Is this a scam???

[singyswife]

Have had a phone call from a company who claim that as part of a government scheme we have been selected to have a home alarm system fitted.

Someone else then called me to arrange for a risk assessor to come out and then someone else called me to conirm that appointment.

They said that the risk assessor will then phone me to give me his name etc so I know who I am expecting. I am concerned this is a HUGE scam and they will tie my and dh up and steal things from our house lol.

What do you think??

Bumping for myself?

I don't think they will hurt you! They will probably do some sort of dreadful ahrd sell though. Turn 'em down.

Maybe phone your local Trading Standards office?

They would probably tell you if they had had complaints or reports about the company if it was a scam

I would ask of the name of the government scheme and search it. They might come to see what security you haven't got and what stuff that you have iyswim.

Yeah I am thinking of phoning my local council offices and see if they know anything about it.

Google the name of the company and also check the name of the gov scheme and google that too.

Sounds similar to this. Not what you were thinking of, but still a scan. The alarm system is "free" but they pressure you into signing an expensive contract for years of "monitoring".

This is also what I am worried about. I dont generally let people into my house unless I am definately having something done and I have researched them first. i.e I dont let people in who have knocked on the door selling cheap electric etc.

I have just spoken with them again and they gave me their phone number and also said that this is nothing to do with a government scheme but that they had taken the data from a government programme and had decided to give away 4 alarm systems to a certain postcode. I was one of the 'lucky ones'. He said he will then rely on word of moth from us to drum up business rather than spending money on expenssive advertising.

?

i wouldn;t let them in

they aren't official

they have got your name from goodness knows where

scam - you will pay for something somewhere along the line

you don't get anythng for free IME

Yep that is what I am thinking now. I think we would be looking at £hundreds a year to maintain this system and we cant afford anything a year at the moment,

Think I may cancel it,

cancel it now

Not a scam in the strictest sense, but I agree with Sparks -- they will give you a "free" alarm system with a definitely NOT free maintenance contract.

What do you get if you Google the name of the company?

They have a website and all that but it wont accept emails, says it is a virtual domain???

I think I may cancel it. You dont get nothing for nothing do you?

I was thinking more of people online telling their experiences with the company. If they've scammed others then there may well be a record out there.

But in your position, yes, I'd cancel.

Sounds like they lied to you. The first person who called said it was part of a government scheme, but when you queried it later they said it was nothing to do with a government scheme.

Were you thinking of getting an alarm system before they phoned you?

No I wasnt and I have just found a forum which have said they are to be avoided.

ooh I'd cancel , don't like the sound of that all.. there is no such thing as a free lunch and all that.. and what poppy cock , relying on you to drum up business etc - I could understand if you were a celebrity or something but otherwise, that's a ridiculous marketing strategy (if it is really their strategy)

huge marketing scam. cancel.

I did cancel. Thank for the advice.