Complaint Review: Monitronics

I live in North Carolina. One day a monitronics sales person came to my home and talked with me about signing up for a home secuity system and I did.

I had the systems for several years with no problem. I paid all my monthly payments and remained in good standing with them until I moved. I sold the house that I had the system in and moved in with a relative while a new home was being built.

I contacted Monitronics to informed them of my move and requested that they cancel my service. I was informed that I had completed the terms of my contract and that I was on a month to month contract. I was advised that I did not have to cancel my contract, but just suspend it until I moved into my new home. I was told that I was not under any obligation, but this would allow me to continue the contract with the same price. I agreed since I was told that I was not obligated.

My house took several months to be completed. During that time frame I received a bill. I contacted Monitronics and was told the same thing as above. That as long as they were informed that I was not in my home, they would suspend the service and when I was ready I could contact them to resume service. At that time I requested to be cancelled again because I did not know when the house would be complete or if I would continue the service. The representative assured me that I did not have anything to lose. I could keep letting them know that I was not in my house and I would not be charged. She also stated that I was under no obligation and I could resume service at the same rate when I was ready as long as I did not cancel.

The completion of my house took longer than expected so I eventually moved out of the relative's home into a hotel. I informed Monitronics and again, they gave me the same story as I stated above. I felt comfortable with this scenario. I gave Monitronics a change of address in all events.

I finally moved into my new home, but because of the delays my finances were not in good shape. I decided not to get a land line phone because I had a cell phone and did not use a house phone that much. I hoped to same money by making this decision.

A month or so into my new home, the relative forwarded me another bill from Monitronics. Again I called, same story. This time I mentioned that I did not have a land line so I was told that the wireless system would be more money. At this time my finances were still not in the best shape so I decided again not to get the system. After several attempts by Monitronics to sign me and with me asking to cancel each time, I finally said that I did not want to keep going through this and to just cancel. The representative just kept saying to hang on to the month to month until I was ready. Exasperated I just said whatever, (because I was under not obligation right?) and thought nothing of it.

Well, well, well. Then maybe a few weeks later I got another call. This time the representative told me that I used up all of the suspensions that the company would give me and I owed a certain amount of money for the service. I explained to her that I was never told that there was a time frame for the suspensions and that each time I requested to cancel. She stated that the only way I could cancel was in writing. I was shocked. Unlike all the other representatives she was rude and unwilling to her my side. I was completely paid up to date when I first requested my service to be cut off and cancelled. I had not had any service from that point on so I could not see how I owed anything.

The representative and I went back and forth on this issue for quite some time until she rudely told me that I would be cancelled. Hello! That is what I wanted all along. Anyway I thought it was over. It was not.

I never received anything regarding collections in the mail even though Monitronics was informed of my new address. I did not find out that they had notified the credit reporting agencies until I recently refinanced my mortgage. Because of this collection on my credit, I had to pay a higher rate than I would have plus pay mortgage insurance. My credit had been impeccable up to that point. My credit score dropped substantially. Before this incident I could walk into any business and get instant credit or interest rates at the best rate. This one thing ruined my credit. The amount that Monitronics claim that I owe is $168.

I have written them but they will not respond. This is the most irresponsible thing that anyone could do to a person. This one act to my credit has cost me thousands of dollars. Monitronics is holding my finances hostage because of their lack of ethics. Had I known that they would be so unscrupulous, I would have paid them the $168. I had not idea that they were taken this action because I did not get notification.

Littlelady
Durham, North Carolina
U.S.A.

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