35 responses so far ↓

• 1 PeterDV // Jun 22, 2009 at 1:47 pm

  Yep, same guy came to us in the 300 block of 77th St. Total player… the “license” he flashed me was just a Seattle business license that anyone can get for $45 … with his photo taped on top. Every word out of his mouth was a lie. I’m assuming he’s a commissioned alarm system salesman…. He didn’t seem that menacing.

• 2 SPG // Jun 22, 2009 at 1:52 pm

  Scam.

• 3 Jeff // Jun 22, 2009 at 2:07 pm

  he came to our house too at 72nd and 3rd last week and was offering a special deal if we switched over from our current company (we have a sign in the yard). is he maybe checking our who has a system and who does not? we got ADT after a burglary in late january

• 4 Charles K // Jun 22, 2009 at 2:25 pm

  Came to my place on Division Ave NW. Saw him coming so decided to see if he would respect my No Soliciting sign. He did not. I didn’t answer the door though, so I didn’t have the pleasure of talking with him. Asked neighbors later what he was selling and they said some kind of alarm system.

  Home Security Salesman: “But surely, you can’t put a price on your family’s lives?”

  Homer Simpson [ushering him out]: “I wouldn’t have thought so either, but here we are.” [slams door]

• 5 John // Jun 22, 2009 at 2:36 pm

  Same thing at 3rd and 54th. He said, “new construction needs an alarm and it’s already pre-wired for specifically GE.” I told him that was not true and it was wired to work with any major system. Told him we were happy with our other system. Closed door, he moved on.

  It was a Saturday around dinner time.

• 6 Chris // Jun 22, 2009 at 2:42 pm

  Hey Rachel, we live on your block. I was just talking with some other neighbors (you know them too) who said they just had the GE upgrade done. They said that burlers will cut the phone lines which will disable the alarm, upgrading to digital will prevent that. I don’t think they were scamed, I don’t really know much about alarm systems but they said the guys came in and did the work. They have a new sign in front of their house. Maybe it’s just really aggressive sales people.

• 7 tiktok // Jun 22, 2009 at 3:04 pm

  I encourage everyone to take a picture whenever they open the door to anyone, and then post it.

• 8 HL // Jun 22, 2009 at 4:08 pm

  Analog v. digital alarm system (What does that even mean? I think they’re just throwing out buzzwords meant to scare you) has nothing to do with whether cutting your Qwest landline phone cable outside your house will “disable” your alarm system.

  Cutting the phone cable will prevent any system without a cellular capability from dialing out to the central station.

  You can buy systems today (or buy add-on accessories for an older system) that have the capability to dial out using a cellular modem or phone incorporated into the main panel.

  All systems with an audible siren inside or outside will still sound that alarm even if the phone cable was cut.

  And for what it’s worth, no matter which company provides your telephone/cable/dsl, there are only two actual providers in our part of the city that own and service the physical cables: Qwest owns the telephone cables (so any and all DSL internet and VOIP providers run over those Qwest cables). And Comcast owns the coaxial cables that provide Cable TV and Cable Internet and VOIP services. From a burglar’s perspective, the Qwest lines are easier to cut because they are usually lower on the house for easy access by repairmen. The Comcast cables often enter the house at roof level, so they’re harder to reach by a burglar.

• 9 Trix // Jun 22, 2009 at 6:17 pm

  Charles K – Thanks for the laugh. I remember that Simpson’s episode.
  I would assume if your alarm system needed upgrading your alarm company would be the first ones to tell you, and to offer to charge you for it.

• 10 Ballardite // Jun 22, 2009 at 10:06 pm

  This guy came to my house. I was alone with the kids and didn’t want to open the door so I was speaking to him through the stained glass opening in the door. He was very annoyed that I wouldn’t open the door to him since he had his ‘official badges’ out. He was alleging that he had permission from ‘the city’ to be there. Who cares? I asked him to leave. He wouldn’t leave. He said he hadn’t had a chance to talk to me and tell me about why he’s there. I said that I was well aware of that fact but that I own my house and I’d like him off my property. He made me repeat that 3 times before he left. If the door was open I would have slammed it in his face. But this was all through the window in my door. I nearly called the police. I think I’ll put a sign up that says ‘No solicitors over the age of 12″.

• 11 Hoagy 27 // Jun 23, 2009 at 5:03 am

  A little more than a year ago a guy came to my door offering to do home improvement repairs for a fee. I asked if he could read: particularly the prominent sign reading “No Soliciting.” An increasingly heated (on his part) conversation ensued. I’ve had enough of these discussions with the selectively illiterate that I don’t get hot under the collar any longer. These conversations are generally quite predictable. This one, however, ended differently. As the man finally left, grumbling his way down my front walk, he turned and spat out one last epithet… the worst thing he could think of with which to besmirch my good name: “You…you…LIBERAL!!!”

• 12 SPG // Jun 23, 2009 at 6:44 am

  This guy showed up at my house yesterday but since I already read about it here I was prepared. I opened the door and hung on to my two dogs by the collar while they barked, snapped, and lunged. I could have given them a quick “sit!” and they would’ve stopped immediatey, but this was more fun. I told the guy “I can only hold them back for so long!” while he tried to speed up his sales pitch and not get bit. He gave up before I did.

• 13 NAG // Jun 23, 2009 at 7:24 am

  Came to our house last night, near 14th & 60th. He told me all alarm systems have GE parts, and then I remembered this article and frankly don’t remember much of what else he said. He looked pretty legit, but I too wonder if he’s just casing houses for who’s got alarm systems and who hasn’t. He did seem frustrated when I told him I wasn’t interested, and didn’t seem too shy about showing his frustration. If he’s legit, he’s definitely not in the right job.

• 14 velo // Jun 23, 2009 at 9:18 am

  So we have both a phone line and cable line coming into the house. Nowadays a thief would have to cut both to be sure he killed the line, and the alarm siren would still go off. From what I’ve seen/read/heard and believe, they look for the least resistance possible. A home with an alarm isn’t an easy hit. Has anyone had or know of a home with an alarm that was targeted successfully? I’m just curious.

• 15 Whopper // Jun 23, 2009 at 9:54 am

  The sign alone out front is the best deterrent: it pretty much says ‘go rob my neighbor, the one without the alarm’.

  Thanks neighbors!

• 16 Travis // Jun 23, 2009 at 11:10 am

  Instructions for the next person that has this guy at their door:

  1) “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come, I’ve been having issues and need an upgrade. Please wait outside while I go get my manual and account information.” [close door, make him wait outside]

  2) Call 911

  3) Talk to him and stall him till the cops show up

  

• 17 ballardrocks // Jun 23, 2009 at 2:21 pm

  I live by 14th and 62nd. He was on our block a week before last. He was soliciting until 10pm.
  I was really rude, so he left quickly.

• 18 BobS // Jun 23, 2009 at 6:22 pm

  There are several alarm vendors out of Provo UT that use this sales tactic, mostly in the summer. I actually bought an upgrade in March of this year (I was having a off-day, what can I say?) The equipment is pretty good, the contract horrible; there are NO service technicians in the State other than the ones installing. Even if you sell the house or it burns down, you still owe the full term of the contract (5 years). There is a 3-day cancellation clause (required by the State) which they reluctantly honored. Uninstalling the gear and getting them to credit it was expensive and very time-consuming. Caveat Emptor. The City of Seattle requires alarm vendors to have a special license or they won’t even respond to an alarm. These guys didn’t have the license. Rat on a rat… http://www.cityofseattle.net/police/programs/alarms/default.htm

• 19 Phinneyman // Jun 23, 2009 at 8:17 pm

  He called himself Carter. He came to my door and I told him to go away and he continued with his pitch, refusing to leave. I told him to go away. He said he had a permit from Seattle. I told him he did not have a permit to stand on my lawn. I had to repeat my directive for him to get off my property. When that still didn’t work, I pulled out my phone and started dialing. He apologized and walked away.

• 20 PKopp // Jun 23, 2009 at 9:21 pm

  Guy came into Strut today around 5 p.m. wanting me to switch from Brinks to his security company, National. Told him I was locked into a contract. I asked him to leave a card and I’d call him if I was looking at the end of my contract. He asked to see my current contract and wanted to know if I could direct him toward the control box for my current system. I told him that he was wasting his time and to feel free to leave a card. He was out of business cards and said he’d call on me again.

• 21 SPG // Jun 24, 2009 at 7:03 am

  Here’s the story on these guys:
  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/us/12coldcalls.html?_r=2

  Basically, they’re Mormon missionaries turned into alarm salesmen for a sketchy company in Utah.
  As a basic rule in life you have to realize that you will never get a good deal buying anything from someone who knocks on your door. Ever.

• 22 Heather // Jun 24, 2009 at 7:23 am

  This person (or someone of very similar description) came to our door about 2 weeks ago. We are on 81st near the Greenwood Library. He wasn’t terribly aggressive with his sales pitch but did seem to wander the neighborhood for longer than necessary.

• 23 Lemonjello // Jun 24, 2009 at 9:32 am

  This guy came to my door last night on 6th./70th. Showed me the permits from the city, said something about GE and neighbors with Brinks signs on their lawns. I told him I wasn’t interested. He said he wasn’t selling anything and tried to continue his spiel. I again told him I wasn’t interested. He continued, I told him politely but directly that I was not interested. He looked frustrated but left.

• 24 Rose Custer // Jun 24, 2009 at 10:00 am

  This guy stopped by my house at 70th and 3rd NW yesterday, but was polite and took my “no thanks”, no problem. I’m wondering if anyone got his business card (I did not). Seems like that would be an easier way of decerning his legitimacy.

• 25 4dakids // Jun 24, 2009 at 10:41 am

  one of these guys came by our house at 62nd and 5th Ave a few days ago and was actually very polite. He told me that some families had issues because they don’t have a landline for their systems to be connected to and that they had a solution to work with a wireless number. I told him that I had a landline and didn’t need his upgrade. Then he left. I did see another guy with the same dress later that day up the hill a bit. I wonder how many of them are working together.

• 26 SPG // Jun 24, 2009 at 6:28 pm

  “…Seems like that would be an easier way of decerning his legitimacy.”

  Here’s an easier way… YOU WILL NEVER GET A GOOD DEAL FROM DOOR TO DOOR SALESMEN.

• 27 Johhny // Jun 27, 2009 at 12:38 pm

  They just came by the house on June 26th in Kimberton, PA. I guess they’re expanding.

• 28 kathy // May 22, 2010 at 12:24 pm

  It’s nearly a year later, but the GE Platinum “security” guys must be at it again because they were at my door and around our neighborhood in West Seattle lastnight. We called the police–because their behavior was so odd. They said that they weren’t selling anything, and when I asked what they wanted exactly, they would not say. When I got assertive about it, they got defensive and left. I could not make heads or tails out of what they even wanted from me! I am posting a “No Solicitors” sign on my door. Lately, there are more and more door to door people stopping by in the evenings. I really think that this method of solicitation is outdated these days.

• 29 CK Aviator // Jun 26, 2010 at 2:37 pm

  They were at our home 2 hours ago in VA. When I told the young guy that I was not interested, he looked at me strange and seemed defensive. I then assured him that I was a gun owner,an alarm system owner and a cell phone owner and what more did I need. His response= WELL YOU’LL NEED SOMEONE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS. I then asked for a card and told him I would look up the info online. He left no card and told me I could later get a discount. A few minutes later, I saw cops talking to him and he had to leave. Our neighborhood is a no soliciting one. We called the police to find out the story,they said he was legit but not authorized to be in our neighborhood.I agree with Travis.

• 30 momto4 // Jun 29, 2010 at 12:18 pm

  just had a visit from one of these guys in Virginia Beach, VA. Young good looking guy who seemed nice at first. He talked about how when the phone lines are cut, the call won’t get out, etc. and they had a cell phone chip that would solve that. I told him I wasn’t interested and he suddenly got angry and told me very condescendingly that I needed to listen to him. I told him that I had already listened to him for several minutes he needed to get to the point and tell me what exactly he wanted. He started babbling about GE wanting to pay homeowners in our neighborhood for having some chip installed or displaying something- I still don’t know because he was being deliberately evasive. – but I told him I didn’t care and I didn’t need their money and he got VERY angry and started screaming that I needed to listen to him. I told him very calmly that I did NOT need to listen to him and told him to get off my property and luckily he did. He was very upset and I’m glad I had a nice big can of pepper spray hidden behind my back the entire time.

• 31 marnita // May 30, 2011 at 7:57 pm

  Well a young guy, caucasian, came to my house today with the same sales pitch about the GE Platinum Protection alarm system. I talked thru the front door, but I did let him in. He checked to see if my doors were “capable” for the system’s door sensors. I asked him to call the company’s customer service to see if he was legit and he did. He gave his badge number and the rep stated the name that was on the badge, but that doesn’t mean anything. He then called a number to see if I was actually the home owner and afterwards stated I was ok. I asked who did he call to “verify” if I was the home owner and he couldn’t tell me. He just stated that they call a number and someone tells him if the potential client is a homeowner. That’s when I figured something was up because after I asked questions his sales pitch dropped and he didn’t seem as interested to push the system anymore. I’m gonna call the police to alert them and to see if they had complaints on this company

• 32 mommyof3 // Jun 25, 2011 at 1:27 pm

  I live in southern CA, but the same thing happened to me this morning. A young, caucasian male came to my door claiming to work for GE. He had a lanyard with some sort of badge, a GE cap, and a polo type shirt with a logo on it. He also had a folder with pictures of different models of alarms systems and asked which one I had. He even asked to see it. He asked where I had the door sensors and the motion sensors. He talked about the phone line being cut and how the call would not go out. He said they would install the new touch screen panel that would not need a phone line in order for the call to go out and check all the batteries in the sensors. All I needed to do was display the sign in my yard so my neighbors could see. He did say not to tell my heighbors that I got my system for free. He then called someone to verify I was the homeowner so he needed my name and birthdate. He left and said someone would be calling to set up an appointment. He asked what days would be good. About 5 minutes later he came back and said that there was a family with the same name and the only way to verify was social security numbers. At this point I knew I had already given him too much information. I said that I was not willing to give him that and he asked if I was sure. I said yes and he left. I then called the police. I am sure this was a scam. My husband says he was either “casing the joint”, trying to see if I truly had a security system (because he did mention that he saw the sign in my yard) or trying to use the info for identity theft. I know I gave him too much info and I will definitely be more wary in the future.

• 33 johnD // Aug 13, 2011 at 3:22 pm

  Anyone being asked for their birthday or social, and then the rep leaving, means one thing, the rep ran your credit and it failed. He should have informed you that he was checking your credit. After he left, he called his manager, they said to check credit with social because sometimes it pulls inaccurate credit with birthday.

• 34 johnD // Aug 13, 2011 at 3:23 pm

  The company and their business model are legitimate, some of the sales reps are not.

• 35 Neil B // Aug 20, 2011 at 9:17 pm

  The guys are probably legit. Same talking points as above … here is the catch. They all represent the monitoring company Monitronics. If you agree they will lock you into a contract for 3 years for $49 /month. That is supposed to cover the cost of the dedicated cell phone line and the response team. If you push them they will even give you more stuff free, they just want the contract!

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