- Report: #119940
Complaint Review: Brinks - Irving Texas
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Brinks
8880 Esters Road Irving, 75063 Texas, U.S.A.
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Brinks ripoff Irving Texas
I understand why jerry is so upset with brinks, and I think the brinks rep is just trying to cover the fact that brinks does engage in questionable business practices. I recently moved into a new home, I had brinks service at my previous house for about 9 years, I asked about having the service at my new house, but was unable to be at the house when the installer came by, since they did not call ahead and let me know when he would be there, even though they had my phone number.
I got rather busy, and could not take an extra day off from work, so I was going to call and reschedule for the next week, but before I got a chance to do that I got a bill from brinks, for my new house, that has absolutely no brinks equipment in it, for service that they could not possibly provide. I was going to call about that, but before I got a chance to do that, I got a huge bill for my previous residence, they are trying to collect the balance of the "so called 3 year contract" that I am supposedly under, news to me. I had to have a door contact reglued on a few months ago, and as I was signing the paper for the service call, the installer told me I had to sign a new contract, I asked why, and actually refused, and he told me it was just to keep giving me the same price, and he did not know why I had to sign it, at no time did he tell me it was a new 3 year obligation.
I do not think that type of deceptive behaviour by any company is legal, I am not a shrinking violet, and if I have to take them to court so be it, but I will not stand for being badgered for the balance of a "3 year contact" when my signature was obtained by the lies of a installer, and before any flunky from brinks starts babbling about as an informed consumer I should read contacts, this was the exact same contract that I had signed originally, it states that the 3 years is from the date of the original installation of the equipement, and I don't think reglueing a part is gonna qualify as "original" installation in any court of law. And last but not least if I cannot believe the words the installer of my security equipment says to me, than that company has no business being in the security business.
Renee
san antonio, Texas
U.S.A.
I got rather busy, and could not take an extra day off from work, so I was going to call and reschedule for the next week, but before I got a chance to do that I got a bill from brinks, for my new house, that has absolutely no brinks equipment in it, for service that they could not possibly provide. I was going to call about that, but before I got a chance to do that, I got a huge bill for my previous residence, they are trying to collect the balance of the "so called 3 year contract" that I am supposedly under, news to me. I had to have a door contact reglued on a few months ago, and as I was signing the paper for the service call, the installer told me I had to sign a new contract, I asked why, and actually refused, and he told me it was just to keep giving me the same price, and he did not know why I had to sign it, at no time did he tell me it was a new 3 year obligation.
I do not think that type of deceptive behaviour by any company is legal, I am not a shrinking violet, and if I have to take them to court so be it, but I will not stand for being badgered for the balance of a "3 year contact" when my signature was obtained by the lies of a installer, and before any flunky from brinks starts babbling about as an informed consumer I should read contacts, this was the exact same contract that I had signed originally, it states that the 3 years is from the date of the original installation of the equipement, and I don't think reglueing a part is gonna qualify as "original" installation in any court of law. And last but not least if I cannot believe the words the installer of my security equipment says to me, than that company has no business being in the security business.
Renee
san antonio, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Renee
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
How to fight Brinks
#2Author of original report
Thu, May 19, 2005
I finally got Brinks to give up and cancel my contract without having to pay them anything. It was a long drawn out battle, but I never gave up or gave in. I am going to pass on some of the things I learned about disputing a contract or bill with Brinks. 1. The Brinks employees you reach when contacting them by telephone are generally unhelpful, insulting, and will argue with you, but will not do anything helpful for you. They record all of their conversations with you, they lie to you, and they will use selected (out of context) portions of the recorded conversations against you. 2. Certified mail is the best way to contact Brinks when you are fighting a bill or a contract with them. Use return reciept with the certified so you have proof that you mailed the letter to them and keep copies of all the letters that you mail to them. Example for 1 and 2. They turned my bill over to their collections department and sent me a letter about it. It had the address I had to write to to dispute the bill, I wrote to them and sent it certified mail. I never heard back from them, even though I had proof the letter was delivered. Then they turned my bill over to a collection agency. I called the collection department at Brinks and asked why they turned it over to a collection agency instead of answering my letter disputing the bill, the woman I was talking to said "we did not get a letter from you" and I told her, yes you did, I sent it certified and I have the proof it was delivered. 3. File a complaint against them with your local BBB (better business bureau). This was the most effective thing I did, apparently they are pretty concerned about their public image. 4. Send their legal department a "crazy lady" letter threatening to sue them if your issues with them are not resolved. Example 1. ..."in the event that I am not able to resolve this issue by communication with Brinks and find it necessary to sue your company for harassment, violation of consumer protection laws, violation of fair credit reporting laws, violation and fraud under the contract laws of Texas, court costs, legal fees, and damages related to the ill effects this dispute has had on my health and credit rating." Example 2. ... "I have forwarded copies of all my correspondence with Brinks to the appropriate Government agencies, and also kept copies in the event this can not be resolved." Example 3. ..."I really feel that Americans should know what kind of business practices Brinks engages in, and in the event this is not resolved and I do end up suing your company I will then contact one or more of the major tabloids to ensure that this story does get out to the average American." If you wish to use any of the above examples, please make minor changes to the wording or phrasing, just in case the same lawyer that I sent my letter to sees yours. Good luck and keep up the good fight
