Protection Plus

I called Protection Plus based on the positive reviews on HomeStars to do a switch over from ADT after giving them 2 chances to match an offer a friend had received last year to upgrade the hardware that was about 10 years old so it would be GSM enabled (wireless) and not require a landline like the older technology. ADT's best offer? Agree to a new 3 year contract at $40 per month (yes, more than what I was already paying) to get a "free" hardware upgrade. No deal.

I was connected to Brian at Protection Plus and advised my existing alarm system was considered a workhorse. It didn't need replacing. To make it a wireless system so that it could be armed/disarmed by a smartphone, I had to buy the box (transmitter) for $199. The savings from getting 6 months free monitoring by paying for 6 months helped to offset this cost. It is about $28 a month for basic monitoring and add $4 for the GSM monitoring. This monthly rate is competitive and in line with other alarm service companies.

Overall, the takeover went as described with a minor hiccup. The installer took the necessary precautions with COVID, and even brought an extra pair of indoor shoes to wear while working in our home. The entire team at Protection Plus was very courteous, polite and great to deal.

If you are considering a switchover, there are two things that you as a homeowner need to do before the actual date of the takeover to avoid potential unexpected costs:

1. Ensure you have the master code for your alarm. Without this code, the installer cannot complete the switchover. I was tied up on conference calls working at home, and did not have time to try and get the code from ADT. So the options were to either replace the board for an additional charge, or reschedule. I opted to replace the board because there was no guarantee ADT would provide the master code and I preferred not to reschedule.

2. Remember to call your existing alarm monitoring company to cancel your service as soon as you have a confirmed switch over appointment scheduled. If not, you could end up paying for an extra month's fee as generally speaking, 30 days notice must be provided to cancel. This is because only the homeowner has the authorization to cancel the existing service.

Update:
I am upgrading my review from an 8 to a 10 as Protection Plus promptly refunded me for the cost to replace the control panel. This was completely unexpected as it was my decision to pay the additional cost rather than have to reschedule the takeover for another day. This is a testament to why Protection Plus has so many positive reviews.