odd time signatures - Latest Comments in Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Mark — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:13:21 -0000

That's nice that a customer can buy and install his/her own equipment, but what about when the motion detector goes out or the key fobs and or door contacts need to be replaced? that's when the lifetime service warrantee comes into play. There are companies like Protect America for instance who send you your equipment, you install it, they monitor it and when it malfunctions they will send you parts and walk your through servicing your equipment over the phone.

I say to hell with that, why not get a trained technician to come out and service and replace parts at no charge?

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Scott — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:08:53 -0000

Tim in AZ,

Platinum security is a spin off of regional reps. from APX security that took off and started their own company. They did really well last season. Very well from what I heard. They would probably hire anyone with any security or summer sales experience. So the claim that they have no former FLS employees could or couldn't be true you never know.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Scott — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:58:06 -0000

I have thought about starting a company much like a security company because I have worked with companies in the industry. If you would like to know how it all works. This is how they make their money.

1. They sell a contract to you for lets say 40 dollars a month and they give you the equipment (more like rent it to you, check your contract if you cancel before the end of the contract) for free.

2. After selling you the contract their initial cost of equipment is lets say 300-500 dollars depending on their manufacturers or equipment distributors.. ex) Honeywell, GE... This is their upfront cost.

3. Over the price of the contract they will make 300-500 dollars minus the total amount you pay at the end of the 36-60 month contract.

4. To make these contracts more liquid or get money for them quickly they will sell these contracts to monitoring station or companies. You are not being monitored by Firstline or hardly any other security company. They sell either out right sell these contracts to monitoring stations (ex) Monitronics, SAI etc... ) or they will rent out some of these monitoring stations per customer which is much cheaper than the rate of 40 dollars a month it is more like 2.25-5 dollars per customer. So if the security company can in fact front the initial cost they will keep you "in house" and rent you out sort of speak.

5. They will sell some contracts for the full contract value to the monitoring stations because statistically if you have a security system you will stay longer than the 36-60 month contract thus they start making money on you after the length of your contract. If you are kept in house the security company will start making money on you about a year and a half into the contract length because they will have covered their equipment costs. But that is not taking into account paying a sales rep and an installer. So they will start to make money at the end of the contract length and they have statistic proof that you as a customer will stay longer than the contract length.

6. The problem with selling or renting you to a monitoring station is that if they don't get the information correct your system could go off and then if no one calls you know you are not being monitored and the police are not on their way. A small bit of advice to anyone is to make the alarm go off and see if someone calls if someone does then you are in good shape... If not then you are not being monitored. Good luck in this rat race. It is an industry of cut throat sales and marketing.... Good luck consumer and do your homework. So instead of doing the security industry I decided to go into network marketing http://oneyearplan.net/payitforward/
This is better information and will protect you far greater than a security system in the world of a falling economies etc...

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Former employee — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:01:17 -0000

Karoli,

You have the best collection of info on Firstline on the entire web. I was an employee last summer, but I did my best to be honest and up front with my customers; I guess thats why I wasn't a super star with 200 accounts. I feel like I too was lied to looking back on it all.
So as far as everything you've put on here, about the upper management and *some* of the employees you are spot on.

Im concerned now about us getting out Tax info back. I received my W2 from my current employer last weekend but still haven't gotten anything from Firstline. When my manager (who I am still friends with and is one of the good FLS employees) told me that they went under I first felt bad but if it is true that Trevor and Wright pocketed millions each then I hope they get busted. So my question to any Firstline former higher ups (Jake Dahl if you read this) do you know when we are supposed to receive our Tax info from last summer?

Anyways keep the conversation going about these type of companies and the real risks vs reward that is involved. Firstline is not the first to fail at it and there are plenty of others out there.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Francine — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:46:38 -0000

Well hopefully we find justice to this matter and stop it so other innocent people aren't taken to the cleaners. What a sad dilemma...

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Karoli — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:37:04 -0000

Hi Francine,

I agree, no argument. But keep in mind, they wrote those back in late August, when there was no indication that the company was going bankrupt. I doubt there would be too many defending it at this point, though I have had a few on an earlier post of mine.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Francine — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:30:22 -0000

Yes, I do feel for the employees that got sucked into the process, but I don't feel for those that are on this website that say they work for them and stick up for the company knowing that innocent people are being taking advantage of. One of the people on here were saying, "oh well to the customers, they should of read the contract". That's crap! So, no I have no symphathy for those type of loosers! It has nothing to do with the contract, it's about the sellers that went door to door and told lies just to meet their quota.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Karoli — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:12:40 -0000

GuyHass:

At the time I wrote this post, there were only two posts on the Internet that were negative. I couldn't find any articles in the mainstream press or anything that came up on a Google search. That's one of the reasons I wrote it...to warn off other kids who might have been sucked in by the scam.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Karoli — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:10:12 -0000

Francine,

There was a website, but it appears to have been taken down. It was there a week ago, so I'm guessing it was pulled down as part of their bankruptcy proceedings.

The folks who worked for Firstline thought they were selling a good product. I think blaming them really gives a pass to the folks at the top who not only deceived customers, but also employees.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Francine — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:41:58 -0000

If there is such a show called "The prodigy" then where is the website? My husband and I checked and there is nothing to be found...hmm...kind of funny, huh? Unfortunately, my husband and I were part of the scam. We did sign up for the alarm system and we are doing our best to cancel it. Apparently, if they filed bankruptcy, then that should void the contract. I hope that the two that started this whole scam get what is coming to them really hard! And those on here that work for those scum bags, I hope you rot and feel the pain that others felt when they were lied to. You only wish you were sitting in Hawaii making thousands! I can only assume they are paying you to say that as well. Funny how money can make a person do anything. For those that got hurt by this, seach online and you will find hundreds of articles about this company and what is happening with their "so-called" company.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Tim in AZ — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:15:19 -0000

What does anyone know about the company called Platinum Security, also based out of Orem, UT? I have been told by a recruiter that they are not affiliated with the old Firstline company and none of the Firstline people are running or working for Platinum Security.
thx

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

guyhaas — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:07:46 -0000

anon -

so i'm supposed to feel sorry for the employees that knew that the whole firstline security business was a pyramid scheme, a sham, but continued to be part of it? sorry, no sympathy here! i agree with you 100% that the duo, the founders that dreamed up this scheme should get their fair dues. they certainly are scum! but it sounds like as if all of their cohorts were fine with ripping of old retired folks all over the country as long as they received a paycheck. all anyone working for firstline security had to do was google for "firstline security" and up would come all of the horrible examples of what was being done. any employee could have talked with anyone answering the 866-434-7785 number and i'm sure you would have heard horror stories. i had two encounters with employees that answered the phone. on my second call, for the first time in my life, i swore at the person. i was that upset. i immediately apologized, but that's how bad it got! everyone that took a paycheck from firstline security that knew the pain and suffering that was being inflicted on the innocent public by the company's tactics - i hope you all learned a lesson; sorry that it had to such a hard one... but if you only knew the mental anguish i went through... sorry, no sympathy here...

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Anon — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:19:12 -0000

I worked for Firstline and it was a HUGE BUNCH OF SHIT on a day to day basis at the end. The part the pisses me off the most is that they knew full well that they were not going to be able to make payroll that was due to employees on Jan. 25 for the previous two weeks. While knowing this they continued on with "business as usual" for the week of the 25th and then sent everyone home on Friday the 25th saying that there were problems and while they weren't able to make payroll that day that they were working on things and that the employees would have their money within the next few days. Then roughly 2 hours after sending everyone home Trevor Keyes sent an email stating that everyone was laid off (save for a few for the "rebuilding" team), that Firstline had filed for bankruptcy, and that it would probably take a few weeks before payroll would be met. So, they were able to swindle 3 full weeks of work from their employees for FREE! Trevor and Wright should be proud of themselves for the fact that they can do such shady, horrible things to their "valued" employees and sleep like babies at night. There were problems for several months on barely making payroll and yet they still went on the cruise and Hawaii trips, drove their Hummers, and had their snowmobiles and other toys. Trevor and Wright are slime bags and deserve all the negative press they can get!!!! They didn't give a shit about the people who worked for them and depended on the checks we didn't get. I know several people that weren't able to make rent/mortgage payments, car payments, etc... due to not getting paid. Screw Firstline and their deceptive marketing and business practices!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

karoli — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:23:34 -0000

Hi Chuck,

I'm sad for the folks who won't receive the payments they expect to receive on 2/1 -- the final 'backend' pay. And it's not even payroll, so won't have priority like the others at the service center, because they were all 'independent contractors'.

Grrr.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Chuck — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:59:33 -0000

Have you all heard these guys are now going under??
They have been operating in the red since inception and owners have literally squandered all borrowed funds /revenues. They went from going on cruises every month and "the fastest growing home security co in the galaxy" to upside down and under water. CLASSIC!!!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

karoli — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:45:46 -0000

Jeremy,

You're the second person to say that Firstline has gone out of business, but I can't find anything in the news, business or legal areas that confirm that. Do you have a supporting link or is this rumor, especially given that you're working for a competitor.

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Jeremy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:34:31 -0000

I really feel sorry for all of those Firstline reps who were screwed. It's seriously the same story every year. After hearing about Firstline going out of business this week, I was curious to check out their website. The recruiting dvd is hilarious: it's a bunch of tools talking about how successful Firstline is. Firstline?? You have to be kidding me. If you want to have a good summer, go with a company that actually has some good leadership and training, like APX or "mini APX" (Platinum).

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Eric — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:50:33 -0000

My experience with Firstline security was very very disappointing. The high pressure, 5 hour, door to door sales pitch, turned out to be a bounch lies and half truths. The installation of the security system "absolutely had to be done the same day", according to the sales person, despite the fact it was almost 11pm, was shoddy. I felt like they bulled there way into my house with there snake oil salesman routine and tried to sell me garbage, under the disguise of "free". Needless to say, I canceled the contract the minute they left my house. Thinking they would come back an uninstall the systems. Well, after almost 4 days they removed their system leaving holes in my wall, but then they continued to debt my credit card for the initiation fee of $33 a month for the next 3 months.Every month I discovered the debt, I called and they reimburse me, and assured me account had been closed, only to have this situation play itself out the next month.Finally when I think its over, we get an automated phone call 4 or 5 times a week asking us to call them about our supposed "closed account". Then when I call, I'm told "oh, so sorry we forgot to take you off our attempt to contact list"... great, it's a perfect ending to my Firstline nightmare.

This company is a sham!!!

Bottom line: Firstline Security = first rate ripoff

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

guyhaas — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:57:10 -0000

I agree that anyone that is considering going with Firstline better be 100% convinced that this is what you want to do. It is impossible to get away from them once they have you. I cancelled (you have three days to change your mind). My fiasco started like Wendy's at 8:00pm last September 18th. I tried to get questions answered through their (866) number and it was just a joke. I do not think they have any reasonable form of bussiness systems. Even though I cancelled (and removed their system) immediately, I was billed in October and November. The good thing I did was to file claims with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and Better Business Bureau. If I hadn't, I doubt I'd have ever gotten my money back. I thought the whole ordeal was over a month ago, but guess what??? I got a paper bill in the mail over the Christmas holidays for another month of non-existant services... I think this company deserves investigation, say by 60-Minutes or the likes... I'm not sure how much exists other than an aggressive college-student salesforce! I'd love to see the execs of this company get the the Ken Lay/Enron, Bernie Ebbers/Worldcom, treatment!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Wendy — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:55:26 -0000

I have to say that with the "free" equipment and cellular service (doesn't demand a land line)we thought that the $44.99 we are paying monthly seemed like a reasonable investment for our safety. What was crazy was the actual installation process. We were sold and installed on the same evening around 8pm, and it took two young techs coming from two seperate sides of town to get it done. The best part was having to fill the holes in the wall near my front entrance due to them "throwing" it up on the wall no where near where it was practical, and after we had identified where and how we wanted it placed (you know even with the light switch - pleasing to the eye). My husband also enjoyed going to his truck to pull the correct tools out for them to put the small holes in the sidewall of our doors for the connectors as to not have our doors damaged. Basically, we "helped" install our system after 8pm at night!

Now, let's talk about billing.... our contract says "bill monthly" but we get billed when
SAI (their billing agent) gets around to it, and most often it's done incorrectly. In the first six months of service we have been over-charged by more than $209.00, and customer service is a joke! On three seperate occasions I have sat on hold for a cumlative total of an hour or more, and still no resolution. Think you have the right to cancel if they are screwing up? Think again, if one more of those self righteous "reps" tells me to "read my contract" I'm going to go section 8 on them! Ladies and gentlemen, please do read the contract (front and back) it's two legal size sheets in very small print, and you pretty much waive your legal rights. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO INSTALL ON THE FIRST VISIT. Let them leave the paperwork so you have time to really read it, no matter which alarm company it is. As for us, two and half more years in our "contract", and you best believe I'm sending the 60 day cancellation notice by certified mail - and most likely about six months in advance so there is no mis-understanding of our intent to stop service!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:32:51 -0000

um..... the reality show is very real, i'm in hawaii right now, and the show ends today, in fact i'm now just finishing my business plan, and the whole only make 20,000 thing, yeah i made 110,000 this year and it was my first year, i was the number one first year rep, and yeah when i started i knew nothing, but i never lied to anyone, lying in my eyes is the same as stealing, and you go to hell for that!!!! but yeah, trust me the show is very real, and i've had to do some really hard things to make it this far, and its not our fault you suck at life and they didnt pick you, sorry....

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:23:51 -0000

This is in response to sean.....you are so 100% entirely correct....i felt like the biggest loser telling all my friends that they are making 20K for the summer, then the avg person pry sold around 20......well pry 45 but only bout 40% of all your accounts actually will be good and get installed....we were also mislead about incentives and the backend....instead of the monster 3-5K i expected, it was a measly NEGATIVE BALANCE, saying i owed them money....so 65+ hours a week, 10-11 hours a day, 6 days a week, everyday, all summer, i basically paid to work in a Shady Sales Boot Camp...and when i got recruited all i heard about was "THE PRODIGY" and how we were gonna have all these camera people following us around and we were on a reality tv show....that was even cool to have lucy dozey as the spokesperson...she pry didnt even know it was fake...but with a few weeks left int he summer we find out there was never a tv show, and it was all just a big marketing scheme....i added another point to firstlines totals....i love even more how when someone calls into cancel because of how crappy the response to the system is, and some 16yr old at corporate saves an account and charges me $75 still....coming from utah, the land of mormons, i figured i would be dealing with a corporate office of moral and liberal standards, and instead we are dealing with a bunch of hypocritical, back stabbing, enron wannabes.....congratulations wright thurston, you have mislead, misguided, and manipulated 1000's of kids across the country...your god would be very proud!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

anonymous — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:57:56 -0000

Jus tso you know i found out today that firstline was removed from the Better Business Bureau...i worked for them and was completely mislead...i heard some of last years reps didnt even get their 2nd backend. we were trained to mislead people, however i took a huge pay cut and didnt sign up pry 25+ extra customers because i couldnt lie to them and told them straigh tup if they cancelled they had to pay the remaining months and whatever else they wanted....the pay and things they told us were absolutely rediculous....nothing was true, and everything was basically a complete scam and waste of time...im sorry for any homeowners that have been mislead and screwed over

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

Debbie — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:21:31 -0000

I was stupid enough to sign up with First Line Security. This company is the most incompetent company with which we have dealt and being a CSI, there have been many company. This is the absolute worst - it is more of a scam than a company. To explain further...we signed up on a "door to door" advertising campaign for a two year contract. First they breached the contract by providing a service that never worked. I called and called and the company called back and would continually try to update a non-working system. Then this company sent someone out to service my alarm system when I was not home, which could not be repaired. Next, when I called to cancel because of inoperative system and the fact that we were moving. Now, to this point, I have paid the service from my account on an automatic pay. Before we moved, I called First Line Security and requested cancellation of service. The individual representing the company, which took forever to set on hold to reach a person, told me that my contract was now a three year contract and I had until June of next year to pay for before I could cancel it. The salesman sold us a two year contract but turned in a three year contract...breached contract as far a working service...now, after I called the cancellation department and spoke with a Marissa or Marie - something like that, I was quoted a sum to pay because we were moving and cancelling service (which I was reminded that I had to pay to the end of the service to cancel). I paid the $168.00 (quoted this because I was paying so far in advance that I received a discount)to FirstLine Security and was told that the bill was paid in full and the account cancelled. Done with story right? WRONG... First Line Security begins to call me at work claiming I was behind in payments and they applied the $168.00 to past due payments and refuse to cancel, demanding payments. The audacity!!! These individuals call me at work and have to transfer me three times because "no one can help me" and all the while I am demanding to speak to a manager who is competent enough to handle this situation and am told that managers do not talk to clients that customers are put on a two day waiting list - IF they call.

Thank you guyhass for the information you listed as I will be taking action. I am currently waiting for my attorney to call regarding this. He has suggested suing First Line Security for Breach of Contract and falsifications. I will be speaking to him in length regarding this.

My son is a highly demanded web page designer and will be creating a webpage exposing the company and its fraudlent business actions with customers.

Also, my father and brother are both in the Sheriff's and Highway Patrol Departments and are spreading the word in Southern California about the fraudulent behavior and misrepresentation of First Line Security. This will also spread to city council members, so First Line will not be having much business here soon with the negative reputation and nagative publicity the company has projected.

Warning to others!!~!!! Heed this warning - First Line Security based out of Provo, Utah is a FRAUDULENT COMPANY! STAY AWAY!!!!!

Re: Firstline Security Cost Comparison

guyhaas — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:05:52 -0000

I got scammed by Firstline too. The number of lies I was told during the sale was incredible. I was first led to believe the sales team was from GE (a company that I do have respect for), they were there to replace my existing security system. I was told my existing system was vulnerable (because it used a landline) and the new system fixed this by going wireless. I was told that it was free, because of my location and all they wanted to do was put a sign up. When the topic of the monthly fee came up, I told the salesrep "so that's how you make the money." The lies continued. "No, the monthly charge just covers the costs that they incur." I could go on and on...

I didn't figure out that they had no official affiliation with GE until my existing system had been disabled and the new system was being installed. And... Guess what? They had no association with my existing security service either. As the installation was proceeding (and I hadn't even signed the contract yet) I turned on my computer and entered a Google query and... the first link I was presented was from RipoffReport. As the installation proceeded, I now knew this was a scam. I've posted my full experience on the RipoffReport website if you want more details.

But, everyone that is sharing bad experiences here needs to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.utah.bbb.org/). Also, find out who in your home state can help. In California, go to the Department of Consummer Affairs (http://dca.ca.gov/) and file a complaint.

I'm sure everyone posting here knows how unresponsive they are to all calls you make to them. As it stands right now, even though I wrote an e-mail to the company the day after the install, demanding to settle the misunderstandings or come and get the system, they still have gone ahead and are debiting my account. I never got to management within the cancellation period. The damn debacle even cost me an additional $200 to get my original system fixed/reinstalled!

This company is nothing but a shell that is taking advantage of everyone! Please, please, file formal complaints against them to save your neighbors the painful experience we've all been through.

And, previous "Advertising Directors" that have had less than stellar experiences, please continue blogging - especially where you go to school. The ramp-up for new hiring for next year is coming. Save others from what you were put through, or at least open their eyes to what they could be in for.

guy