CALIFORNIA PROTECTION INC

Argumentative No service Non responsive

I have used California Protection since 1998; George (the original owner) was always responsive and professional. I kept the service at my house until late 2010, when I purchased a condo. It was a new complex - with the alarm equipment and wiring already in place. All I needed was George to put in the contacts and set up monitoring with his company, which he did. I signed the paperwork he put in front of me as I had for 12+ years (assuming it was the usual service call fee). There was never a mention of a contract. During the past three years, as President of the condo's homeowners' association, I brought George in to bid and then install security equipment. (Our management company I believe after that also hired him to work on other properties they manage.) When my fellow Board members began to get disillusioned with some of the charges, I checked out the details and defended George/California Protection. I recently moved to a new home. My husband and I had California Protection and another service provide proposals for installation of a new alarm system and also "smart home" electronics, which "Jeffifer," the office clerk, said the company now provides. When we got the proposal, it covered only the alarm services - and read like an equipment list; it was not clear to us what was being installed and where/what coverage we would have. I contacted Jennifer and requested more detail/clarification. Her response, "Everyone else understands our proposals." (Factually not true: I had to request many rounds of clarification when our HOA Board also wasn't clear on proposals we got.) I also said we didn't have any of the smart home features in the proposal we had discussed with George. We just didn't get them. Moreover, the quote from the other company was about 40% less expensive. And the other company was responsive not only in getting us a proposal in a day (we had to wait for California Protection) but also in answering our questons and being customer oriented. When I called George back to ask for information, he didn't return calls - and clearly his office clerk wasn't being helpful. My husband suggested - and I agreed - we go with the competitor. Once I informed California Protection I was canceling service on the condo I was leaving, I suddenly got hit with a $375 cancellation fee. I was told I had signed a five-year contract! (Five years for alarm monitoring is not standard; every other company I called asked for one year.) Ever since, I have gotten nasty, almost libelous/slanderous emotional outbursts via email from Jennifer - and George has not returned either my call or my husband's. I did not nor would I ever have knowingly signed a contract committing me to five years for alarm monitoring. I didn't know how long I would stay in that condo. However, after reviewing again the proposal we got for our new home from California Protection, I see that there were options offered: to buy the equipment outright and also have a 2-year monitoring contract - OR least the equipment and sign a 3-year contract after which we also would own the equipment (rather than pay for it up front). Nowhere was there a five-year contract. But perhaps the office clerks made a mistake in my original paperwork with the condo: I did not buy or lease any equipment for my condo alarm. It was pre-installed for every condo in the unit in our new building. Regardless, I have tried to reach George to get this settled. He has not responded. I am not willing to engage in an email debate with an office clerk who for whatever reason has decided to make this a personal crusade and vendetta for now apparent reason. It's just business: the competitor provided better service at the proposal stage and a better price. California Protection didn't measure up - and now seems to have nothing better to do than send nasty emails. I am not willing to pay a $375 cancellation fee just because this office clerk has a problem. And I am disappointed in George: after sending him significant business and being a loyal customer for 15 years, he apparently has no interest in parting on a good note. Shame on you California Protection. You used to do better.

I called three companies earlier in the week. This company was the slowest to respond, it took them two days to call back and then they couldn't confirm a date to come and bid on the project. On doing further internet research, I noticed that it is recommended that alarm companies be members of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA). I called them back to ask if they were members and they had never heard of this organization. They had no idea what the association was and they also have no web site, said their business was referral based. When I cancelled, he didn?t really seem to care. Makes me think it was a wise choice.

Very well.

Our experience has been nothing but good with them. The guy that owns it is wonderful. He is so friendly and very personable. Any time that the alarm goes off they call right away. I feel safe with them and I am pleased overall.