Ackerman Security: Atlanta’s Oldest Alarm Company
Ackerman Security is a family-owned, Georgia-based security company founded in 1967. Three generations in, they operate their own UL-listed central monitoring station in Atlanta and serve primarily the metro Atlanta and greater Georgia area. They’re the kind of company your parents might have used — and that’s both their strength and their problem in 2026.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 (Atlanta, GA) |
| Ownership | Family-owned, 3rd generation |
| Service area | Georgia (primarily metro Atlanta, expanding statewide) |
| Monitoring station | Own UL-listed facility in Atlanta |
| Installation | Professional only (no DIY option) |
| Contracts | 36-60 month agreements typical |
| Monthly monitoring | $19.95-$49.95/mo (depending on package) |
| Equipment | Honeywell/Resideo panels, 2GIG, Alarm.com app |
| BBB Rating | A+ (accredited since 1970) |
| Our rating | 3/5 — solid local service, but expensive and locked in |
Ackerman Monitoring Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Contract | Includes | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Monitoring | $19.95 | 36 months | Intrusion monitoring, fire/CO | ❌ No app control |
| Interactive | $34.95 | 36 months | Basic + Alarm.com app, remote arm/disarm | ✅ Alarm.com |
| Video + Automation | $44.95 | 36 months | Interactive + cameras, smart home | ✅ Alarm.com + video |
| Total Connect | $49.95 | 36-60 months | Full package + energy management | ✅ Full Alarm.com |
Key issue: Every plan requires a multi-year contract. The “basic” plan at $19.95/mo doesn’t even include app control — you’re paying $720 over 3 years for phone-call-only monitoring. That’s a hard sell when Abode offers free self-monitoring with full app control and no contract.
What Ackerman Does Well
| Strength | Details | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Local monitoring station | Own UL-listed facility in Atlanta = faster Georgia response | Only matters if you’re in metro Atlanta |
| Professional installation | Licensed technicians, proper wiring, code compliance | $199-$499 install fee + you’re locked in |
| 57+ years in business | BBB A+ since 1970, community trust | Longevity ≠ best value in 2026 |
| Alarm.com integration | Industry-standard app on higher tiers | Requires $34.95+/mo plan to access |
| Local service calls | Same-day/next-day tech visits | Great until you need to cancel that 3-year contract |
The Problems With Ackerman in 2026
| Problem | Impact | Modern Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| 36-60 month contracts | $720-$3,000 commitment before you can leave | Abode: month-to-month, cancel anytime |
| No DIY option | Must pay for professional install ($199-$499) | Abode/Ring: 15-minute self-install |
| Georgia-only service | Move out of state = early termination fee | Abode: take it anywhere, no penalty |
| Basic plan has no app | $19.95/mo but can’t even arm from your phone | Abode free plan: full app control, $0/mo |
| Equipment owned by Ackerman | Cancel = they may reclaim the panel | Abode: you own everything outright |
| No smart home on lower tiers | Need $44.95+/mo for automation | Abode: Z-Wave + Zigbee + HomeKit on free plan |
| Cancellation penalties | Remaining contract balance due immediately | Abode: $0 cancellation fee |
| Opaque pricing | Must call for quotes, no online pricing transparency | Abode: all prices on website |
3-Year Cost Comparison
| System | Equipment | Install | Monthly | Contract | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode (self-monitor) | $199 | $0 (DIY) | $0 | None | $199 |
| Abode Pro | $199 | $0 (DIY) | $20 | None | $919 |
| Ring Plus | $200 | $0 (DIY) | $20 | None | $920 |
| SimpliSafe Interactive | $299 | $0 (DIY) | $28 | None | $1,307 |
| Ackerman Basic | $0* | $199 | $19.95 | 36 months | $917 |
| Ackerman Interactive | $0* | $199 | $34.95 | 36 months | $1,457 |
| Ackerman Video | $0* | $299 | $44.95 | 36 months | $1,917 |
| ADT Traditional | $0* | $0-$199 | $45 | 36 months | $1,620-$1,819 |
| Vivint | $0 (financed) | $0 | $50 | 60 months | $1,800 |
*Equipment may be leased — Ackerman/ADT may reclaim panels on cancellation.
Ackerman’s Basic plan looks competitive at $917/3yr — until you realize it has no app control. To get the same functionality as Abode’s free plan (app control, remote arm/disarm), you need Ackerman’s $34.95/mo Interactive plan at $1,457/3yr. That’s $1,258 more than Abode self-monitoring.
Head-to-Head: Ackerman vs Abode
| Feature | Ackerman | Abode |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | 36-60 months required | None — month-to-month |
| Installation | Pro only ($199-$499) | DIY in 15 minutes |
| App control | $34.95+/mo plans only | Free on all plans |
| Self-monitoring | Not available | Free forever |
| Smart home | $44.95+/mo for automation | Z-Wave + Zigbee + HomeKit on free plan |
| HomeKit support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes — only major system with it |
| Portability | Georgia only | Take anywhere, works nationwide |
| Equipment ownership | May be leased | You own everything |
| Cancellation fee | Remaining contract balance | $0 |
| Monitoring options | Pro only ($19.95-$49.95/mo) | Free, $7, $13, or $20/mo |
| Camera integration | $44.95+/mo tier | Abode Cam 2 ($35) on any plan |
Who Should Still Consider Ackerman
| Scenario | Why Ackerman | But Consider |
|---|---|---|
| You want someone else to install everything | Turnkey professional setup | Ring also offers pro install at $129.99/device |
| You’re in metro Atlanta and want local service | Same-day tech visits, local monitoring | Response time difference is marginal in practice |
| You already have Ackerman and like it | Switching has a cost | Check if your contract is ending — don’t auto-renew |
| Your insurance requires a “licensed installer” certificate | Some GA insurers prefer local companies | Most insurers accept any central station certificate |
If You’re an Existing Ackerman Customer
Before your contract renews:
- Check your contract end date — mark your calendar 60 days before
- Get cancellation terms in writing — some contracts auto-renew for 12+ months
- Compare your monthly cost to Abode’s plans — you’ll likely save $15-30/month
- If you own your panel, you may be able to switch to Alarm Grid or Alarm Relay for $12-15/mo monitoring on your existing equipment
- If Ackerman owns the panel, start fresh with Abode — the $199 kit pays for itself in 6-12 months of savings
Other Georgia Security Options
| Provider | Type | Monthly | Contract | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abode | DIY nationwide | $0-$20 | None | Best overall value + smart home |
| Ring Alarm | DIY nationwide | $20 | None | Amazon/Alexa households |
| SimpliSafe | DIY nationwide | $18-$28 | None | Simple setup, no smart home needs |
| EMC Security | GA co-op regional | $15-$35 | 36+ months | EMC electric co-op members |
| ADT | National pro-install | $28-$60 | 36 months | Brand trust, pro installation |
FAQ
Is Ackerman Security a good company?
They’re reliable and well-established — 57+ years, BBB A+, own monitoring station. The issue isn’t quality, it’s value. In 2026, you can get better technology, more flexibility, and lower costs from DIY systems like Abode without a multi-year contract.
How do I cancel Ackerman Security?
Call their customer service and request cancellation terms in writing. You’ll likely owe the remaining balance of your contract. If your contract has less than 6 months left, it may be worth waiting it out rather than paying the early termination fee.
Does Ackerman Security work outside Georgia?
Their monitoring works anywhere with a phone/cellular connection, but technician service is Georgia-only. If you move out of state, you’ll either pay the early termination fee or be stuck paying for a system you can’t get serviced.
What equipment does Ackerman use?
Primarily Honeywell/Resideo panels and 2GIG systems with Alarm.com for interactive plans. This is standard industry equipment — which means if you switch providers, a qualified installer can often repurpose the hardware with a different monitoring service.
Is Ackerman cheaper than ADT?
Slightly, at the basic level ($19.95 vs $28+/mo). But both require long contracts and professional installation. For actual value, both are significantly more expensive than DIY options like Abode ($0-$20/mo, no contract, no install fee).
Can I use my existing Ackerman sensors with Abode?
Not directly — Ackerman typically uses wired or proprietary wireless sensors. However, Abode’s Smart Security Kit comes with its own wireless sensors that install in minutes with adhesive strips. The fresh start is usually simpler than trying to repurpose old equipment.
Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
NR says
Auto Renewed without notification and now must pay unfair “contractual balance” to cancel service. I signed for service on July’2013. It was not informed to me by sales team at the time of contract signing. I found my name was incorrect, when they sent document, i had requested to correct, but it was not corrected. They auto renewed my service every year without informing me about any such clause in the agreement. Recently i had issue with alarm connection failure. I called to customer care few times for the issue related with alarm connection failure, finallly technician scheduled to visit. But it was not informed about the cost associated with technician visit. When i got the mail about $89 technician visit charge, i called the customer care, request for free technical visit otherwise cancelled the appointment. They preferred to cancel the appointment but did not ready to send technician to check the issue without any charge.
Finally, i switched to another service provider. When i called the Customer care to cancel my service. I was shocked to find that we had somehow been signed up for an auto-renewing contract, which never informed to us by sales or customer care except one document sent long back as initial document six years back.
I did not receive any notification that our contract was going to auto-renew or any charge associated with cancellation.
Few more surprise, You have to cancel the auto-renew in writing 2 months prior to your contract date.
For cancellation, You need to send signed copy through mail, not email (i guess 🙂 ).
I can only say this is not ethical business practice. Here the company motive is to charge unfairly to customer by getting signed unfair agreement. I am taking this as my responsibility to inform about this bad business practice.
Concerned Netizen says
Predatory cancellation policy. I moved out of my house over 2 years ago, and notified Ackerman via phone at that time. To spite repeated requests to cancel the notifications and the account over the phone, they kept sending me phone calls and texts about “alarm outages”. And I just found out that they’ve been charging me for monitoring this whole time! I asked if they could provide at least partial credit since this is obviously an error, but they said they could not. BE ADVISED: Apparently, in order to cancel the account, you have to ask to be transferred to their “Customer Loyalty Department” and request that they email you a form. The form has to be filled out and physically mailed in in order for the account to be cancelled.
latrice says
DO NOT USE THERE SERVICE i have been without security of my property since 7-6-19 the tech suppose to come out on the 13 of July to fix equipment he has not shown up yet i keep calling they keep giving me supervisor who acts like they are concerned over the phone than hey schedule another tech to come out he never show again than i call again then the give me credit on the bill schedule another tech than they do a no show im so feed up i just stop calling than they charge you to break the contract im trying to get in contact with 8 on your side these people are a rip off
S Ari says
OMG!!! I am having the same issue. Today is September 30th and I have been without service since August 25th. I adopted a new puppy on August 24th and the system kept beeping and I have tried turning it off and it would not work. It happened about three times prior and I was able to turn it off, but this time, I wasn’t . I called them and they told me it is a communication error and would schedule someone to come out. This was bout 9:00 am. I receive two emails stating the tech would be out at 2:00 AM on the 25th? WTH? But is past 2:00 A.M, One guy called said it was the cellular update and they have the same issue in Dunwoody. He later called and said he saw where I have had a couple of those communication errors and will have the girls in the office call me. Well, Monday passed, Tuesday came and no call from the office. I phoned Wednesday and they tried to sell me a new 5-year contract with a higher monthly payment. I called and left a message to cancel my service and no one returned my call. I have been calling and calling. two weeks ago, I called again and spoke with a customer loyalty rep who offered me the same price with a new system and a doorbell camera but never emailed me the contract. After speaking with who I believe is a customer Loyalty manager, I eventually got the two quotes. Strangely, both quotes were the same quote, not two different ones. SMH.
I responded to the email and advised that I didn’t get the seconde quote emailed to me. On Monday, August 23rd, the salesman responded to me via email and said he will call me to set everything up. I had requested an installation on October 1st. To date, I have not received a call.
I had prepaid for August and requested a refund via phone message. I had spoken to a rep who said she credited me, but on Friday or early Saturday morning, I receive an email stating my credit card failed.
I responded to the email in not such a nice tone, but it bounced back.
I am now thinking about calling the local news station to file a complaint and the BBB.
Archana Patel says
Very unhappy with our service, in the last 2.5 years our system has been down 4 times. Very hard company to work with… most of the time their service dept doesnt answer the phone, subsequently wait to get a call back from them after many follow up calls from myself. We will not be renewing our contract come June.
Brian Vasquez says
After searching for many months I decided to pull the trigger with Ackerman. The main reason was their guarantees. Ackerman is the only company that gives me a written guaranteed response. So far I haven’t had any problems and I’m happy with their service.
Lindsay Davis says
If I could give Ackerman Security a review rating of -10 stars I would!! I would not recommend this Company to my worst enemy! That is how aggravated I am with how they have treated me and their inability to stand by their Mission Statement (quoted): “To secure your home with quality products!” I purchased surveillance cameras in January 2018 in order to be able to use evidence of my situation in the court’s system and with the police. I have a stalker, whom harasses me daily. He has physically harmed me, makes me feel defenseless and mentally, psychologically & emotionally disturbs me! He makes me feel unsafe. I’ve filed 3 peace orders against him, yet he still comes around when I’m not home.He sets off my car’s alarm in the wee hours of the night! He bangs loudly on my front door In the middle of the night. This has caused problems with the other tenants I live in close quarters to!!! The noise level of his banging travels and is heard from those tenants whom live above me and next to me. This convict & his obnoxious behavior has caused drama in all areas of my life. So,as a woman living alone & trying to find the best solution to stop this guy from harassing me; I decided to pay for a surveillance camera system with Ackerman Security. Technically, I could not even afford it but I needed something to put an end to my being harassed and allow me to feel safe.I have been completely UNABLE to use my security system since I purchased it in January, 2018. When the cameras where initially installed the technicians explained NOTHING to me on how to use the products I had purchased which consisted of: Wireless Monitoring, Surveillance, local 24 hour certified, monitoring and remote video & storage, video banging system. With so much technology to learn I should have been taught on the proper use of what I had bought. I received no direction on its use. From that day forward we approach the second issue. I was locked out of my own security system’s account immediately after installation & the technicians had left! I could not get in with the password I created & could not view my camera surveillance system. I called customer service & they sent out a technician that was rude, inattentive and explained NOTHING TOO ME other than, “ok it’s fixed, it should work now!” That was not the case. He claimed to have fixed the problem. The outcome, I was still shut out of my own security system using the new password I created. I still Could not view my cameras. Again I called, & requested another technician come out and solve the problem. I distinctly made it clear that I preferred a different technician than the previous one due to his rudeness. Another technician came out, after about 2 cancelled appointments on his end & one no-show. The outcome, he corrected nothing & basically said there was nothing he could do for me.Than a 3rd technician came out & than a fourth. Than the 5th time a technician came out with a manager! Apparently I had the incorrect software & the wrong app downloaded on my phone. With all the visits from technicians NONE OF THEM COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. As a customer of Ackerman Security shouldn’t I have maybe been informed that the app for my iPhone had changed for the monitoring of my home from anywhere, anytime, anyplace with use of the iPhone app. Nor was I Informed on the change in software to the monitor that gives access to viewing the outside of your home from you laptop on their website. So the final time a tech came out with a manager it resulted with them figuring out the problem! They needed to take my box/monitor that controls my camera system on the outside of my house!! So this occurs sometime in April, 2018. The manager assured me the monitoring box/system would be updated & returned to me immediately ensuring upon its return I would FINALLY have a working surveillance camera system!! It is now June 22, 2018 and my system’s box has yet to be returned.Sometime in May I had a scheduled appointment with a technician to come out to my home and hook my monitor box back up because it had been fixed. He was to arrive between 1pm-4pm. I cleared my schedule for this day!! The technician never showed up nor did he return any of my phone calls or texts. This was not the first time I re-arranged my schedule to have a technician come out using a 4 hour window time frame. Once again, they were a no show for the appointment. No phone call no nothing did I receive any of the times they just didn’t show up for an appt.
Also, Ackerman Security does not even confirm appointments with their customers. How can a company not confirm that a specific day and time will work for their customer? They just choose a time & date & send you an email!
So just to clarify I spent $1500 on a surveillance camera system with Ackerman Security with the main reasoning being to protect myself and my home from my stalker!!! By now I could have had SO Many videos of my harasser that would have had him immediately put in jail. But I do not have any evidence owed to not being able to access my camera system since my initial purchase of it in January, 2018. I have not been able to make use oF &/or even access my camera system one time since the original purchase date and installation date! Ive had to call 911 one night to request a cop sit out front of my house so that I felt safe enough to fall asleep because my stalker was obnoxious. Eventually, following numerous phone calls made on my behalf to Ackerman, I was finally able to speak with a supervisor sometime in May that assured me the issue/problem would be handled. I requested a partial refund and Ackerman Security did issue me $500. In my opinion for the inconvenience, stress & anxiety this company has caused me I deserve a FULL REFUND! On the other hand; although I was able to get in touch with a supervisor my life and safety are still at risk and the supervisor continues to completely ignore my phone calls & messages. At this point I’m going to contact the better business bureau & do everything in my power to get this company to do what they promise to do for their customers! Ive still heard nothing about my monitoring system and it’s being fixed,updated to the latest software and/or when another technician will come out to finally fix the problem! The importance of monitoring the outside of my house could put a complete scumbag in jail!! If I had what I paid for This scumbag would have been in jail a long time ago with the video footage I could have caught & taken to the police & the court’s system. This is my 3rd peace order against this person. Im able to provide paperwork that proves I have a “fatal attraction” situation on my hands. He is the MAIN reason I sought protection and monitoring for my home. Still the supervisor ignores my phone calls & messages. I will continue to contact ackerman security as much as I need to in order to A.) request more of a refund and B.) get my surveillance camera system up and running properly so I can provide evidence for my circumstances. I don’t feel safe in my own home! Let me just clarify one more time, I purchased 2 of Ackerman’s BEST, high-tech Surveillance camera systems is in the early month of January, 2018 that monitor the The front & side of my home. NOT ONCE HAVE I BENEFITED FROM MY CAMERAS! BETTER YET; NOT ONCE HAS THE SYSTEM EVEN WORKED FOR ME AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY LOCKED ME OUT OF MY OWN SECURITY SYSTEM! This problem stems entirely from Ackerman Security and I have done nothing to the system that may have jeopardized its ability to properly monitor the outside of my home!!! This is taken directly from Ackerman Security’s Facebook page under their “About” Section: “People want REAL security & Monitoring is the MOST IMPORTANT PART of any security system. In addition, the system itself should be designed to protect a particular home or business.” What I have explained concerning my experience with Ackerman Security completely contradicts what they promise & promote to do for their customers. I paid them for my surveillance system, they have an obligation to ensure my camera system is working so that I feel safe. I literally am dealing with a psychopath & it’s the very reason I purchased surveillance. I’ve called Ackerman security roughly 35 times since the initial installment to correct this problem. I feel completely ignored by them, taken advantage of and disagree with their “MISSION STATEMENT!!” They have been merely unprofessional, unapologetic, have been the least bit concerned with my safety & my current situation. Finally, they have portrayed to me that they are just a complete contradiction regarding the manner in which they sell their company’s values.
Rod says
Ackerman was ok. Not good enough but ok. I had coverage on my doors, but my windows were not. So in place of my windows not being covered in the event of entry The sales rep had the company put in a sensor. Which means an intruder could enter my room through the window and leave without the alarm going off. My neighborhood is very quiet and my neighbor is in law enforcement and does a better job than any security service. I stuck with ackerman until my contract was to end and called to cancel. This is where the problems began. I spoke to several reps to cancel my renewal and made my current payment. Then I would receive an email stating my payment was declined. I thought something was wrong with my account and thought someone swiped me clean, but no. I made another payment and the same thing happened. So, for the 3rd time i made another payment and each time i got a confirmation number. My conclusion to this payment being declined had me wondering if they were delaying in order to bill me for another cycle. Remind you that when I first called and cancelled month’s prior, no one ever told me that I would have to send in a cancellation form by mail to prove I’m making the authorization. I then asked the rep on the phone today that if I wanted to upgrade my system could it be done? He said sure, what would you like upgraded. I told him I just wanted to see what was necessary to upgrade VS cancelling. Seems like you can upgrade, but can’t cancel over the phone. Also, even though I made my request to cancel months ago. the cancellation won’t take place until they receive my cancellation form. At least the guy tried to assist me this time around
Rod says
Oh yeah, My alarm would go off internally without reason or notifying Ackerman.
Alarm Reviews says
Rod, meet Rod ha!
Xander Stephens says
The 30-second alarm guarantee is all marketing hype. When you challenge them on it they will use all kinds of excuses, it is your alarm equipment ( which they say they can come check for a 75 service fee ), it is the weather, the phone company etc. It is a joke. The local law enforcement in my area has stopped responding to their dispatch requests because they owed them so much money for false alarms. If you call to complain you get caught up in phone maze, transfers and broken promises for callbacks. My advice would be to stay away.
Lauren Phillips says
So… If this is your security company you might want to consider a change. If you guys know anyone who has Ackerman or is looking for a security system share this, ppl deserve to know the level of incompetentence they’re dealing with.
My alarm went off yesterday and these idiots have had my address wrong in their system the whole time. Tried posting on their page and they just delete it because apparently they just delete any negative comments about their company. How could you even possibly, as an ALARM company have my ADDRESS in your system incorrectly??? Talk about gross incompetence. I’m pretty reasonable, but that’s just ridiculous. As an alarm company, that’s the ONE thing that should never happen. You dispatched police to the wrong address and your response is simply a very nonchalant “hmm, I don’t know how that happened, sorry about that.” Do I want you to send the police now? Almost an hour later, no, at this point I’ve already left work early and because I clearly can’t trust you guys to handle it, I’ll just call the damn police myself if I need them. #ackermansecurity
Jaime says
We had a meeting with the sales rep thought it would be an amazing company. Day 1 they come to install the service, came home and the chimes weren’t going off like they had before. Called the company to ask if the the door sensors had been mistakingly removed. Next day they were supposed to come finish the install because we needed an extendor (which we had delivered overngiht) the tech starts yelling at my finance stating we accused him of stealing and hes not comfortable coming to our home. So no install, called the sales rep to explain what was going on and nobody called us. It’s been almost a week and they started calling stating they were coming to finish the install after we had stated we wanted to disconnect it. No manager ever called to apologize for the tech or what he had accused us of nor to even asked what had happened. They act like nothing happened! The customer service is terrible to say the least now we have let these people into our home and I’m worried after the tech screamed at my fiance and made horrid accusations. If you want good customer service do not go with this company. This has gone on for over a week and nobody has said anything.
Ajas says
Ackerman security system has been the system I’ve grown to know. My parents have been using it since I was a teenager and now I also have it installed in my bachelor’s pad. It’s nice and I don’t get charged exorbitantly like I hear people say. I also love to use the free mobile app! It’s really great to use to turn on and off the alarm system.
Steve says
When your contract expires they escalate your fee every year unless you renew a contract. Avoid!!!
PJ Camp says
Ackerman is less than half the price of ADT for monitoring. Ackerman has consistently responded within 30 seconds.
Kimberly Johnson says
I’ve been trying for over a month to get someone out to fix my equipment. I keep getting told they have to email someone in my area to service it. I’ve called several times. I’m changing to another security system provider. This is ridiculous!
April Collins says
Ackerman was recommended to me by a friend of mine. It has only been a few short weeks but this far, it has been a good experience. I was having issues working the panel and someone was kind enough to walk me through everything over the phone. Granted after paying the bill, I am sure there are cheaper options.
Eric J. says
I won’t sit here and sugar coat it. I have had some issues with Ackerman Security but… I can say they are one of the better companies in terms of reliable hardware. I ended up going with another company after my contract with them was up and I keep running in to issues with their devices. The cameras like to flicker, sometimes they shut off. It has been annoying. I know with Ackerman, at least I didn’t have to wonder if my stuff was working.
Mitch says
I have been with Ackerman for nearly 3 years now and have no complaints. I am not sure where these people are getting their information from. Was I somehow treated better than like 80% of the rest of their clients?? Sure they aren’t the best but you get what you pay for. Knowing that going in none of this is surprising.
Denny says
You lucked out then. My wife and I have been having issues with the alarm going off at random times throughout the day. The neighbors have been complaining because it is quite loud. Every time we call we get put on hold or disconnected. I am going to try contacting them via e-mail tonight. It has been like this for over a week and I am fed up!
Andrew says
I don’t know if you just lucked out or what but I too have not had too many issues with the company. Ackerman has not been the best but in comparison to the last company I was with, they are definitely an upgrade. I will say that you should always be sure to ask a lot of questions before signing a contract so you know what you are getting.
Terrible Customer Service!!' says
Terrible customer service. Misinformed on cancellation steps & procedures. I keep getting ‘Michael’ who claims to have mailed the cancellation steps out to me twice! I told him I’ve been trying to cancel this for 1 year and a half and have been waiting for this to come. He then said I sent it to u on 2/28/17. Come to find out he emailed it while I was waiting for postal mail from them! They are incompetent and lack the skills to operate such a highly advertised security system. I regret using them !! I asked verbally what I could do to speed up this cancellation since it’s been a year and half. This Michael ignored my ?meanwhile direct withdrawals from my Acct stopped now I’m getting a paper bill. Ugggggghhh!
Max O. says
I am experiencing similar issues myself. Seems like the second you mentioned canceling they put you on an ignore list or something. I was getting money taken from my account after being told the contract was canceled. I ended up just having to switch banks to keep them from robbing me.
David says
This happened to my neighbor. They cancelled their service and it took them a few months to get them to stop billing them. It was a major hassle for them.
Brian S. says
This happened to me as well. I am not sure what was going on. I feel like they don’t have a clear grasp on their customer’s needs or something. I finally got the bills to stop coming in last month. I came on this site looking for a new option and seen this. I am glad I am not alone with this but I feel sorry for anyone this may have happened to. If you like them then stick with them other wise they will be like that one ex that seems to not get the message.
Robert Patrone says
***BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY. IF EVER YOU WONDERED, SHOULD I IGNORE THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS? THE ANSWER IS NO REGARDING ACKERMAN***
In addition to the many negative reviews, I like to add this. You pay for a Alarm System and monthly monitoring fees. You expect to be protected when away from your home. “Ackerman Security guarantees response time.” NO SECURITY COMPANY CAN GUARANTEE POLICE RESPONSE TIME. I’ve been a member of the Law Enforcement Family for 29 years. I’ve risen through the ranks. Calls to 911 or prioritize. Burglary Alarms aren’t priority 1 calls. Depending on your city, crime rate, volume of calls and more……..it can take up to 16 hours before police actually respond to your alarm. By this time, thieves can clear out your resident or business within 16 hours. The only thing Ackerman can guarantee is, they will notify 911 of the alarm, which is what all alarm companies do.
TO MANY RED FLAGS WITH THIS COMPANY.
Baxter Reags says
Thanks for the heads up. I nearly was going to sign with them because I liked their equipment but I think I was lied to by the service rep. He did not mention any of this. I read this review and seen your comment so I did more digging and sure enough, a lot of people have the same exact complaints. Close call on that one! Thanks again Robert!
Howie says
Shady or incompetent? I’m a customer of Ackerman for more than 5 years. I was called in August and told my equipment must be updated or it would no longer work and this was a free upgrade. My tenant arranged the upgrade that occurred Oct. 10. He was charged $99 for the free service upgrade before the old equipment was exchanged for the new. My account with Ackerman was also charged $99. I phoned customer service several times and could not get the charges removed. I spoke with personnel who I was told were supervisors. I asked that the department manager call me on each occasion. I never received a call. To make matters worse, I got a call from Ackerman in Nov. wanting to setup an installation date for the new equipment or my old equipment would no longer work. After an explanation of the my situation this person did get a supervisor to call me, and after a lengthy discussion said they would remove my charge. My $99 charge has been removed. But my tenant still paid $99 for a free upgrade. Is this a trustworthy operation?
RENITA MURCHISON says
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY, BAD CUSTOMER SERVICES, THEY TELL YOU ONE PRICE ON THE PHONE AND YOU PAY IT AND WHEN THEY COME TO INSTALL YOUR EQUIPMENT THERE IS A ADDITAL CHARGE. DO NOT US THIS COMPANY. I PAID 199.00 AND WHEN THEY CAME OUT IT WAS A 140.00 MORE AND I STATED TO THE GUY THAT I WAS NOT PAYING NO 140.00 FOR WHAT. THEY WENT INTO MY BANK ACCOUNT AND TOOK THE MONEY 140.00. AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT WAS FOR EQUIPMENT.
Alarm Reviews says
Sorry to hear that Renita. That’s a lot of angry caps!
Joan Butler says
I am based in Atlanta, one of the 4 regions Ackerman currenlty covers. Everywhere I turn online lies a bad review on why not to choose Ackerman as my home security system provider. The free Monitoring offer is a hard one to resist though with no long term contract.
Tony says
I have read a lot of dodgy reviews on many companies but a lot of the complaints with Ackerman do hold water. I think it is a regional thing. I know plenty of people who have had good experiences but I was one who did not. I am glad I switched to someone else.
Moe says
What company are you using now?
Maggie says
Definitely stay away from this company. I had to call them a few months after I cancelled them to get them to stop charging me. Not a good sign for a reputable company!
Willie Jackson says
I am having the same issue with Ackerman and I don’t even have the equipment anymore. I moved but Ackerman wasn’t able to relocate my equipment. I’m still being billed with no equipment.
Skylor A. says
Ackerman set me up, was not impressed with the surprises I found on my first bill. They are auto drafting my account and took out $259 for installation when they said it would be $149! This is not including the pro-rated first month bill. They don’t allow a long trial, their customer service is decent but definitely not a top company. I didn’t realize they don’t move with you nationally either. My advice is go with one of the top 10 reviewed on this site.
Maggie says
This is definitely a company to stay away from. I can never get any help when I call them or they act like they don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s really frustrating. I have written my cancellation letter and hoping they don’t have some other kind of excuse on why I can’t cancel yet!
Gustavo Sanchez says
STAY AWAY FROM ACKERMAN!!!
After 2 years with Ackerman, I called their customer service to find out about the ending date of my contract, what a surprise to find out that you are automatically signed for another one year contract and to cancel you have to write a letter and mail to them at least 60 days before the end of your contract. When called I didn’t have any problems with them, I was calling to check on my contract, but now I can’t wait for my contract to end so I can cancel my account. They customer service is horrible, they basically don’t care for their customer.