Vector Security

Do the math and save your money. I used to be a customer and they took me to the bank! They offer a «free» system which doesn’t cover all of your entryways and windows, forcing you to buy extra sensors or live with an incomplete system. For the «free» system you sign a contract (usually 3 year minimum) at $ 40-​$ 60 per month varying significantly with the services you choose. So, 3 years at say $ 50 per month is $ 1800. Wow! The «free» system is worth maybe $ 500, and costs them less than $ 100 to make. If you compare the remaining $ 1300 that you’re essentially paying for monitoring over 3 years, with
(pure central station monitoring that you can contract directly with) which starts at $ 9.99 per month for first year, then goes up to around 14.99 per month depending on level of monitoring, the comparison is mind boggling… and real depressing for current customers STUCK in a contract. That’s $ 120 for the first year, then $ 180 for each year after that. That comes to $ 480 for 3 years… compared to $ 1300…yikes! Plus, go to
and search for sensors… through Vector I paid $ 60 for each additional sensor (including programming, and installation)…not to mention the «trip charge»…those same sensors are $ 15-​$ 23 on amazon. Don’t bother trying to buy them and add to your system yourself, because Vector won’t give you the install code for the system for you to do it yourself… you’re stuck using them again. Hint — google your system, luckily there are plenty of disgruntled employees of these companies who have posted the installation codes (companies use the same ones for all of their installs). Additionally, buying a system like the Honeywell L5200 (amazing system by the way — very easy to program yourself) online, saves you from having to deal with the Vector salespeople. My salesperson was «Roger». Once he signed the contract, he was impossible to reach and could care less about problems that came up later. Big surprise.

It’s a trap. Once they get you in a contract, it’s next to impossible to get out without a lawyer. You contact them about cancelation and every person you talk to will interrupt you and not let you talk. They say they’ll see what they can do and then never call back. I’ve talked to at least 6 representatives who say the same thing. To get out of contract you have to submit it in writing exactly 90 days before the end of the contract. There is a clause in very small writing that says the contract auto renews without your signature every three years.
Good luck with your terrible decision.

Instead of leaving this company a scathing review, I will instead leave all the information needed to avoid them as this is the best use of my effort. First of all, we are in the year 2015. Everyone has wifi, a network connection, and smartphones and this type of ridiculously expensive subscription based service is un-​needed.
Cons:
* This system does not integrate with any modern protocols such as Apple’s Homekit or Samsung’s Smart home.
* Do not think that you are going out and buying a Wemo light switch or Phillip Smart bulb and have it work with this system. It will not.
* This system will not allow for upgrades to newer technology cameras or sensor without increasing monthly subscription.
* You pay additional money if you want to just add sensors which makes no sense. ($ 10/​monthly for 2 sensors)
* No way to customize anything yourself
* Panel technology is 4 years old which is ancient in terms of technology.
* Get ready to pay your local police department as well if you are in the DC area for additional «false alert» charges. Either subscribe with them or pay $ 100 when they are called.
My sentence, I mean contract is for 5 years. When I asked them if I could get out before the June 2017 deadline, they said sure, for a mere $ 915. This type of company is not sustainable in this day and age so don’t get tricked into this $ 2160 ($ 37×60 months) door chime like I did.
The exact hardware:
iSmartAlarm System: $ 249 with no monthly cost!
SmartThings:
7 Great phone based Security products (Article)

Much better security companies out there… The get you in with the «free stuff», but they make their money because it is a pain to switch even when your contract is up.
Suggestion, make sure you either negotiate a price (½) when your contract is up, or leave. There are better/​cheaper monitoring companies.
Also, don’t you hate those companies that make you find a fax machine to cancel. It’s like they are just tying to make it difficult on you. And the excuse that they need it to cancel a security service is bull… You can move it to a new location without faxing anything. And you can cancel any other required service… They are just punishing you for leaving.

I have had my system 8 months and its great!!! We have had a great experience all the way around!!! Cameras and home security! We can set our thermostats and lighting remotely and view our camera’s anytime. Our installation went smoothly and the installers were patient and helpful while we worked out the technology. Customer service has always been helpful! We would recommend vector!!!’ Hope this helps!

the system stinks! it starts spontaneously activating without provocation, the sensors constantly brake and we needed to call a tech multiple times only to discover that yet another sensor will break down in just a couple of weeks. last week-​end the system starting arming spontaneously again, and the alarm went off, I called the monitoring center 3 times, and they finally found a tech «on call» who was incredibly rude and condescending on the phone, told me «to calm down», but walked me through turning the alarms off. he informed me that I would need to pay «week-​end rates’ to have a tech come out in person to fix it, and I said no than you. within 45 seconds to a minute of him helping me to «silence the system», the alarm actually went off! I finally had the monitoring center disregard all alarms till the following monday and intend to have service terminated altogether. It might be a little discounted, but it is useless! stay away

I have to echo the reviews given by Kaden and Tara. Fortunately, I was never in a contractual relationship with Vector, but I used the system briefly while moving into our new home. As part of my home purchase agreement, the seller asked to assume the final 22 months of the Vector contract in exchange for some repairs because Vector was going to make the seller pay the final 22 months unless I assumed the contract. Fine. Whatever. Problem 1: when the tech came out to put the account in my name and demo the equipment, he didn’t know how to operate the system (I kid you not!!!). But, he said that if I upgraded to the new system, he did know how to use that, so I wasn’t pleased with that upsell attempt. Problem 2: Said tech and his coordinator, Ashley Burman, tried to manipulate me into a longer contract than required with the seller’s other Vector representative. Problem 3: The false alarms Tara referenced are a problem. While I was out of town, it went off for no reason with an empty house that we haven’t moved into yet. Thankfully, nothing (i.e. the appliances) was stolen. Problem 4: I gave Vector another opportunity to rectify their wrongs and set up an appointment with the same Ashley Burman on 8÷29÷12 at 3:00 pm. Before that, Vector had screwed up so badly up to that point and apologized to me that they weren’t going to force me into a contract at no penalty to the home’s seller. So, 3:00 pm rolls around… and then 3:30…and then 4:30… after placing several phone calls asking where the new tech was and if I could get in touch with Ashley Burman, she notified me that the appointment was cancelled. I didn’t give her authorization to cancel the appointment nor was I informed that the appointment was cancelled. That was it. I took them up on their offer to not do business with them because I believe in a business’ right to make less money. If Vector had competent people in all levels of their operation, they wouldn’t be losing as much money — this is all documented in email communications with Vector agents.
So, yeah. Don’t. Use. Vector.

When I bought my house it had a very elaborate Vector Security System that had just been tested days before at the closing. To get my account up Vector sent out a sales guy, who while «checking» my main system cut a connector to make it not work so I would be forced to buy a whole new system. You should have seem his face when I went to the panel opened it up and showed him exactly where he had just put a fresh cut on a component that I demonstrated just needed to be soldered back. Beware my guess is that this Probably common practice for them, especially if you are a female there like I was without a man to make you look like you know about this sort of thing.

This review is not a knock on Vector Security in Springfield. I have several complaints about Vector Security as a business. I regret the day I ever signed the 5-​year contract. I’ve had many issues with the system, which resulted in several service calls to my home. And of course tehy give you a 4-​hour window, which wastes your whole day. For the first year I had to deal with false alarms. The system would randomly go off during the night and while I was not home. If I was not reachable when Vector called, the police would come to the house. I was slapped with a few false alarm charges. Finally, Vector came and adjusted the sensitivity. The last 2 years I’ve been dealing with the system losing connection. It would beep continuously for hours. Again, technicians came to the house to reestablish connectivity. It worked for a day or a few hours, then it would disconnect again. I finally implored with Vector to release me from my contract. They refused. Now they are looking into boosting the signal with the device. I told them that I don’t think the problem resides with the device, because I cannot get a cell phone signal in the house either. But they are insistent on attempting to fix the system. I have called continuously to check the status and request a cancellation. They give me the run around every time. Now I have a alarm system that I cannot set, but still costs me $ 49.99/month. I won’t give up on this.