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American Burglary & Fire Inc

About us

ABF Security is a local, family owned and operated security company headquartered in Fenton, MO. We are known for our quality products, knowledgeable technicians and experienced staff. Since 1978, our certified UL Listed Emergency Response Center’s goal has been to provide you with a peace of mind by protecting your family, home and/or business.

Business highlights

Emergency services offered
47 years of experience

Services we offer

Access Control Systems, Camera Surveillance Systems, Central Vacuum, Energy Management, High Definition TV Wiring, Home Automation, Home Networking, Home Theater, Installation & Servicing Of Residential & Commercial Security & Fire Alarm Systems. Certified UL Monitoring Center, Intercom Systems, Lighting Control & Medical Pendants., Telephone & TV Wiring

Amenities

Emergency Services

Yes

Free Estimates

Yes

Accepted Payment Methods

  • CreditCard
Reviews
3.932 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
63%
4
9%
3
0%
2
16%
1
13%
Showing 1-25 of 32 reviews
Bob S.
Dec 2020
2.0
Problematic relationship.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"We are sorry to see the negative review from [Member Name Removed] was going to upgrade his alarm system with us but did not want to sign our agreement for the installation and monitoring of the security system. We offered to let him talk to our CFO, manager or one of the owners to discuss but he declined and ultimately decided to go with another security company. We are sorry that we were not able to continue protecting Mr. [Member Name Removed]'s home but appreciate his past business and wish him well in the future."

Gregory W.
Aug 2020
1.0
$2,000
Possibly the worst business that I've encountered. I've been a customer for approximately 12 years. I had a new system installed in a new home 4 years ago. Since then, I've regularly had false alarms. It's gotten to the point where their call center assumes that they are false alarms instead of dispatching police or the fire department. Most recently, I've had 7 false fire alarms in 6 days. 3 of those alarms were after a technician came to repair the 4 year old system. Almost all of the 4 year old system has been replaced since it was installed. After the most recent 3 false alarms a technician recommended that I remove one of the fire alarms and place it in my garage. When that continued to go off and wake my family and neighbors, I destroyed it. Now, the company is trying to charge me for the two day old smoke alarm and refusing to dispatch another technician for 3 days. I'm requesting that the owners refund the installation cost.

Bartolomeo C.
Aug 2018
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
First off, I am shocked to see some of the bad reviews on here regarding this company as I personally have been happy with their service ever since my equipment was installed in March 2003. Outside of some minor issues, and even with the expansion when I completed my remodeling of our lower level (twice), they have always been very responsive and even at times, was able to assist me over the phone on getting a simple malfunction corrected, the last one a few months ago. I have a strong suspicion that the only reviews that this company has gotten is because not everyone is perfect, and the few bad eggs that cracked are here - and the others that have been successful, are not. I have given out this company's name to a number of my clients (I am in the mortgage industry) and to all my family members, and not one time did I ever hear a bad report come about in regards to ABF. All I can say is that I am in the process of moving, and there is no one I would turn to than these folks
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member Name Removed], Thank you for the kind review. We truly appreciate the trust you have placed in us to not only protect your family and home but also to refer your clients to ABF. Our number one goal is customer satisfaction. If you would like us to reach out regarding your new home, we'd be happy to do so, otherwise, we will wait to hear from you. We wish you the best of luck with your move and look forward to continue serving you. -ABF Customer Care Team"

Jamie B.
Nov 2017
1.0
Shady business. We bought a house and the previous homeowners asked us to take over their service with ABF. We had multiple customer service issues, and there were several times when the alarm went off and they never checked in with us. When we called to cancel service after our latest frustration (a broken motion sensor that would beep loudly in the middle of the night and wake us up), they wanted to charge us a large fee to fix it. When I pursued cancellation, they told us that they never transferred service, but they had initiated a new 5-year agreement with us. We never would have agreed to that with such an outdated system. We had to pay a hefty amount to get out of the contract, but at least we never have to deal with them again.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"We would like to apologize if this customer felt as though she had a poor experience with us. [Member Name Removed] signed an agreement with us on 4/12/16. An ABF technician was at the residence on 4/28/16 to complete a System Tune Up and program the system into our monitoring center. The system and all of the devices were tested and reported to our monitoring center without any issues. There was no job history that any service calls were ever made or requested since the initial technician was at the home. Motion sensors do not beep, so we are not sure what was causing the beeping in the home. Burglary signals were received from their home on multiple occasions and at each occurrence, our signal history had shown that all signals received were cancelled within 4 seconds or less and our dispatchers had spoken with either [Member Name Removed] or her significant other each time to verify the accidental trip of the alarm. We did release this customer from her 5 year agreement and only required her to fulfill 2 years. We wish her well as we part ways."

Karinn G.
Nov 2017
2.0
I had to contact BBB and Atty General to get out of contract due to non-performance and bad customer service. Company changed my security code without telling me, failed to wire for one smoke detector (even after 4 wks patiently waiting and asking numerous times, they blew me off), and failed to call in rough-in inspection. When I asked to get out of contract so I could hire another company, they drug their feet until they got contacted by BBB and Atty Gen. They made lots of excuses but finally agreed to terminate my agreement. This company does not care too much about the customer.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"We would first like to say that ABF's number one concern is the safety and satisfaction of our customers. Our goal is to provide superior customer service each and every day. With that being said, Ms. [Member Name Removed] did sign an agreement with us in May of 2017 and our scope of work was to install an alarm system, six smoke detectors and two outdoor cameras. At the time, her home was under an extensive remodel so our job was to be done in two phases. At the initial installation appointment, we ran wire for the smoke detectors, keypads, siren and two cameras. After our first appointment, we received a call that one of our wires had been cut. Unbeknownst to ABF, there were also wires that were removed due to the construction. The expectation for the pre-wire inspection is that the contractor will notify ABF when they are ready for it to be called in. The reason for this method is that the inspector will typically inspect low-voltage and the electrician's pre-wire at the same time. We did not get this notification; therefore, we were unaware that the contractor was ready for us to do so. The complaint regarding the changed keypad code was due to a temporary alarm which we installed at no cost as a courtesy while the home was under construction. On August 1, the temporary system failed due to being unplugged by others. On August 3, our service technician replaced the temporary system, however, the homeowner was out of town when we installed the new system and since we do not have access to customer keypad codes, the technician had to use a generic code. The homeowner was given the code upon her return from vacation. In conclusion, we removed our previously installed equipment and terminated our contract as per the customer's request. We wish Ms. [Member Name Removed] well. Sincerely, ABF's Customer Care Team"

Laura W.
Oct 2017
2.0
They lure you in with one quote / price and it's a totally different story once the work is complete, They don't show you a final bill till the work has been complete, even if you would inquire for one. Good luck getting a detailed bill. Oh wait, you'll get one, once they have messed with the numbers. (In their favor) They leave you with a system that only works half of the time. *Best of luck to you, if you choose this company*
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member Name Removed] - we apologize that you feel this way. The initial contract you signed with us was dated 11/15/2016. Per our standard practice with new construction, we performed an electrical walkthrough with you at the home prior to us starting any work. Per email exchanges between you and your New Construction Sales Representative, you approved changes and charges beyond the original scope of work. We would be happy to provide you with copies in case you may have lost them in your inbox. We in no way adjust numbers beyond your approval. Our Director of Builder Relations had also offered several times for you to come into our office to explain the pricing break-down and make things easier to understand which you've declined. Regarding the comment about your working system, please know that you do have a warranty for the first year covering parts and labor. We would be happy to schedule a service call if you feel your system is not working properly. Sincerely, ABF's Customer Care Team"

Joshua R.
May 2017
2.0
$125
I was a monitoring customer for 11 years. Decided to go to another vendor that offered me the same service at half the price. I needed the dealer code so that the new company could setup their monitoring service. Originally they were unresponsive to my requests and eventually scheduled a service call to reset the code. They charged me $125 to reset the code which seemed excessive (however was stated in the fine print in my original contract) - especially since it could be done remotely and only take a few minutes. What really bothered me was they didn't just reset the code but, according to my new vendor, spent a lot of time purposefully messing up the configuration in hopes that the new vendor would be unsuccessful in their setup (or require a lot of work to get working properly). Seems sorta slimy to me - especially after 11 years of service!
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member Name Removed] - First, we'd like to thank you for your past eleven years of business. I understand that our Service Department was able to provide you with the dealer code and default your panel. ABF does not do anything with the programming to affect another company's ability to reprogram the system other than simply return it back to the manufacturer's settings. Unfortunately, it sounds like your new vendor may have been unfamiliar with your system and was not sure how to program the equipment. We wish you the best of luck with your new company and apologize for any inconveniences you may have experienced. Sincerely, ABF's Customer Care Team"

Nikki M.
Jan 2017
1.0
$2,000
I unexpectedly had to move to take care of my father who had a stroke. This company would not transfer my service to another state and would not let me out of a 5 year contract after only 2 months of monitoring. They required me to pay the full amount for the 5 years and had no sympathy what so ever about my situation. PLEASE pick an alarm company who does not make you sign a long term contract! Make sure you pick a company which has an out clause so if you're unhappy with the service or you move, you have a way out! People move and things happen, you never know what tomorrow could bring so go with a good company who will respect you as a customer.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member Name Removed] - I am sorry to hear about your father and hope that he is well. Unfortunately, we are a local company and do not work outside of St. Louis and surrounding area, which is why we were unable to transfer your service out of state. Our agreements meet industry standards and we are always happy to adjust terms prior to the final signing as we understand long term commitments are not right for everyone. We will also terminate the agreement should the new homeowners sign up for our service and refund any money paid. Sincerely, ABF's Customer Care Team"

Livingstone S.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$400
.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member Name Removed] - Thank you for the positive review! We appreciate your continued business and if there is ever anything we can help you with, please don't hesitate to reach out. Sincerely, ABF's Customer Care Team"

Jessica P.
Apr 2015
2.0
$8,000
We have spend more than a month emailing Angie Cassidy and Jim Gompers from ABF and they are not responding to emails. They are still holding our downpayment of $3,500 without any indication that they will do work for us or return our money.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"After speaking with management, I discovered that this issue has been resolved. If you need to contact us for any reason, please feel free to email us at [email protected]. We wish you and your family well! Sincerely, ABF Security"

Roy I.
Jan 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They were great. They acted in a very professional manner. They got here when they said they were going to. They did everything they said they were going to. Their price was very competitive. We've been very pleased.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"We appreciate your kind words and will strive to continue providing you with superior service for years to come. If there is anything you need from us, please don't hesitate to call. Thank you. We appreciate your business"

VINCENT M.
Jul 2014
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
After I sumbitted my review on board, I received a call from the service dept. manager with ABF. Mark said he could come out the very next day to look into the problem I was encountering, and he might know exactly what caused.  The very next day he came out and solved the problem on the same day.

Now the system is working and quiet at night.  I will continue to use ABF service as the pricing is quite reasonable.

Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed] - I am happy to hear your system is working to your satisfaction. If there is ever anything else we can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact us at 636-349-1090 or via email at [email protected]. Thanks, Vincent. We appreciate your business. Jenna Polizzi-Baker Sales Administrator 636-600-4784"

Kathleen R.
Feb 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$700
They were excellent!
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed]- Thank you for the review! We are glad you are happy with the installation of your new security system. We appreciate your business. If there is ever anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards, Jenna Baker Sales Administrator 636-349-1090"

Mark B.
Feb 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
I now can add features in the future....Pleasure to work with.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed]- Thank you for taking the time to give us a review on Angie's List! We are happy to have you as an ABF customer and appreciate your business. If there is anything we can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us. Kind regards, Jenna Baker Sales Administrator"

Jen D.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$210
We are looking for alarm that has existing system, so, they came out and hooked that all up and got about the money. It took place about a month ago. There was price and one of the existing system was already there like a small upgrade. They had to put in a wireless because they do not have a home phone on the line, so, they did that. The total price was something like $210 only for the battery. There were no problems with them at all. They were great and came out and spent a lot of time with us. There was one person to know, the technician, who basically went over, who walked around, showed the different things what we needed like wireless connection, and that type of thing she spent an hour and a half or longer which was great. Then, they had the technician come out, did that for 8 hours, nothing but the system. He was nice, timely, and the guy came out today. It was an hour and a half from them because of our system and they were great to their client and super nice guy. I will give them an A all the way through.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [Member name removed] - We are so pleased that you are happy with the service you have received. We appreciate your kind words and will strive to continue providing you with superior service for years to come. If there is anything you need from us, please don't hesitate to call. Thank you. We appreciate your business, [Member name removed]. Jenna Baker Sales Administrator ABF Security, Inc."

Cindy W.
Jul 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$600
They did a very nice job. Everything was explained in detail, installed correctly and the system is operating very well. Dave is very helpful and personable. He even helped me move some items that were in the way of the motion detector. I am very pleased with this company.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed] - I am so glad everything ran smoothly and you were happy with the installation. If there is anything else we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact either Dave or anyone else in our office and we will be able to help you out. Thanks, again Cindy. We appreciate your business. Jenna Baker Sales Administrator ABF Security, Inc."

Dennis O.
May 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$20
ABF has provided excellent service to us for nine years.  They system was already in the house when we purchased it.  However, we chose ABF for monthly monitoring.  We receive a periodic newlsetter with helpful informaiton and they have always promptly responded to our updates and questions during the years.  We are currently considering upgrading our system and have been working with ABF about our options and price.  We anticipate contuing with them and, if so, we'll update our review regarding that new upgrade and installation.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed]- Nine years is a long time, we truly appreciate your business and past patronage. It is also nice to hear that our newsletter has helpful information for you. I hope we can help you upgrade your system and continue to earn your business for the next nine years and many more. If you need anything from us in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Jenna Polizzi Sales Administrator"

Mark H.
Mar 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$700
I like the fact that they came to my house.  I talked with them about what I was looking for and what I wanted them to do.  They were just very knowledgeable.  We talked for an hour, and they came up with a plan, price and everything.  I chose what I thought I could afford.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi [member name removed]- I am happy we were able to help you with your security needs. If there is anything you need from us, please do not hesitate to call. Thanks, [member name removed]. We truly appreciate your business. Jenna Polizzi Sales Administrator"

Alicia S.
Sep 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They are very friendly and very customer oriented.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi Member- We appreciate your business and the kind words. Our customers are our number one concern. Please feel free to contact us at any time. Have a wonderful day!"

EDWARD V.
Aug 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$60
I have been with them for two years.  They are fine and are very responsive.  I haven’t had any issues with the system.  When I first moved in I did have an issue but they were very responsive and got it fixed and then it is pretty well maintained.  They have done a good job and the alarm system seems to work fine.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Thank you for the kind words. We appreciate your business. If there is ever anything you need from us, please don't hesitate to call. Have a great day!"

Janet T.
Jul 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
It was great. I haven't had any problems with them.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Member- I'm glad to hear you are happy with our services. We appreciate your business."

ARLENE T.
Jun 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
They have been my service provider for nearly 20 years and have always been responsive, reasonable, timely, courteous, and friendly.I have every reason to continue using them and have recommended them to others often.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi Member - Thank you for your continued loyalty, please know it does not go unnoticed. Referrals are the greatest compliment we can receive. Please feel free to contact us at any time. Thanks again!"

JANE C.
Feb 2012
1.0
$75
see above

LaTosha B.
Dec 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$33
I moved into a new home and had ABF come out and start my service the young lady Michelle was very nice.  She had to dispatch service to fix a couple of key issues, unfortunately it took 3 visits to get all of the kinks worked out but every individual was nice and professional.  I have set my alarm off 4 times and the call center staff as been great, even able to show me a quick temporary fix to one of the issues that I was having.  I LIKE ABF A LOT BETTER THAN ADT (ADT IS A RIP OFF)!
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Hi Member - Thank you very much for the kind words. We truly appreciate your business."

Monique H.
Sep 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$20
ABF Security Systems is one of the most affordable companies to monitor your house alarm and the dispatchers and technical support department are very helpful and very friendly.
The follow-up on alarm is good with easy communication with dispatchers and local emergency authorities.
Response from American Burglary & Fire Inc
"Member - I am glad to hear you are happy with our service. We value your business."
Showing 1-25 of 32

Licensing

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FAQ

American Burglary & Fire Inc is currently rated 3.9 overall out of 5.

American Burglary & Fire Inc accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard

Yes, American Burglary & Fire Inc offers free project estimates.

No, American Burglary & Fire Inc does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, American Burglary & Fire Inc does not offer a senior discount.

Yes, American Burglary & Fire Inc offers emergency services.

No, American Burglary & Fire Inc does not offer warranties.