Why is it so hard to cancel ADT?

ADT has been giving us the runaround for six months as we’ve tried to cancel our account. They’ve transferred us to people who are clearly just trying to pressure us into staying. After over 30 years of service, we’ve had to call our bank to reverse the charges because they won’t let us cancel. It feels like a total scam. Buyer beware—they’re a terrible company.

You need to send them a letter with your account number, name, address, and cancellation date. Faxing or sending a certified letter works best. Companies don’t have to let you cancel over the phone, though good ones will. A written notice is considered a legal document.

@stephane
In California, consumer protection laws allow you to cancel online. Companies have to comply with that.

Robbie said:
@stephane
In California, consumer protection laws allow you to cancel online. Companies have to comply with that.

That’s true, but I think businesses have a timeline to get their systems in place to support that.

I had no issues canceling my ADT account after 15 years. I double-checked my original contract and found a specific phone number for cancellations. Make sure you’re calling the correct department. If you’re still under contract, it might be harder to cancel.

Why not just stop paying them? That would solve the problem quickly.

Derek said:
Why not just stop paying them? That would solve the problem quickly.

Exactly! Block them through your bank and move on.

Have you considered filing a complaint with the FTC?

Stop worrying about your credit score. Cancel your payment method with them and let them come after you for the money. Record your calls to show you’ve tried to cancel, and then get a new card. Don’t let them keep taking your money.

ADT’s customer service has gone downhill. They used to be the standard for home security, but they’re no longer a good value. I downgraded my contract recently because of these issues.

I had a similar experience. Years ago, during an emergency, I called 911 and my wife pressed the ADT panic button. EMS arrived, but ADT didn’t call until we were already in the ambulance. That was the final straw for me. I called to cancel, and after some pushback, they agreed to terminate the service.

Most of us here already know how bad ADT is. The real question is, how do we warn potential customers who aren’t already aware of these issues?

I’ve said this before—just stop paying them. It doesn’t affect your credit score. I quit paying years ago when I had the same issues, and they never did anything about it. Block their access to your money, and the problem is solved.