ADT / Vonage = oil & water, woops

So a few weeks ago there was an FC on the alarm box lcd.  Ali took the initiative to call ADT and ask what it meant.  It stood for “communication failure”.  At that time they ran her through a brief communication test and told Ali it was unsuccessful.  Ali mentioned to them that we have VOIP service from Vonage.

About a week later I got a long letter in the mail from ADT about their monitoring and VOIP service.  I didn’t read it in detail but saw it said something about Comcast being a supported carrier so I figured we were good since we run Vonage through Comcast.  To make sure things were hooked up right I cut the end off a phone cord and verified I still had dial tone out at the ADT main box. I did. 

So I call ADT last night from my cell phone in order to have them test again.  Surely the first test was a fluke since I definitely have dial tone available.  The woman on the phone walks me through doing a quick test that just sounds the alarm for a couple seconds.  She said they did not receive the test. Next she has me arm the system and simulate a break in.  The alarm was blaring for a solid three minutes.  No call. 

The woman asked if I wanted to send a tech out.  Even though I mentioned at the beginning of the call that I had Vonage, I felt it was important to do it again.  I asked her if Vonage was supported or not?  She said it wasn’t.  “Well, WTF, why did we just go through all of this testing?”, I thought to myself.  I asked what good a tech would do if Vonage isn’t supported?    She ignored the question and said that my NEW options were:

1. Install a land line for use by the security system (stupid option that defeats the entire reason we got VOIP)

2. Pay ADT for a cellular backup option.  This device routes alarm calls through your cell phone. Oh, and by the way, it costs $300

3. Discontinue your monitoring contract with ADT.  

Now to me, the number three option makes the most sense.  However there is a gotcha.  There are penalties for early termination of a contract with ADT.  The thing is I have no idea what the terms of the contract are. 

To me all of the monitoring is basically a waste of money.  In fact I think the simple addition of the two ADT signs by the front and back door is all the deterrent that is needed.  Why would a potential home invader want to try to enter a home that is flagged as having a security system versus a home with no such indication? 

If the signs aren’t enough of a deterrent, the beeping the second a window or door is opened followed by the loud blaring siren should ensure that unless the robber is blind AND deaf, he should vacate the premises immediately.

The party van is also always standing guard in the driveway, making sure the house NEVER appears to be unoccupied.

Of course the security system was entirely an Ali thing.  I never even felt it was necessary.  Our house is on a busy road and out in the wide open with plenty of motion activated lighting.  It was more for just her peace of mind.

I guess I need to call ADT back to see what the penalty would be for stopping the monitoring. 

On Christmas Day after all the present opening was done, I was walking around the back yard with Nicki.  All of a sudden it struck me that Ali was missing a present I bought her, a pair of Croc like garden sandals.  I couldn’t recall receiving them.  I went inside and looked at the packing slip which said I indeed should have received them.  I racked my brain trying to remember if I did indeed get them and just hid them somewhere perhaps?  I looked in my normal hiding spots and found nothing.

So I call up Gardener’s Supply and tell them I was shorted on my order.  The phone rep was extremely nice and apologized for the mistake.  He said they would send out the sandals ASAP, awesome.  The next day I was cleaning out the spare room.  I opened up a cabinet where I jam extra Roomba stuff a low and behold, there are the sandals.  Doh!  I guess if I was saint I would have called up the catalog company and admitted the mistake was mine.  I guess I’m not a saint. We are hoping my step mom has a size nine foot.