ADT or Banham? any experience?

[kcz88]

Hi all,

I am moving to Dulwich very soon and am going to install a security + CCTV system in the new house. ADT seems to be the biggest name in this area, but I did a quick google it seems they have shocking customer reviews. I was suggested to check out Banham too but I don't know anything about this brand or what they do. Both of their websites give very little information.

I did a quick search on this forum but could only find a few thread on ADT cold calling etc. can't really find anything about if either ADT or Banham's performances in Dulwich area, customer cares etc.

Does anyone have any good or bad experience about either ADT or Banham for their security system or CCTV in Dulwich area? Many thanks.

[Saus01]

I don't have personal experience but have heard from many people that ADT's service is poor. Most of the large nationals are the same.

I would suggest searching for a local firm and ask them to provide 3-4 clients that have had similar installations to the one you're looking for, and contact them to ask about their experiences.

[Saus01]

You should look for firms that are NSI Gold accredited.

http://www.nsi.org.uk/about-us

[kcz88]

Thanks. I did try to google of there is any local firms but can't seem to find any. I will prefer to have to have a high level 24hr monitored alarm linked to Police + CCTV, and I don't really know if that's something a local firm can provide. Also, I m mostly concerned about high false alarm rate.

[4hw]

Have you had a bad experience with security in the past, or do you own a lot of valuable stuff? Just wondering why anyone would be keen to take such drastic steps.

[amydown]

ADT have been good for us. Takes a bit of patience setting it all up and making sure installation is as you had requested but have had no issues with customer service once installation was complete. We looked at Banham and we're not impressed with their emergency call out system (eg. If you press panic button, Banham tries to contact you and if they can't contact you, they just send a letter out the next day - alarm is raised with the police only if Banham can speak with you and establish there is emergency). The sales person might have had it wrong but either way, didn't fill me with confidence.

ADT does have a 36-month minimum contract though and it's not cheap...

[kcz88]

4hw Wrote:

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> Have you had a bad experience with security in the

> past, or do you own a lot of valuable stuff? Just

> wondering why anyone would be keen to take such

> drastic steps.

Neither. but as I have variable schedules, sometimes away from home for days or weeks, I just want to make sure the rest of the family is safe while I m not around.

[kcz88]

amydown Wrote:

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> ADT have been good for us. Takes a bit of patience

> setting it all up and making sure installation is

> as you had requested but have had no issues with

> customer service once installation was complete.

> We looked at Banham and we're not impressed with

> their emergency call out system (eg. If you press

> panic button, Banham tries to contact you and if

> they can't contact you, they just send a letter

> out the next day - alarm is raised with the police

> only if Banham can speak with you and establish

> there is emergency). The sales person might have

> had it wrong but either way, didn't fill me with

> confidence.

>

> ADT does have a 36-month minimum contract though

> and it's not cheap...

Thanks for that. so has there been much false alarm incidence with ADT while you have it? also, have they been providing regular services and checks?

[kcz88]

Also, I don't seem to be able to find much review or info about Banham online, can only find bad things about ADT. I assume Banham is a more London focused name but I can't really tell if it's good or bad as no one seem to talk about it online...

[amydown]

We haven't had any false alarms (been 2 months since set up) and they have a remote technical assistance which is really quick and can sort many problems out. Our issues related to the I oral setting not being correct due to sales person/ installation person miscommunication (eg which alarms are left on for the night) and they could check and reset it all remotely whilst on the phone.

[DrinkingBuddy]

We have Banham and have had nothing but problems. The sensors go wrong between services without fail and you always get hit with an emergency call out charge. My advice would be to keep clear.

[kcz88]

DrinkingBuddy Wrote:

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> We have Banham and have had nothing but problems.

> The sensors go wrong between services without fail

> and you always get hit with an emergency call out

> charge. My advice would be to keep clear.

oh really, thanks for that. can i ask which package are you on with banham? does it include the police response? when you say the sensors go wrong, does that mean you've had quite a few false alarm? how timely are they when it comes to repair the fault if you don't mind me asking? many thanks.

[dbboy]

Try Impulse security systems who are local in SE23 and have done quite a few alarms around here over the years.

[scareyt]

I would recommend Impulse too, they installed an alarm for us 4 years ago, the maintenance is cheap and we've had no problems with it.

[DrinkingBuddy]

We don't have police response. We've had a few different failures, sometimes preventing you from setting the alarm, other times causing it to go off. They've always come out the same day when its gone off but only if we pay a call out charge otherwise they don't even guarantee that. Obviously you have no choice when you have an alarm going off.

Could be worth popping in to Callows locksmiths to ask their advice.

[kcz88]

scareyt Wrote:

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> I would recommend Impulse too, they installed an

> alarm for us 4 years ago, the maintenance is cheap

> and we've had no problems with it.

@scareyt, @dbboy

thanks for that, I'll check out Impulse as well. are either of you using police response with them? On their website it seems their monitor centre is outsourced to BT Redcare. I m not sure if that's the usual practice.

[jacks09]

Hey I used to work in the industry - I can recommend Security By Design who ar based in Docklands. YOu are on the right lines of making sure it is police monitored - I see o value in alarms that aren't. I am dubious about CCTV - if you do go down that route I would say to make sure that the shots are very close as getting a decent shot, that could be used in court, in a wide angle view is next to impossible unless you use top of the range ???? cameras

[kcz88]

jacks09 Wrote:

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> Hey I used to work in the industry - I can

> recommend Security By Design who ar based in

> Docklands. YOu are on the right lines of making

> sure it is police monitored - I see o value in

> alarms that aren't. I am dubious about CCTV - if

> you do go down that route I would say to make sure

> that the shots are very close as getting a decent

> shot, that could be used in court, in a wide angle

> view is next to impossible unless you use top of

> the range ???? cameras

Thanks for the pointers. I am having second thought about the CCTV as well, as there doesn't seem to have a monitored CCTV out there without compromising on privacy, which makes it only useful when in court or already broken in. I might have the monitored alarm sort out first, then have a separate cloud CCTV installed myself or independently so that I can keep an eye on things when I m out. there seem to be a lot of choice for those.

I'll check out Security By Design as well, but on first look it doesn't seem they are on the NSI accredited list of installers though.

[ClareC]

When we moved into our house there was an ADT alarm system that was out of contract. I contacted them to go on contract and quite honestly the sales person disgusted me with the amount of money they wanted to simply put the existing (working) system onto contract - it was comparable to having an entire new system.

I felt I was being taken advantage of as I didn't know the code, they basically would offer no help whatsoever unless I committed to a huge re commission fee in addition to the contract price.

Needless to say such 'sales' practice doesn't wash with me. They didn't get the business and I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

We are with a small local firm now, although will need to upgrade whole system soon following renovations.

[kcz88]

ClareC Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> When we moved into our house there was an ADT

> alarm system that was out of contract. I contacted

> them to go on contract and quite honestly the

> sales person disgusted me with the amount of money

> they wanted to simply put the existing (working)

> system onto contract - it was comparable to having

> an entire new system.

>

> I felt I was being taken advantage of as I didn't

> know the code, they basically would offer no help

> whatsoever unless I committed to a huge re

> commission fee in addition to the contract price.

>

>

> Needless to say such 'sales' practice doesn't wash

> with me. They didn't get the business and I

> wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

>

> We are with a small local firm now, although will

> need to upgrade whole system soon following

> renovations.

thanks ClareC, it seem most of the review about ADT has been around how bad their sales/customer service is. I m going to get a quote from them anyway, but will for sure bear that in mind if they are too pushy.

[gm99]

For a more cost effective option, have a look at the Yale wireless systems, eg via Screwfix. No wiring needed, DIY installation, and some can eg be set up to alert you to the alarm being activated via your mobile.

[fizzmoll]

We recently got set up with http://www.verisure.co.uk which has been great so far.

[pipslon]

We've used a company called APT Security based in Beckenham for the last 10 years. They're great. Local, small, you get to talk to them and they come out quickly for any issues. Can't recommend them more highly.

[Saus01]

There's a directory on the NSI website - http://www.nsi.org.uk/directory.

Impluse (mentioned above) are on there and listed as a Gold medal holder.

kcz88 Wrote:

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> Thanks. I did try to google of there is any local

> firms but can't seem to find any. I will prefer to

> have to have a high level 24hr monitored alarm

> linked to Police + CCTV, and I don't really know

> if that's something a local firm can provide.

> Also, I m mostly concerned about high false alarm

> rate.

[mr.alarm]

Verisure are not NSI certified and operate on the basis of European standards. I asked them to provide their accreditation and i got back was the specification for the hardware.

NSI are the leading certificate body for the security and fire protection industries in the UK, if they're not certified by them you can't be sure if their equipment is to uk industry standards, which might affect your home insurance validity.

There are a lot of unique points about verisure like the guard control response unit that comes part of the package, where a guard will come round if your alarm goes off, although that is in the control of verisure's discretion.

If in doubt check with your home insurance provider if they have any issues over it.