Summer is the perfect time for a vacation getaway. It’s also the perfect time for a home robbery. According to the FBI, July and August have the highest rates of burglaries.
Homeowners are fighting back by installing electronic security systems. In 2010, BBB received nearly 25,000 inquiries from customers asking about burglar alarm systems.
The BBB advises consumers to do the following when looking to invest in a home security system:
- Choose a professional installer. The best home-security system will accommodate your lifestyle and specific valuables you want protected. Carefully consider your security requirements and budget. Deal only with reputable firms and check out the company with BBB first.
- Contact at least three companies before selecting an installer. Find out if they are properly licensed and if they screen employees before hiring. Check with the Electronic Security Association’s website at alarm.org for a directory of member companies that agree to abide by the National Code of Ethics.
- Ask about upfront charges. Prices for home security systems vary based on the level of protection and type of technology used. In addition to an installation charge, expect to pay monthly monitoring fees. Also, talk to your insurance agent; some systems may qualify you for a discount on homeowner's premiums.
- Know the ins and outs of your contract. If your alarm system will be monitored, find out the length of the contract. Typically, monitoring contracts are between two to five years in length. What is your recourse if you are unsatisfied with services provided? Can you cancel the contract? What are your rights if your monitoring company is purchased or acquired by another alarm company? Make sure you understand exactly what equipment and protection you will be provided.
- Insist that the installer "walk" you through your system until you fully understand how it works. This will prevent the most common problem: false alarms. For more home tips you can trust, visit www.bbb.org/us/bbb-news.
Start With Trust. For trustworthy consumer tips and information, visit wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers in the past 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
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Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org