Complaint Review: ADT Security Systems - Dana Point California

On 9/21/2017 I purchased/closed on a home at 19 Trofello Lane, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. The previous owner had the subject ADT Security System I'm complaining about installed. We purchased the home planning to have the ADT System removed. On 10/13/2017 the day we moved in I called ADT and asked them to remove their system from my home. I was told by their representative that couldn't and wouldn't be done. They said that even though their system was in my home and using my electricity, the previous homeowner owned their system and only he could order it removed. I couldn't believe that was accurate and asked to speak to a supervisor which I did and the confirmed that was their policy. So for a day or so I had to deal with the system beeping, chiming and lights flashing every time a door or window was open. I might add that the previous owner is a busy executive, travels a lot and very hard to contact. Coincidentally, on 10/15 the previous owner stopped by to pick up mail and items that had been miss-shipped. He shut the security system down so the alarms would stop. He stated, he paid for the service through the end of October and stated the system would automatically shut down on 11/01/2017. However, on 11/9/2017(Thurs.) at approximately 11:30PM the system became active again beeping every 10 seconds or so, waking my entire household from their sleep. With no experience with these systems, and no instructions on how to get the system to stop, I went on the internet to get an ADT Technical support person to help.

After several calls to an 800 number I got a live person who tried to walk me through the power down procedure. However, nothing he suggested worked and at one point the 2 wires he told me to pulled out arced/sparked. Meanwhile it's 11:45PM and I'm in my PJs and he's telling me to get pliers. screw drives etc. . I'm frustrated and ask to speak to a supervisor which I do. She tells me I have to find a clip on the back of the security system mother board and disconnect a clip running to a green colored battery pack. After some effort, I was able to do that, but the system continued to beep. She then told me I had to find the transformer and disconnect this from the house A/C current. After some effort I discovered the system transformer is plugged into the garage door electrical outlet in the 8 ft ceiling in my garage. I now tell supervisor I'm going to have to get dressed so I can move my car out of the garage to get to the outlet that is right above my car. I'd also have to hunt down a ladder tall enough to get me to the outlet. I finally was able to do all this, but the system continues to beep. The supervisor tells me the beeping will eventually stop which it did. She also told me I could have gone on the internet and could have located instructions for powering down their system. She said under no circumstances would they send a tech out to help or remove any of their security system equipment. She also stated it was not ADT's responsibility to shut these systems down, the previous owner should have done this. I feel this entire process was horrible customer service and just a way for ADT to keep customers and dissuade potential customers from discontinuing service.