Door to door alarm sales are a hot industry in California, but some customers end up in an alarm contract they want to break. This article addresses these oft-searched questions: “How do I get out of a contract with Vivint?” “How can I break a Monitronics contract?” “How do I cancel with ADT?”
1. Customer Call with Verifiable Threats.
The first step is to call and see if you can negotiate a resolution. Remain calm on the phone and expect to be put on hold and transferred often. Ask to be transferred to a supervisor from the outset and calmly identify the steps that you plan to follow through on if the business will not cooperate with you:
- Social Media Complaints (Facebook, YELP, RipOFF Report)
- Contact local news and radio stations
- File a police report
- File complaints with consumer protection agencies (BBB, AG, FTC, Consumerfinance.gov)
- Complain to the Alarm Licensing Board
2. Attorney phone call.
A call to customer service will not take much attorney time, but it may be the fastest way to resolve the situation in your favor. Many companies send customers through endless rounds of retention agents and hold times, but a call initiated by an attorney can often cut through the low-level employees to a supervisor who has the authority to solve the problem. For experienced and cost-effective representation, contact David Knecht at davidknechtlaw.com.
3. Social Media Complaint and Local Media.
If you can post on the business Facebook page, then write your concerns there. Look for other online options to voice your dissatisfaction such as YELP, ripoffreport, etc. Call your local news and ask if they will run a story on citizens being duped by sales people. If you can find an email for a tv or radio station, email them your story and cc the customer service department of the company if you can.
5. Contact your local police.
If you believe that the door-to-door representative was unlicensed, threatening, in violation of a no soliciting sign, or if the representative wouldn’t leave your property when asked, file a police report.
6. File complaints with consumer protection agencies.
There are several agencies that advocate for consumers. File complaints with each agency, as the more agencies that are contacted, the more likely your complaint is to be taken seriously.
- Better Business Bureau
- Attorney General for your state (look for consumer protection division)
- FTC – got to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/GettingStarted#crnt
- http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
7. Complain to the alarm licensing board of your state.
If you suspect that the door-to-door or telephone representative who contacted you is not licensed, call the alarm licensing board of your state to inquire and/or file a complaint.
8. Write a letter to the company’s legal department and CEO.
A well-written letter requesting cancellation of your contract addressed to the legal department of the company can be an excellent way to get that company’s attention. For assistance in drafting, you may want to contact an attorney. Feel free to call David Knecht at davidknechtlaw.com for help.
