Complaint Review: Northstar Alarm

In May 2008 a door to door salesmanoffered  to upgrade our existing alarm system with a new keypad and monitoring service through Northstar Alarm.  The salesperson told my husband it was an 18 momth contract.   After a few years we no longer were using the service because we foundit to be unreliable. I had a pet in the house that could trigger a false alarm, and neighbors had difficulty with setting the alarm as well.  The monitoring service  was slow to reply to alarms also.  Then when the (2nd floor) keypad no longer worked we couldnt even set it when we were at home.   So we called to cancel service.  That is when we found out that we were locked into a 5 year agreement.  So in November of 2012 I told them I did not want their service anymore,  since I was obligated by said contract I would pay them through May 2013.  OK fine.  BUT then noone ever told us that we needed to do anything else to cancel or that there was a clause in our contract that would allow them to extend our contract without a further signature.  So a year goes by and we realize that our banking account is still being deducted for the monitoring.  

We called to cancel again in Dec 2013.  That is when they told us that we had the clause in the contract that stated we needed to notify them 60 days proir to cancellation or the contract is automatically extended for 18 more months.  Therefore we are obligated till 11/2014   This is unconscienable to be bound by a contract of adhesion.    I sent in WRITTEN FAX and email to Northstar that day to request a cancellation.  

 I also called the bank and put a stop to any future autodrraft payments.  I heard nothing back from Northstar after we sent in the request to terminate the monitoring.    Then 5 weeks later I get a call from Northstar requesting an overdue payment. I remind then that I have cancelled them on Dec 5, 2013.  They tell me that cancelation requests arent automatically granted and in order to be considered for a cancellation I first must be paid up to date with the account.  I informed them that I was up to date as of the date of the letter. She informed me that the letter was received but wasnt received by the correct department and that I needed to send one again, and then be current to be considered for a cancellation.  If I do not do that I will be sent to collections.   While talking to the representative,  I tested out my alarm, I pushed the keypad by my downstairs door for Fire and Police... and no alarm went off, no monitoring service called me, no police or anything.   So she is demanding I pay for a service I am not even getting.