AT&T System 8300
alarmist
DRosso3398 <dross...@aol.com> wrote in article
<50etv4$o...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>...
> >I recently bought a house with an AT&T System 8300 security system. I
> >know that AT&T is no longer in the business. I still want to use the
> >system, but I am unhapy with the company that was providing the
> >monitring previously. How can I set the system up to operate
> >stand-alone until I can get another monitoring company?
> >I would greatly appreciate the help of anyone who has any information on
> >this device (and I will listen without flaming to anyone who says just
> >get rid of it).
I own a small, central-station alarm company in Connecticut. When AT&T
first came out with a
plan to sell security systems, I checked out their dealer contract and
business plan. The terms
of their agreement with dealers (local alarm companies) told me right away
to have nothing to
do with AT&T security.
They insisted on a high-pressure, dishonest sales approach. They said NOT
to hire sales people
with experience in security. They suggested hiring a sales force with
backgrounds in encyclopedia
or vaccuum cleaner sales. They mandated use of a prescribed telephone sales
pitch.
On the one hand the contract said dealers could not claim to be AT&T (just
retailers selling products
of AT&T). But they made a big deal out of the dealers' ability to
capitalize on the AT&T reputation.
The local dealer in my area is a company called Safe-Home Security. They
performed horrible work.
They offered the systems initially at exhorbitant prices; then dropped the
price until you bought. This
has been a ploy of every AT&T dealer I heard of.
The systems were so unreliable that one client had TWELVE FALSES IN A
SINGLE NIGHT! Each time
the dispatcher woke up the client's daughter at her home 40 miles away --
even though she pleaded
with them to stop calling her.
When AT&T got so many -- hundreds of thousands) of complaints, they did the
typical mega-company
thing for their angry customers. They bailed out of the business and left
hundreds of thousands of
customers in the lurch.
The local company, Safe Home Security, offered to replace the existing
systems at a "discount." They
offered to install a Fire Burglary Instrument (FBII) system worth about
$400. They would remove the
"out of date" AT&T system and "discount" the FBII system. Cost of
replacement -- $3,500.
I am reminded of the word one uses for a person whose parents never
married.
Throw the AT&T system out and get a hard-wired, central station monitored
system installed by a local
dealer with a decent reputation. Don't sign a contract for more than 3
years. And check with your state's
consumer protection department of contractor licensing (whatever they call
it in your state) if the dealer
has had a lot of complaints before you sign anything. By all means get
several bids (at least 3).
Good luck.
R L Bass
Northeastern Security Systems
W HArtford, CT
aa-2@deltanet.com@deltanet.com
In <01bb9db4$d0348e80$69b3...@alarmist.ntplx.net>, "alarmist" <alar...@ntplx.net> writes:
>I own a small, central-station alarm company in Connecticut. When AT&T
>first came out with a
>plan to sell security systems, I checked out their dealer contract and
>business plan. The terms
>of their agreement with dealers (local alarm companies) told me right away
>to have nothing to
>do with AT&T security.
>
>They insisted on a high-pressure, dishonest sales approach. They said NOT
>to hire sales people
>with experience in security. They suggested hiring a sales force with
>backgrounds in encyclopedia
>or vaccuum cleaner sales. They mandated use of a prescribed telephone sales
>pitch.
>
>On the one hand the contract said dealers could not claim to be AT&T (just
>retailers selling products
>of AT&T). But they made a big deal out of the dealers' ability to
>capitalize on the AT&T reputation.
>
>They offered the systems initially at exhorbitant prices; then dropped the
>price until you bought. This
>has been a ploy of every AT&T dealer I heard of.
I've run into the same thing, both locally and in the South. I have an
aunt who lives in the South (far away from me) who called me up all
excited because she'd just bought an alarm for her 1200 sqft condo
"from AT&T" for only $3800. After I explained she wasn't really
buying from AT&T, and that she was being seriously overcharged,
I explained how to use the three day notice of cancellation to get
out of the deal. She ended up buying a much better system from a
reputable local dealer for one-third the price.
>I am reminded of the word one uses for a person whose parents never
>married.
>
>Throw the AT&T system out and get a hard-wired, central station monitored
>system installed by a local
>dealer with a decent reputation. Don't sign a contract for more than 3
>years. And check with your state's
>consumer protection department of contractor licensing (whatever they call
>it in your state) if the dealer
>has had a lot of complaints before you sign anything. By all means get
>several bids (at least 3).
>
>Good luck.
>
>R L Bass
>Northeastern Security Systems
>W HArtford, CT
>
>alar...@ntplx.net
I'd only add one comment for "alarmist." It might be a good idea not to
mention the offending companies by name. You could find yourself
buying a lawsuit which could cost you a bunch of time and maybe money.
I'm sure a disreputable company wouldn't have any qualms about suing
you for defamation, especially if they're in your area anyway.
Dave Huff
Thanks all for your advice on the AT&t system. I will contract with
someone reputable. Too bad, looks like a nice system (on the surface
anyhow). The people we had out to give us quotes all said the
installation was well done (was done when the house was built) but they
all wanted to replace the AT&T equipment.
Thanks again,
-Dave