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What You Should Know About “Free” Home Security Systems
from:Everybody likes to get something for nothing at some time or another and the lure of a free home security system sounds too good to pass up. But is it really a good idea? Are the free home security systems ready to work or do you have to purchase something in addition to the free system? In the following paragraphs we’ll address this issue so you can be assured of what you are actually getting when you get a free home security system.
Be Prepared to Pay for Monitoring Service
Many of the companies that offer free home security systems do so in exchange for a signed contract that lets them charge your credit card for monthly monitoring services, which can run $30, $40, or more per month. In addition, often, you are locked into a multi-year contract, which means that even if you cancel the service, your credit card can be charged for the balance. So, in effect, you would be paying close to $1500 over the course of 3 years for monitoring service for your “free” home security system.
Installation Charges
Even though many of the free home security systems are wireless units that require very little in the way of actual installation, you may be billed $100 or more for the installation charge. In addition, while you are often given a discount on upgrades, you’ll need those upgrades in order to have a complete home security system as the free one usually comes with an inadequate number of components to protect your entire home.
Be Prepared for a Credit Check
Most, if not all, companies that offer free home security systems require that you have good credit as well as a credit card so that you can be billed for the monthly monitoring charges. That way, even if you try to cancel before the required contract is up, your credit card can still be charged for the balance. Whether or not you have excellent credit, remember that your credit score potentially goes down each time your credit file is accessed so keep this in mind when thinking of signing up for free home security systems.
Home Phone May be Required
In this day of wireless phones, many people have opted to use their cell phone as their home phone and so do not have a hard wired landline phone. With most free home security systems, a landline phone is required for monitoring. While some of the home security companies do offer cell phone and even broadband monitoring, this usually costs extra, which you will want to take into consideration when thinking about signing up for a free home security system.
When you consider everything, you may realize that your free home security system is not really free at all. Be sure and read all the fine print, including the length of your monitoring contract and also be aware of which components comprise the free system. You may decide that you are better off just purchasing your home security system yourself as you can decide which components you want to include.
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