anyone ever gotten a sales call from a home security co?

groovygrl

I'm soooo soooo upset w/ myself right now, I can't even explain how terrible I feel. I got a call from someone calling to sell A D T, I had actually been interested in getting a system lately and so I decided to hear what htey had to say...long story short I finally got off the phone once I felt weird about all the questions and I looked up the caller ID number online and it is not a 'real' number for a company & when you call it back it doesnt work.

Is this typical for legit telemarketing sales call type things, to have a number that can't be called back? I feel horrible, I'm sick about it all and I guess am hoping for some reassurance that these calls are pretty typical and the nonworking number is too...

Manateearmz

What kind of questions were they asking? I'm not sure if ADT would cold call for sales, it seems they are a big enough name brand that the business comes to them.

MrsSR

Just call ADT and see if you are in the system...let them know what happened so they are aware of it.

mrebecca

I "won a free home security system" once.
I was like, "Oh, awesome!"
And they started asking me all these questions.
They asked me if we owned the home, and I told them we didn't. 

I wasn't about to have complete strangers come to my house and "install" anything. 

Wufroggy79

I would call the company as other posters have said.   

gisa886

I have an always say we rent. I agree with calling the company 

robinsokj

I used to docile calls and the number that showed up on I'd wasn't callable

Arcadia1114

There was just an article on my local news website about this scam. Sorry. 

LnR70707

Manateearmz:

What kind of questions were they asking? I'm not sure if ADT would cold call for sales, it seems they are a big enough name brand that the business comes to them.

Oh they will.  They hounded us for weeks when we first moved to our current house.  Along with several others.

OP...I've usually found that cold call sales are made from one direction phone #/lines...they can call out, but not in.  DH telecommutes and if he calls me from his desk (downstairs in our basement, in PA) it is a Manhattan number and it is a diff line if I call him.

groovygrl

ADT doesnt actually do their installs, I think they have authorized dealers & this is supposedly what this was, though I of course couldn't remember if the guy said the name (I'm pretty sure we are in their system b/c our builder has a deal w/ them but we're going to call them anyway).  The thing that made it seem more 'ok' was that the info he gave was exactly what a neighbor had told me she got & the reason I was listening... but then the questions - how many doors, etc was what started me getting antsy but then he asked something about home insurance & I was like what, I'm not answering that (anything up to then someone pretty much driving by could have ascertained and the guy clearly already had my name & address before picking up the phone).... then MH got on the phone & asked if he was from ADT & he said he was an authorized dealer, etc., MH asked to speak to a supervisor & got angry w/ the guy & the guy hung up which was what made us more upset...

Anyway I used to get calls from them in my last home also but to the poster who said she saw a story about the scam, what is the 'scam'? Like they dont sell it to you but take your money or they rob you or what...b/c my biggest concern is my kids' safety, not losing my $ and I'm just sick about it and SO freakin mad at myself. 

 

kcl22

Did they ask you about locks on doors and windows, hours that you're not home, your concerns about your security, anything like that?  Those types of questions would make me suspicious but if he was asking questions about insurance it sounds more legit. I'd call ADT like PPs have said and explain the situation.

groovygrl

No nothing really out there like that, more stuff that actually did seem related to what a security system would need & cost (like I know the plan my friend has includes three doors & he asked how many doors & had said it included 3 doors, 2 story vs 1 story) although he asked about pets & I think that was the thing that I was like WTF and then the insurance ended it for me.  I'm trying to figure out the pets if it was legit, like b/c animals will set alarms off via motion detector or doggy doors or what?

 

stephmt528

I actually telemarketed in college for the $$$. I was cold calling for ADT, so yes, they do that, but I would be super cautious too.

groovygrl

stephmt528:

I actually telemarketed in college for the $$$. I was cold calling for ADT, so yes, they do that, but I would be super cautious too.

do those questions sound on par with the things you had to ask?

MrsSR

groovygrl:

No nothing really out there like that, more stuff that actually did seem related to what a security system would need & cost (like I know the plan my friend has includes three doors & he asked how many doors & had said it included 3 doors, 2 story vs 1 story) although he asked about pets & I think that was the thing that I was like WTF and then the insurance ended it for me.  I'm trying to figure out the pets if it was legit, like b/c animals will set alarms off via motion detector or doggy doors or what?

 

Yes, pets will set off the motion detectors...  We have ADT.  We had three doors covered as well and windows (I can't remember how many... many six?). 

RayRay007

groovygrl:

No nothing really out there like that, more stuff that actually did seem related to what a security system would need & cost (like I know the plan my friend has includes three doors & he asked how many doors & had said it included 3 doors, 2 story vs 1 story) although he asked about pets & I think that was the thing that I was like WTF and then the insurance ended it for me.  I'm trying to figure out the pets if it was legit, like b/c animals will set alarms off via motion detector or doggy doors or what?

 

We were asked the same sorts of questions by our security co. and I assure you we haven't been robbed by them. They need to know how many doors etc. so they can give you an accurate quote for equipment. They need to know if you have pets so they can make appropriate recommendations for equipment/systems - we have a dog so we don't have a motion detector. Or, he's so small, we could've had a certain type that doesn't detect motion on the floor. Here, we get a discount on insurance if we have a system. Maybe he was going to tell you about potential discounts or tell you about specific systems that meet insurance requirements. The fact that you can't call back isn't that suspicious. A lot of businesses have out-going only lines.

Ali9381

When we had our ADT installed I spoke to a representative first, not the actual guy who installed it.  So they didn't have any information prior, all of that was discussed at a consultation a week later. While I know they need to know all those questions to get you the right equipment, I don't think they need to do it over the phone, its easier to just see it in person and assess your needs.  

groovygrl

Thanks all...feeling more relaxed about it today (though I left all the lights on in the house overnight and woke up a million times) but will never answer another 800# call on my phone again, which I should have learned by now in life but never had a situation where it dawned on me that simple answers could lead to big issues w/ the wrong person on the other end & I think the fact that I was already feeling like I wanted to get one is what made me even start to talk/listen. I absolutely hate having to feel paranoid all the time about everything/everyone, it really sucks that there are such crappy ppl out there that we can never trust normal ppl.

My neighbor got a call yest around the same time from the same number so I'm assuming they're doing a big call sweep in the area...