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ADT Burglar alarm in house we’ve just bought – can I buy outright/use separately

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Hi there

We’ve just bought a new house, and it comes with an ADT burglar alarm. The previous owners have turned it off, and given us the contact details, but I’m trying to get informed as I know nothing about burglar alarms, or what they should be able to do.

The system is already installed – I can’t find any model number and ADT haven’t been able to tell me over the phone what the system is even theoretically capable of. I can see motion sensors in the house, but I don’t know if the fire alarm system is part of it – is this common?

Over the phone, ADT have quoted £26.99/month for the service, and a bunch of other fees.

To me, this seems like a ludicrous amount of money, particulary as it would only decrease my contents insurance premium by £50 a year, and particularly as the system is already installed. Also, we have pets so I imagine the motion sensors etc would have to be switched off, and I’m told this may incur an extra fee too!

Is it possible to just buy control of the system and quit using this rent model? Is there some other way to use the system?

I wouldn’t mind having a burglar alarm, but I can’t see that these charges make sense – any suggestions?

Here’s a picture of the control panel – if that helps at all.

adt.jpg
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Comments

  • ic
    ic Posts: 3,431 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I can't answer you questions, but I would guess the code is/was 2-5-7-8 enter. ;)
  • moonrakerz
    moonrakerz Posts: 8,650 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Look what you get for your money ..............

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3nZ1xPmbLM
  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    rip it out and get a DIY wirelsss alarm for about 100-200 quid.
    job done.
    Get some gorm.
  • ic wrote: »
    I can't answer you questions, but I would guess the code is/was 2-5-7-8 enter. ;)

    Brilliant. It has to be this combination.
    Motto: 'If you don't ask, you don't get!!'

    Remember to say thank you to people who help you out!

    Also, thank you to people who help me out.
  • Decent alarms fitted by alarm specialists cost only from £280 installed. Cheap nasty alarms cost from £70.

    The most difficult part of installing any wireless alarm is installing the bell box.
    Motto: 'If you don't ask, you don't get!!'

    Remember to say thank you to people who help you out!

    Also, thank you to people who help me out.
  • SteveJW
    SteveJW Posts: 724 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Somewhere this system will connect to a telephone line, without this is cannot dial out to the monitoring station
    This is only the control panel, should be a box somewhere in the house
    Any competent alarm engineer should be able to decommision the system or else reset it, most have a factory reset option
    Annimals, we have cats, installed a PIR (sensor) that was suppose not to register cats, the cats have never triggered it, but I cannot get in the rooms without triggering the sensor
    Have you any codes for the system
  • dld2s
    dld2s Posts: 441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker Uniform Washer
    edited 22 September 2011 at 9:10PM
    If it was a monitored alarm it would have been maintained as well, there is usually a handbook and a record of the alrm maintenance etc. in a metal keysafe type box next to where the main workings of the alarm are (a cupboard under the stair or near electric fuse box usually?)
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