Brooklyne Nhp

Alert Usa Emergency Response Systems - Return your unit via FedEx - signature required!! Alert USA is ruthless and use scare tactics when concluding service

We got an Alert USA monitor for my mother 5 years ago. It definitely made us feel better knowing she could be 'assisted' with the push of a button. She never needed it, thankfully. We finally moved her into a senior community where she has all of her needs attended to, and lots of people around; so, we contacted Alert USA to return the unit. I was instructed to write a letter to get an 'authorization' to return it. I did this. The 'authorization' was a photocopied letter telling me to send it back, insured to their address in New York. Okaaay...they couldn't have told me that on the phone, or on a website?? I followed their instructions to the T, and thankfully, sent it via FedEx with a signature required. I also included a letter telling them that I expected to receive the $100.00 deposit refunded, as their literature stated would be returned to me, once they had the unit back. A month later, when I hadn't received any communication from them, I called their number was told by the 'receptionist/phone answering person' that I needed to speak to someone specific and that person wasn't available. I left my info for a return call. Shortly after that, I got a voicemail from a very stern man telling me he was "an officer from Alert USA Collections Department". I was surprised and called him back immediately. This 'officer' immediately told me that they hadn't received the unit and were going to charge me $600.00 to replace it. I said that there must be some mistake, because I was looking at the FedEx tracking online and I gave him the name of the person who signed for the package. He said he'd have to do some research and get back to me. A few days later, he called back and said that he did find it (sure...), but that I was missing a piece AND I owed some back charge (total mystery charge) that totalled $250.00. I asked that they deduct the $100.00 from that amount. He said 'That's not the way it works here, our system won't allow that. You must pay us in full and once your file is closed, we can issue the refund." Okaaay. I gave him my credit card for the $250.00. He said I'd receive a check in about 4 weeks. 4 weeks???? 8 weeks later nothing. This company is all about making money on the 'close out'. There are many companies that provide this service...keep looking!
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Loss:
$350