2023-10-27 04:00:00
In Belgium, “remote monitoring” type alarm systems are experiencing increasing success. After a drop in burglaries during the health crisis, they are now on the rise: in 2022, there were 16% more than during the Covid years, according to Belga. These worrying figures encourage Belgians to install surveillance cameras: according to the latest figures that we have obtained from the competent authorities, 78,318 people (or companies) have already declared 466,439 cameras in 2021. Like Rita, who chose Verisure like of 150,000 homes and small businesses in Belgium.
In order to secure their house located in Luxembourg, Rita and her husband called on the company, leader on the European market, around mid-July. “A very friendly salesperson comes to tell us regarding his product for more than 2 hours. I tell him that we must first see a competitor and get another opinion, but he insists“. Exhausted by his speech, the couple ended up agreeing to the installation of an alarm system, made up of three cameras and three window contacts for 1485.75 euros. “Without forgetting the subscription of 63.99 euros for connection to the remote monitoring center“. Very quickly, Rita becomes disillusioned.
“Afterwards, the problems escalate”
On July 28, following many personal problems, Rita checks the images from the cameras she has just installed: “Ten days following installation, I take a look at the night cameras and what I see astounds me. No visibility on one camera and another already broken“. Very responsive, a Verisure technician solved the problem, by drilling holes in their facade and inside the house. Despite their intervention, the problems persist. “The cameras stop recording following 10 p.m. and don’t start once more until the morning“. Disappointed by their service, Rita wishes to terminate her contract, but it is too late: the 14-day withdrawal period has passed. She also realizes that too large a sum has been withdrawn from her account. “I noticed that they had withdrawn €157.94 and €94.96 for 15 days in July (…) if my calculator still knows how to count, I would have had to pay the sum of €164 for 2 and a half months, i.e. 88.90 euros less“. Distraught, Rita contacted Verisure, who she said, “bury your head in the sand“.
“We will find a solution”
In order to clarify Rita’s situation, we contacted Verisure. The alarm and remote monitoring systems company has found a solution to the abusive withdrawals of the alert: “They will reimburse me for everything and take back the equipment, as requested.“, announces Rita. Regarding the systems offered and the prices, Verisure specifies: “Everything is tailor-made. Camera types and subscription prices vary from home to home. For obvious privacy reasons, not all cameras film 24 hours a day and our employees only have access to them if there is an attempted intrusion. Customers do not necessarily have access to live camera images“. This explains why Rita did not have access to the images from her camera following 10 p.m.
The opinion of a surveillance camera installer
To see more clearly, we contacted an installer of surveillance camera systems. For him, Verisure practices unbeatable prices. “It is one of the European leaders, so they can afford it. Generally speaking, the price of a single camera is 250 euros. Not counting labor or connection to a remote monitoring center“. It also states: “And that’s the price of a classic camera. You have to pay more for facial recognition or license plates“Also note, not all cameras record 24/7. Like any camera, there are different qualities.”The images from the detectors do not give excellent quality images, they are there to remove doubt.”
Burglary theft remote monitoring
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