A comment on this post, wondering how I liked our Vector security system, reminded me that I said I'd update everyone with a review after we'd had it for a bit. I suspect the guy who left the comment works for Vector, but that's okay. He didn't try and flood my site with spam or anything, so I think the comment is acceptable.
Anyway, we have no complaints. We haven't asked much of the system, and we haven't had an alarm, but the system has never done anything it wasn't supposed to do, nothing has broken, nothing has malfunctioned. I suppose the real test is what happens if someone tries to break in, or if we accidentally set off the alarm. Luckily, neither of those things have happened.
So, after almost two months, I would still recommend Vector Security. I'd recommend them even more if they got around to sending us our referral bonus since some of our upstairs neighbors signed up on our recommendation.
Edit to add: I've disabled the comments on this post. I'm not really comfortable hosting this discussion, so I'm not going to allow it to go any further.
I still have had a fine experience with Vector, but others clearly haven't. If you're considering them, I recommend you do a little research about your local office and see if they're a good fit for you.
Don't be fooled. Vector
Don't be fooled.
Vector Security in North Carolina is renewing our contract WITHOUT NOTICE OF ANY KIND FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD. In order to cancel, we are required to buy out the contract for the entire remaining period plus pay a penalty of 80% of that amount. This, after we experienced a false alarm, and could not get the system checked for six weeks.
Buyer beware.
An additional note: my mother's Vector carbon monoxide detector malfunctioned. It alarms every five minutes, a shrill, piercing alarm, 24 hours a day. She called the Saturday before Christmas, and was told nothing could be done until the Wednesday after Christmas. The Saturday after Christmas NO ONE HAD CALLED HER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, DESPITE REPEATED CALLS FOR SERVICE. It is still alarming every five minutes.
vector auto renewel
We called to cancel on 3/1/08....they told us that we had to call 30 days prior to the renewel which was in 12/07 to cnc or it renewed again for 3yrs ....they said we had to pay 80% if we wanted to cnc...
I was wondering what Vicky did to about it?
Vicky - I quoted your
Vicky - I quoted your comment in a new post. Yours is honestly the first complaint I've heard about the company, but it sounds like a big one. If it continues to be an issue, tell them you're going to the Better Business Bureau, and then follow through if they don't take care of it. It has been my experience that the threat of the BBB is a good way to get a company to respond if nothing else works.
Jon and Vicky: I have had
Jon and Vicky: I have had it with Vector Security, Inc. Nothing but problems since day 1; problems which I have now detailed on the website www.vectorsecuritysucks.com in an effort to inform other consumers.
Anna, sorry for your bad
Anna, sorry for your bad experience. All I can say is that hasn't been my experience, and you should contact the Better Business Bureau.
Hi Im a new Vector customer
Hi Im a new Vector customer and I was bored looking up info about my new purchase last month for my home. My ReMax office has had Vector Security for some time now and someone tried breaking in a litte over a month ago. The system worked perfect and the monitoring station did a nice job as well getting the police out there. That's why I called had it installed at my house.
I'm writing this becuase of the comment concerning about "VECTOR'S CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR" VECTOR "DOES NOT MANUFACTURE THE EQUIPMENT." Honeywell does and it's the leader in the business better the GE. Plus all the equipment has lifetime gaurentees.
PS And, Who waistes the time to make a website called "vectorsecuritySUCKS.com";
sounds like some FAKE B.S. FROM A COMPETITOR, is that you ADT lol j/k or am i?
Good Luck Everyone. Vector saved my business hopefully it will keep my Home safe too.
I am the not-so-proud former
I am the not-so-proud former owner of a Vector security system. I purchased a home in PA in 2001
and had the company transfer service over to my name from the previous owners. BAD MOVE! While
they were willing to come out to have me sign a 3 year contract (yes, that's right 3 years, renewable...but in my defense I had a newborn & had just moved & my husband travels for business
a lot), I had to fight them to not charge me to show me how to arm the system. (The previous owners did not leave the information.) When the tech came, he showed me how to use it, but said that it was an old system that should be upgraded. The salesman they sent told me it would cost me $5000...yes, that's right 5K to STAY WITH A COMPANY I'M ALREADY USING. Suffice to say, we kept the old system. When my husband was transferred last year, our insurance & relo company required
that we maintain security until the premises was sold. After it was sold, I contacted Vector to
cancel our service who then informed me that I must pay the remaining 30 months on my contract
although I no longer owned the house, the system, or anything else. They said "If you lost you're cellphone you'd be responsible for the cancellation." While that is true: a) I'd be able to replace my cellphone and still use the service; b) I could take my cellphone w/me unlike a home
security system that cannot be packed up and moved along with real estate; c) Verizon would not be charging me for 30 months of service that I can't use. My advice to anyone thinking to use this company is to RUN...DON'T WALK. And READ THE FINE PRINT. I've retained an attorney to fight this contract, which does not state how much the cancellation fees are and doesn't provide a provision for moving.
Vector Security Automatic Renewal with NO notice
Elizabeth,
I have had similar problems with Vector was wondering if you had gotten anywhere with fighting the contract. I tried to cancel my service recently as was told my contract had just automatically renewed for THREE YEARS!!! Yes, it's in the contract but who the heck reads all 54 clauses in tiny print! I trusted (big mistake) the sales rep who told me the contract was for only 3 years and after that I should even call the company and ask for a reduced rate because some customers were only paying $14.95 a month instead of $29.95 per month. I also asked him what would happen if I moved/got transferred...and he said "no problem"! NEVER was the automatic renewal clause pointed out to me. I even called last year about canceling and they never mentioned it! They said I still had one more year to go and to call back and cancel then - little did I know if I didn't send in a "written" notice that they would extend my contract for another 3 years!!! Let me know what you find out. Thanks! - Dawn -
Vector Security Automatic Renewal with No Notice
As of today, I am still fighting the scoundrels. Although they did not reply to the BBB, they did respond to the SAG's office shortly after they received notice that I was complaining. Then they sent me a bill for the "80% buyout of 2008 contract." Did I pay it? Heck no because they did not send a letter with it saying that it is in settlement for the remainder of the contract. I informed the SAG's office about this and have yet to hear anything in the past seven weeks.
This has been a learning experience for me. I have learned two things: #1 never use Vector security & #2 never sign a contract that does not provide an out clause for a consumer or that automatically renews for 36 months.
I will post an update as soon as there is a resolution. Good luck.
Perhaps Michael should
Perhaps Michael should attempt a more mature posting and respect the fact that others do not share his experience with Vector Security, Inc., rather than bashing them simply because their experiences differ from his "perfect" experience. While Michael may have a good experience as a, "new Vector customer" many other Vector Security customers have not.
Anna my appoligies, perhaps
Anna my appoligies, perhaps i did sound a little immature in my comment and for that i am sorry and I am sorry for those who have experience problems. As a business owner, I just find it rude when the public bashes companies and dont know all the facts. And then I see this rude website and dont like it b/c I know how major companies hire people to make these ANTI-COMPETITOR sites to bash the little guys, if this isnt the case, then ok but it is still immature. But listen I had ADT in the pass at my old townhome and that was truely a nightmare (i guess their equipment is branded so that you "must" use ADT monitoring) and I never wanted security again. But when my business had an attempted robbery I knew I had to get a system for my new house. I knew with Vector's nonbranded Honeywell equipment I could use any monitoring company in the future if Vector aggrivated me. I just trusted Vector since they did a great job and most importantly they are one of the largest Privately owned security companies and have been around longer than anyone else, in other words they havent sold out.
But anyways I'm Sorry for your troubles everybody, I hope all goes well. Good Luck. Be Safe.
Update to not-so-proud former owner of Vector System
In addition to hiring an attorney to fight my contract, I contacted the BBB. Guess what? No response from Vector Security. The only response was a bill for an 80% buyout of 2008 contract; of course, there was no letter with this stating that the account would be fully satisfied upon payment. I have now filed a compaint with the PA Attorney General's office because the copy of the contract that I received had no start and stop dates for the term of the contract.
To show you how sloppy their business practices are for a major company, I wrote on the back of my check which included service from the previous quarter "full and final payment." Take a guess??? The geniuses cashed it...and are still billing me. Go figure.
My advice to Vicky and all other consumers, like myself, who made the decision to do business with an unprofessional company is to file a complaint with the BBB and your state's Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Vector auto renewal from Brooke
Brooke
Are you sure your contract is complete? My contract was incomplete, with no beginning and end term dates stated. If that is the case, contact the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection in your home state and fight it. Also, they may respond to the Better Business Bureau; in my case, they did not and just kept billing me.
According to the attorney that I've retained, my contract is null and void because it is incomplete.
It's a shame when you need to pay someone $300 an hour to read over a contact for a $25 a month service.
Good luck.
Vector Ripped off
My problem was device at my house stop working. I called vector and they infomed
me I can purchase a new device for 500.00 dollars. it was cheaper to purchase
a new contract with ADT or Slomons. It took 2 month for them to reply. I call
Them again was told do not do anything until they try to fix the problem, That took 2 months for a tech to look at the unit and said it is broken. I had a
power surge and the device start working again. call vector informed them that
the device is working again. Spoke to the rudes person name Susan (poor excuse
for a human being) she informed me that I would have to pay for the six months
pass due while the device was not working. now I have to pay these piece of
sh-t $1800.00 that with a collection agency. personally Vector security inc.
need to be put out of business with these underhanded behavior. What good is
the (BBB). I was told that they have atlease 300 complaints about vector and they
are still in business. The only time I have seen the Better business is for the
small guys, They are worthless when It come to midsize company and forget if it is a large size company. that is two business need to be closed.
Did you even try to contact the BBB?
I looked at the first 20 results for Vector Security on the USA national BBB site. Of those 20, 18 were rated satisfactory. I don't know where you heard about "at least 300 complaints", but that does not appear to be accurate.
As I've said before, when you complain to the BBB, companies usually respond. You can't expect a response, however, if you don't complain.
You are right in stating
You are right in stating that if a person doesn'c complain to the BBB, they can't expect a resolution. Having said that, I did complain to the BBB and Vector Security never responded to their requests. The administrator at the BBB suggested that I take the matter to the Bureau of Consumer Protection--apparently there is some mechanism that forces businesses to respond to these requests. It was only after I contacted the BCP that vector decided to respond to the BBB; of course, by that time the case had been closed and their rating been given an "Unsatisfactory."
One thing I did notice when I checked the BBB website is that there are multiple listings for Vector (in PA) based upon the location; some are accredited members and some aren't. So it is possible that 8ball found a plethora of complaints depending on which location he checked.
Vector Sucks
I had the same problem with Vector Security in regards to the 3 year contract agreement. I called Vector to cancel my services also and they also said that my contract renewed for another 3 years. The salesperson never explained to me and said the agreement was for only 3 years. I was told that I would have to pay 80% to get out and the remainder of the bill. I advised the manager, jennifer to send it to collections because they wouldnt be getting anything further out of me. I have recently signed a contract with another alarm company and will have service with someone else. Vector can do all they want to try to get that money but they wont get it...Please tell all your family and friends about them.
Casing Neighborhoods
These vector Jabroneys cam into my neighborhood...I was sucked in but luckily didn't sign a contract. I had my suspicions. I googled "security door to door salesman" and couldn't believe the results. It listed all the companies that hire good looking kids that are smooth salespeople and closers. They came back tonight and had no solicitation perit or business cards...what reputable person especially in sales doesn't carry business cards. Watch out theses guys are obvious criminals.
Door to Door Salesman
Thank you Murph I heeded your warning with regards to door to door salesmans posing as Vector employees, come to find out these individuals were wanted for numerous fraud around our neighborhood lukily I too did not sign the contract although I was under immense pressure from my wife to do so.