Protecting Yourself from Alarm System Scammers
If you have a sign in your front yard warning burglars that you have a home alarm system in place, you could be attracting a new breed of scammer. That’s the warning from the consumer watchdogs at Consumer Reports, who say scammers look for signs of existing installations, especially older-looking signs, then strike with one of two approaches:
Security experts say you can protect against these scams by taking the following steps: Get references. Ask any salesperson for names of previous customers, especially in your neighborhood, whom you can check with for legitimacy. Do a background check. Demand information about the contractor’s license: the number, state of registration, etc. Check them out before taking any action. Get it in writing. Insist that estimates for service or equipment be in writing, specifying who will install it, how it will be maintained and the cost—and pay by credit card, not with cash. Read the contract. Ensure that everything you’ve agreed to is written into the contract. Check the small print for any monitoring fees or terms you did not agree to. Most importantly, remember that the FTC’s cooling-off rule gives you three business days to cancel the deal if you sign the contract at home. You do not have to give a reason and you can change your mind even if the equipment has already been installed. |
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