Ackerman Security Systems

I paid Ackerman over $2500 to install a “state of the art” system in my home. I had problems from the very start. The installers (contracted by Ackerman) left bits of wire all over my home, a pile of discarded packaging in my attic, installed wireless rather than the hard-wired motion detectors stipulated in my sales contract, installed the wrong control panel, failed to connect my wireless monitoring (so when they were done my system wasn’t being monitored), didn’t install a remote keypad option called for in the contract, and didn’t correctly install a couple of the house’s window sensors. A series of follow-up appointments have been necessary to get the system working “as sold” … however, 3 months and at least 5 service calls later I’m still very much in the process of getting things sorted out. 1 of my motion detectors still appears not to function. My remote keypad still doesn’t work as promised and the system still appears to be programmed incorrectly. Features the sales persons claimed were “easy to add on” are apparently complete mysteries to the technicians who have been out here … and, after they got my credit card, I never saw nor heard from the original sales person again. I only get my issues addressed after repeated calls to Ackerman, they're definitely not proactive about addressing problems! Without question the service has been bad. The sales person also clearly had little or no understanding of the system he sold me (these guys are selling technology they obviously don’t personally use and clearly don’t fully comprehend). Overall … I have a “functional” alarm system now and the monitoring rates are comparatively reasonable. So, I’ll give Ackerman 2 out of 5 stars (which may be too generous given the tremendous degree of hassle to even get to this point). Honestly, when spending this much on a security system… it should work as sold hassle free! more

Good: My first Ackerman system malfunctioned after 28 years, so we had them replace it. It turned out there was a mistake in the new installation. The alarm was not loud enough. When it was brought to the attention of the right person, they responded quickly. It was fixed in 15 minutes.. Bad: The initial installer should have known it wasn't 100% right. I also think their phone system for customer service is among the worst I have ever had to deal with.. Improvements: A better phone answering system. Other: Everyone I spoke with was courteous and tried to be helpful. The last serviceman to appear, Andrew, was very competent and efficient.. more

I worked as an installation and repair technician at Ackerman. To think that this was an honest company with integrity was dismissed when I found out how often the company allowed other technicians to purposely price gouge customers in favor of meeting monthly quotas. Service Management would look the other way. One customer, a retired doctor, was con’d into buying an entire new security system for nearly 3X the amount shown in the sales listing. Also, the Ackerman “local” center does not have telephone backup. Within a 6-month span, the one and only T1 land-line phone service had gone down twice for extended periods. After each repair or installation of a security system, field technicians were told by management (via Sprint/Nextel cell phone service) to “fake it” when generating test alarms. I was very disillusioned in how this company employed deception, price gouging and other modus operandi tactics to meet monthly quotas and bow down to the god of the almighty buck. Personally, I would never have Ackerman monitor my home security system… it’s that bad! BTW, Ackerman had my previous review removed in another major review board. more

I tried to setup a 2nd code. At the end of setting up the code, the system malfunctioned. Both me and my husband tried to call Ackerman for over an hour before getting through. Funny, you don't even get a busy signal, you get a pretty much out of service signal when you call. We tried to call from 4 different phones so it was not the phone. Could it be because of the complaint calls they may be getting? The customer service is horrible, horrible, horrible. Can you immagine not getting through to your security company for more than an hour? I then emailed the service department and got and "out of office" response. What horrible service! When my husband finaly got through he was put on hold and transferred back and fourth and the issue still is not resolved. This sucks and we only had the system 8 weeks. Ackerman sucks and I will be reporting them to the BBB immediately. Slim in the Atl! more

We had a problem with the system. We had ackerman for about 14 months and had a problem with "their system" called to schedule service - remember their system was the problem - $69 first half hour and $60 each half hour afterwards. The clerk stated that, "most calls are less than 3 hours!" And, that the soonest she could get someone out to me is in 11 days. And of course if we wanted to cancel it would be ok with them as long as we paid for the remainder of our service contract. more

These people promised to call back to reset the password but never heard from despite multiple reminders. When system broke down service was available only after one week. Totally unacceptable. Only thing they are interested is to collect the money. Stay away from this company. According to person who worked there this is the most dis-organized company in the town. more

Called about changing our alarm code in the office and nobody was able to help on phone. They promised to call back same day. Call never came. Month later the system crashed and by then nobody had called us back. Their reply was to have a service man to come and fix it in SEVEN (7) DAYS. That stinks. We called another company which send repair man immediately and we changed our monitoring away away from these stinkers. Stay away from this company. more

Worst service and experience I've had in a long time. I would never recommend this company to anyone, ever. more

Good: The Sales was great. Bad: Inaccurate billing statements, which seems to be too quick for the Collection department wanting to turn off service.. Improvements: They need a real live person to handle complaints. The switch board operation has no knowledge or authority to correct the problems.. Other: I came back to Ackerman last year thinking they resolved the problems only to find out that it is worse. more

I have been a customer for 1 year. About 2 months ago we switched from Comcast to Att Telephone service. I had to pay $85 for Ackerman to come out and rewire the system plus $36 for the filter to go on the phone line in the Alarm Box. They did not completely fix the problem. Sometimes they will recieve that the alarm was triggered and sometimes they will not. And because it is 10 days over the 30 days since they have been out I now have to pay an additional $85 for someone to come back out for the same problem b/c it was never fixed in the first place. So I have called 3 times today and every time they forward my call to an answering machine - it does not even ring! So now I have no home phone, no alarm system, and they will not even answer my phone call. I am discusted with Ackerman. I pay for them to protect my home but they do not care that they are not recieving an alarm signal. You may not want to pay a little more for an alarm system - but trust me this much trouble is not worth the little amount of money I am saving. Also - they only include ONE keypad when you begin your service with them. The 2nd keypad is $150. Atleast other companies include TWO keypads and come with a guarentee. This is crazy! I want my money back and I will never call Ackerman Security Again!! more

Our alarm went off about 2:30am and we did not receive a call from ackermann. My husband called them and they stated for some reason our system was not registering on their system and come to find out it had not been monitored for close to 2 months! A service man came out to check out our system and they wanted us to pay for it! The service guy stated their system was updated recently and for some reason it never received communication with our alarm so it just stopped monitoring us. We finally won the battle and they paid for the service call, how was any of that our fault and how were we ever suppose to know we were not being monitored? more

My house was broken into and no police were contacted or anything. Then when I call the company they state that even if i change security companies I have to pay for three years since its the contract. They took no responsibility for the alarm not going off. more

I own a chain if retail stores around the southeast. I was with ADT for 10yrs unitil they decided they wanted to increase my monthly monitoring 35$ per location. When I asked them why all they could say is that it was policy, (WTF?) I called Ackerman and they switched my service at every location for free and no I am saving over $2,300 per year. Since then its been great. I have no complaints and would recomend them to anyone I encounter. more

I recently had Ackerman Security install several systems in my home and buisiness. Including a camera systems and access keypads for some doors. The salesman Mike Harrison was a pleasure to deal with and was very profesional. I have referd Ackerman to several of my friends and family with all the same outcome. As far as security companies go here in Atlanta, Ackerman is hands down the best around. more

I've had almost the same experience as Macie M. above. Almost everything I was sold turned out to be not what would work for my house and had to be upgraded---more $$$. Installation has taken days (cost me a fortune in days off to be there with them). It has been one mistake after another. It's been almost 4 motnhs and the system is still not working properly. Getting someone out to finish installing it correctly has proven to be impossible so far. I would not buy a system from Ackerman and would not recommend them to anyone. more

If you are considering a new security system or monitoring service look elsewhere - anywhere else! Where do I begin? Our salesman seemed adequate until I received a telephone call the day after we signed our contract stating he messed up on the $18.95 monthly quoted price, and he would be changing the contract to reflect the corrected price of $23.95. Is that legal? Our system was then installed and of course more money... the gentleman installing the system stated we would need wireless sensors for 3 of the sensors our salesman stated could be wired. So another $69.95 x 3 and our keypad well it must date back to the 1970s because it is huge and looks nothing like the ones shown on the website. So now I have a system that does not work like it was sold to me and we must bypass our motion sensors when we want only the doors armed because it was programmed wrong. And trying to get someone to return your phone call is impossible unless of course you want to speak with a salesman. more