Lake Anna Security Ctr

This is a quick response regarding complaint from [redacted] We have not been at liberty to discuss this situation with others as it may have to come to a legal resolutionMs [redacted] has ceased the agreed payments for services after we repeatedly responded to her requestsAs this customer has stated, she called us and advised us that Lightning struck while she was at home and that the said equipment quit working then Now, this of course, reveals that all of the equipment was working prior to the storm and stopped during the storm She admitted that when she called for serviceThe problem came when she found out that her deductible was about the same as the invoice She refused to pay the invoice for financial reasons, not for the cause of the problemWe have been in communication with this customer repeatedly in order to solve this issue However, her only resolution is to have the lightning damage repaired at our cost and has now defaulted on a balance of over $ We would like to resolve this issue, however without proper payment, we cannot proceedPlease make the appropriate notes in your systemPlease let me know if you have any additional questions[redacted]

If you are planning to have a security system installed, please think twice before using Lake Anna Security I went to them thinking I would support a local business, which I always try to doWhat I didn't realize is that they would take me to the cleaners and install very basic equipment while charging me for gold and platinum level equipment For instance, after they installed a complete home security system, including two cameras, I thought to myself that the equipment looked somewhat ‘cheap’ compared to other systems I had seen So I went through the list of everything they installed and went to *** and other retailers to see just how much would it cost me to but the equipment myself - and the grand total was a little less than $ But I, in the end, had paid more than times that, so I guess the installation, which took a day, cost thousands of dollars That doesn't take into account dealer prices or anything else, so I’m sure the actual difference was even more than that
Every business needs to make a profit – I understand thatNow, if the equipment was first rate, I probably wouldn't be so upsetBut at every turn, the equipment was not really what we discussed or it doesn't meet my needs, which should have been addressed, based on their expertise after we discussed what I was trying to accomplish
Some issues with the security system components:
The cameras are both cheap and clunky (*** ** *** * * *** ** ***), but were described as small and unobtrusive, but they are anything but Both my wife and I were picturing discreet domes based on the discussion with Lake Anna Security, but instead they are huge and clunkyBut I really didn't even want indoor cameras – I wanted to see down the steps to our dock as well as the front door – well, Lake Anna Security told me that to install anything outdoors would require a commercial system for another several thousand dollars – but after doing research, I see there are dozens and dozens of outdoor IP camera that are well rated that would have served the same purpose and more importantly, actually did what I wanted them to doNow, I have an indoor camera that is facing a window that sees the dock, but is utterly useless at night, since the infrared reflects off of the glass, something I would have expected Lake Anna security to knowThe other camera works well, but again, is huge and ugly - more like a baby monitoring camera than a professional security camera Also, it requires a separate app to view, so it's not linked into the other components of the *** system
One of the main things I wanted when discussing with *** *** *** *** of Lake Anna Security, was the ability to control the security system remotely by using the *** application on the iphone, computer, etc The keypad that was brought out was something reminiscent of the early 1990’sIt didn’t have the ability to do home automation, wifi connection – nothing I complained at the time and they brought out a upgraded system *** ***), that I was charged an additional $for - but will I be able to use it for controlling things like lights, the thermostat, etcusing the famed *** *** *** (remember, this is one of the major things I wanted)? Of course not – that would require TWO separate additional components, costing me several hundred dollars)
This is more aesthetics, but when you are paying top dollar for a security system, I would expect to have the better quality equipment usedInstead, bargain basement door and window sensors were used, instead of the readily available models that are about ½ the size and don’t stand out
I must say, the folks at Lake Anna Security are very nice, prompt, and install the equipment fairly well as far as aesthetics, and they can definitely sell you pretty well But since we have had the system installed I have had random sensors just stop working, resulting in a am call from the monitoring company while I was halfway across the country - not exactly confidence inspiringAfter about a month, the outbuilding sensors just stopped working, and their solution? Disable them So now the building isn't protected at allWhat makes it worse is that my wife tells me that she doesn't feel safe due to these issues
Bottom Line: I feel I was ripped off

This is a quick response regarding complaint from [redacted].
rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 12.8000001907349px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We have not been at liberty to discuss this situation with others as it may have to come to a legal resolution.
Ms. [redacted] has ceased the agreed payments for services after we repeatedly responded to her requests.
As this customer has stated, she called us and advised us that Lightning struck while she was at home and that the said equipment quit working then.    Now, this of course, reveals that all of the equipment was working prior to the storm and stopped during the storm.  She admitted that when she called for service.
The problem came when she found out that her deductible was about the same as the invoice.  She refused to pay the invoice for financial reasons, not for the cause of the problem.
We have been in communication with this customer repeatedly in order to solve this issue.   However, her only resolution is to have the lightning damage repaired at our cost and has now defaulted on a balance of over $5000.00. 
We would like to resolve this issue, however without proper payment, we cannot proceed.
Please make the appropriate notes in your system.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.[redacted]

Review: I contracted to have a security gate with intercom, keypad, camera & driveway alert system to be installed in April 2014. I thought the price was a bit high ($11,413.56) but the company had installed the security system at a Museum where I was on the board so I felt like they would do a good job. I am paying off the invoice in monthly installments as originally agreed. I have been told lightning struck and damaged the intercom system & driveway alert system before I had ever used them and was sent an invoice for an additional $1,162.00. I did not feel this was just and did not pay. The driveway alert has never worked properly and now they say it needs to be replaced with an infrared beam but nothing has been done. I am now told I can not connect the intercom to my Verizon line so that I may answer it anywhere but only to a dedicated phone in the kitchen. They now want me to pay an additional $1400 to replace the new intercom system which they say has been damaged by lightning again. I replied to this last request for money by asking for the manufacturer's information so I could contact them and research the problem myself but it has been over a month and I have received no reply. It has now been over five months since they started the installation and I have never had a properly working system. I have many, many emails requesting service, information, etc to try and resolve the numerous problems I've had.Desired Settlement: My preference would be to have someone determine a reasonable amount to pay for working parts that I now have and never have to deal with this company again. I relied on them for their expertise but it has been an unpleasant experience.

Business

Response:

This is a quick response regarding complaint from [redacted].

If you are planning to have a security system installed, please think twice before using Lake Anna Security. I went to them thinking I would support a local business, which I always try to do. What I didn't realize is that they would take me to the cleaners and install very basic equipment while charging me for gold and platinum level equipment. For instance, after they installed a complete home security system, including two cameras, I thought to myself that the equipment looked somewhat ‘cheap’ compared to other systems I had seen. So I went through the list of everything they installed and went to [redacted] and other retailers to see just how much would it cost me to but the equipment myself - and the grand total was a little less than $1500. But I, in the end, had paid more than 3 times that, so I guess the installation, which took a day, cost thousands of dollars. That doesn't take into account dealer prices or anything else, so I’m sure the actual difference was even more than that.

Every business needs to make a profit – I understand that. Now, if the equipment was first rate, I probably wouldn't be so upset. But at every turn, the equipment was not really what we discussed or it doesn't meet my needs, which should have been addressed, based on their expertise after we discussed what I was trying to accomplish.

Some issues with the security system components:

The cameras are both cheap and clunky ([redacted]), but were described as small and unobtrusive, but they are anything but. Both my wife and I were picturing discreet domes based on the discussion with Lake Anna Security, but instead they are huge and clunky. But I really didn't even want indoor cameras – I wanted to see down the steps to our dock as well as the front door – well, Lake Anna Security told me that to install anything outdoors would require a commercial system for another several thousand dollars – but after doing research, I see there are dozens and dozens of outdoor IP camera that are well rated that would have served the same purpose and more importantly, actually did what I wanted them to do. Now, I have an indoor camera that is facing a window that sees the dock, but is utterly useless at night, since the infrared reflects off of the glass, something I would have expected Lake Anna security to know. The other camera works well, but again, is huge and ugly - more like a baby monitoring camera than a professional security camera. Also, it requires a separate app to view, so it's not linked into the other components of the [redacted] system.

One of the main things I wanted when discussing with [redacted] of Lake Anna Security, was the ability to control the security system remotely by using the [redacted] application on the iphone, computer, etc. The keypad that was brought out was something reminiscent of the early 1990’s. It didn’t have the ability to do home automation, wifi connection – nothing. I complained at the time and they brought out a upgraded system [redacted]), that I was charged an additional $100 for - but will I be able to use it for controlling things like lights, the thermostat, etc. using the famed [redacted] (remember, this is one of the major things I wanted)? Of course not – that would require TWO separate additional components, costing me several hundred dollars).

This is more aesthetics, but when you are paying top dollar for a security system, I would expect to have the better quality equipment used. Instead, bargain basement door and window sensors were used, instead of the readily available models that are about ½ the size and don’t stand out.

I must say, the folks at Lake Anna Security are very nice, prompt, and install the equipment fairly well as far as aesthetics, and they can definitely sell you pretty well. But since we have had the system installed I have had random sensors just stop working, resulting in a 4 am call from the monitoring company while I was halfway across the country - not exactly confidence inspiring. After about a month, the outbuilding sensors just stopped working, and their solution? Disable them. So now the building isn't protected at all. What makes it worse is that my wife tells me that she doesn't feel safe due to these issues.

Bottom Line: I feel I was ripped off.