Home Security Companies Targeted For Violations

HARTFORD — Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced August 2 that he has sued Safe Home Security, Inc, and Safe Home Monitoring, Inc, of Rocky Hill, along with their owner, for violating contract renewal laws, continuing to bill customers who canceled or declined to renew their service and harassing them when they rightly refused to pay.

The lawsuit, filed at the request of Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr, also charges David G. Roman and his companies with installing and failing to fix faulty equipment, as well as violations of the state’s home improvement contractor laws.

The action alleges that Safe Home companies required consumers to inform them in writing at least 60 days before their contracts expired if they did not wish to renew. The practice violates a state law requiring companies with certain automatic renewal provisions in their contracts to inform consumers the agreements are up for renewal 15 to 60 days before expiration. The law also allows consumers to cancel their agreements during that time period.

“Despite the understandable rush for security, homeowners should be alert to faulty equipment or fraud,” Mr Blumenthal said. “Our message: Be wary of shady home security companies. Faulty alarm systems can be worse than none — creating a false sense of security. These companies knowingly tricked scores of consumers into renewals without their consent or knowledge. They installed faulty equipment and failed to fix it, endangering customers, sticking them with defective alarms and exposing them to burglars and break-ins.”

“In looking carefully at how the company served its customers, we determined that in failing to return calls or show up for appointments, refusing to repair and replace systems that did not function properly, and failing to honor their warranty and guarantee, Safe Home Security treated customers unfairly. The installation, maintenance, and repair of security equipment must be provided without flaw, and the solicitation and renewal of security contracts must be fair,” Commissioner Farrell said.

The suit alleges that company representatives violated state home improvement laws by offering to make home improvements without being registered as home improvement salesmen and failing to provide written notice that consumers may cancel contracts within three business days of signing. Company employees also allegedly performed electrical work without the required state license.

The lawsuit seeks restitution for consumers, an order allowing consumers to terminate contracts if they wish, civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and reimbursement of the state’s litigation costs.

Current or former Safe Home customers seeking information about the action should call the Attorney General’s Office at 860-808-5400.