ??)

You'll pretty quickly see your TRUE costs over the longer term. Also,
if you must agree to a long term contract (no more than three years
and preferably just an annual one) and your home situation changes ie:
have to move for any reason, find out EXACTLY what the cost will be to
buy out of the contract. Needless to say, a month to month contract is
always far better for you, and you might want to use it as a
negotiating point (which is why it is not that common )

It happens ! I just installed a top coverage system here for a woman
who moved from Toronto to Ottawa for far less in total price than it
cost her to buy out of her ADT contract !!!!!!!

Sincere Thanks!