Recently, a company announced that it has developed a home security system that has no monthly fees attached. It certainly sounds like a great idea. After all, no one likes to pay monthly fees to a security service provider. Everyone assumes it’s just a restitution needed to pay for advanced home security protection. Therefore, knowing that there is a company that does not offer monthly fees certainly piques everyone’s interest. How is this kind of deal possible?

First understand why monthly fees are necessary. Essentially, the monthly fees pay for a professional monitoring service. Without this option, a home security system is cheap, self-contained, and severely limited in what it can do. A monthly fee allows the company to maintain a 24/7 live monitoring service without interruption. Paying customers are provided with a full staff of trained operators, as well as advanced new technology that allows communication to continue even in the event of a call drop or power outage.

The only way a company could offer a monthly savings plan is for them to remove this monitoring service, or simply remove the massive cost of running their centers from their own wallet. (Highly unlikely) The new company offering a home security service with no monthly fees has a different technology, which essentially simulates a call center, automatically calling four preset emergency numbers on signal. He also sets off a circus of sirens and flashing lights that disturbs the neighborhood.

The problem with this good idea is that it doesn’t promise reliability. Compared to a standard home security company, the system lacks some of the most important features that make live monitoring worth the money customers pay. For one thing, their security system doesn’t even call police management officers. You can only dial the numbers of friends or family and hopefully they will call the police after assuming the worst. Second, there is no dedicated call center to ensure emergency management with multiple phone lines and connected networks. That means call drops are a threat, as are power outages, busy signals and other technical difficulties. Third, with this type of “free” service you are putting the responsibility for your home in the hands of your friends and family, not in the hands of law enforcement officials. This type of system does not offer false alarm protection or smart sensors that track interior movement. Lastly, you cannot protect your home against non-invasive problems like floods, fires, carbon monoxide and other “hidden” threats to your life.

The standard security system with live monitoring remains the safest purchase as it ensures police involvement as well as quick and effective emergency response. (In fact, you can talk to another human being) If there is a security breach, the police or other officials are immediately called. With automated standalone systems, there is no waiting for four preset numbers to be dialed automatically, and only the emergency call is ignored due to extenuating circumstances.