Brainerd MN Security and Fire | Midwest Security and Fire BLOG

Archive for the ‘Crime Prevention Tips’ Category

Now that summer is almost here, we are hearing a lot in the news about security system summer sales programs. These summer sales programs typically hire college students and send them to cities around the country to sell security systems door to door.

Warning that aggressive door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers often target senior citizens with the sale of costly and deceptively-marketed products by exploiting their fears about their personal or medical safety, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson today filed two lawsuits against separate Utah and Arizona companies that deceptively sold home security alarm and medical safety products to senior citizens in Minnesota.

“Senior citizens often fear for their personal safety at home or their medical safety in an emergency. Some companies exploit these safety concerns by using high-pressure sales tactics to deceptively peddle costly products over the phone or at people’s doorsteps,” said Attorney General Swanson. “It is not rude or impolite to close the door or hang up the phone on these high-pressure sales pitches,” she added.

The first lawsuit—filed against AMP Alarm, LLC of Utah—alleges that the company deceptively sold home security alarms and related long-term alarm monitoring agreements to Minnesota residents that cost up to $2,300. AMP makes unsolicited door-to-door “cold calls” on Minnesota homeowners, many of them elderly and on fixed incomes, in an attempt to sell security alarms and long-term agreements that cost up to $48 per month and last up to five years.

There have been consumer warnings around the country about alarm companies that use traveling salespeople to make unsolicited door-to-door sales calls that deceptively lock people into long-term contracts.

Midwest Security & Fire and our primary competitor in the area do not sell door to door and in most cases do not tele-market our products or services. Midwest Security & Fire, Inc.  is licensed, bonded, and insured to sell, install, and maintain security systems. Minnesota requires a license to sell, and install security systems. Our family has been in the security business for over 32 years and is well respected in the community and with our local law enforcement. We encourage our customers to check references and the Better Business Bureau  ( http://minnesota.bbb.org) when purchasing a security system or any home services. In the instances of a company listed above, an educated consumer would have found over 1600 complaints filed with the Minnesota Better Business Bureau.