Frontpoint just announced some big changes, like ditching contracts, switching up monitoring plans, and lowering equipment prices. For the most part, we dig the changes, but we wish the monitoring wasn’t so pricey now.
A home security system is a long-term investment, so you should know what you’re getting into ahead of time. Many security companies require multiyear contracts—which come with strict cancellation policies and high early termination fees.
Before you settle on one company, compare home security system cancellation policies so you know what you’re signing up for. If you need to cancel alarm monitoring with your service provider now, we’ll detail that below as well.
| Cancellation policy | Frontpoint | Vivint | ADT | Cove | Link Interactive | Protect America | Brinks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial period | 30 days | 3 days | 6 months | 60 days | 30 days | 15 days | 30 days |
| Contract length | 0* months | 0*, 42, or 60 months | 36 months | 0* or 36 months | 0*, 12, 24, or 36 months | 36 months | 36 months |
| Termination fee | NA | 100% of remaining contract | 75% of remaining contract | Remaining equipment cost | 75% of remaining contract | 100% of remaining contract | 100% of remaining contract |
| View Plans | |||||||
| Customer service | Customer Support | Customer Support | Customer Support | Customer Support | Customer Support | Customer Support | Customer Support |
Wondering why a company isn’t on this list? DIY home security system companies like SimpliSafe, Ring, Abode, and Nest don’t require contracts, which means you don’t have to pay any cancellation policies or early termination fees. These companies don’t always offer as many features as the bigger companies, but if contracts aren’t for you, a company like SimpliSafe or Nest might be the right alternative.
To learn more about contract-free options, check out our post about security systems without contracts.
In November 2019, Frontpoint eliminated its contracts and went with a no-contract system. We've left the company on this page for the time being to help buyers transition to the new structure.
If you’ve made your mind up and you’re ready to ditch your security provider, you’ll likely have to pay to get out of your contract. Instead of a termination fee, most service providers charge you a percentage of the cost of the rest of your contract.
Jump to: Frontpoint cancellation policy | Vivint cancellation policy | ADT cancellation policy | Cove cancellation policy | Link Interactive cancellation policy | Protect America cancellation policy | Brinks cancellation policy
With Frontpoint, you can cancel your service and, starting the following month, the company won't charge you for monitoring any longer. If you’re a new customer within your 30-day money-back guarantee, you shouldn’t have to pay anything for those first 30 days.
However, outside of the 30-day money-back guarantee, you might owe some money for the equipment if you chose to finance over an extended period of time.
For alarm system contracts, contact customer care.
We suggest saving any video clips you want to keep before you make the call so you don’t have to worry about scrambling before the end of the month to do it. You’ll have access to the app through the entire month you’ve already paid for, but you won’t be able to go back in the new month and retrieve footage.
You can cancel your Frontpoint alarm monitoring service without obligation any time within 30 days of your system being delivered. Frontpoint will give you a full refund for your equipment and monitoring, and it’ll even cover return shipping.
If you’re active duty in the military and getting deployed overseas, Frontpoint will suspend recurring system payments for up to 24 months. Customer support can help you figure out how long a suspension you qualify for.
Vivint will hold you to 100% of the cost of your remaining contract. If you’ve got a few months of service left, that might not be a big deal. But if you’re just six months into a 42-month contract, that’s an issue. There are a few caveats to paying the full amount, like if you encounter extenuating circumstances or if your active military duty takes you elsewhere.
You’ll need to send Vivint a written notice that you want to cancel services 30 days before you want your service to end. That notice needs to include your service number and clear wording that you’re canceling service. You must also sign and date the notice. You can send it by email, snail mail, or fax (if you’re into that).
If you’re canceling due to extenuating circumstances—like bankruptcy, moving to assisted living, or death—contact Vivint at (800) 216-5232, extension 5020.
If you’re being deployed somewhere that Vivint doesn’t service, you can cancel your contract. You’ll have to provide proof of deployment overseas, relocation to a military base, or relocation somewhere that the company doesn’t service. Vivint will also defer your recurring payment for up to six months if you’re given a temporary assignment and don’t want to pay for Vivint while you’re away from home.
Moving to an area that Vivint does cover? The company will work with you to move your service for free. You’ll be on the hook for equipment upgrades or replacements though, so get on the phone and chat through your options for moving existing equipment if you want to save some money.
Call Vivint’s military moving customer service at (855) 441-4573.
You have three days after installation to change your mind about Vivint and get your money back. You’ll need to contact the company in the same way outlined above to cancel your contract.
Your ADT contract requires you to fork over 75% of the cost of your remaining contract. Compared to brands that make you buy out the rest of your contract entirely, ADT’s cancellation policy isn’t lenient, but it’s certainly not the most punitive.
ADT’s terms and conditions say you can cancel your service in the app, but we’d call or email just to be on the safe side.
To cancel, visit ADT’s website and email or call its residential support phone number at (800) 521-1734.
Something we like a lot about ADT is its six-month money-back guarantee. To use it, we’d suggest calling early and often if you experience any problems or are unhappy with the service. ADT requires you to give it a chance to make things right, and some other restrictions apply, but if you still aren’t happy you can get your money back.
If you have a contract with Cove and need to cancel before your term is up, you have to cover the remaining cost of equipment. Since Cove’s equipment packages are customized, the cost will depend on the system you built.
Customers who paid for equipment up front can cancel any time. Monitoring services will continue through the end of your prepaid month but end after that.
To cancel your Cove security service, contact customer service or log into your Cove account and cancel there. Call Cove at (855) 268-3669.
Cove offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on its equipment and services. To cancel, you’ll need to get authorization from Cove and return your equipment within the 60-day window. You can fill out the authorization form on your account portal or call customer service.
To end your contract, contact customer service at (877) 826-5443 or customerservice@linkinteractive.com.
If you’re within your initial 36-month contract, you’ll have to cover all the remaining monitoring costs. If your initial contract is up and you’ve gone month-to-month, you can cancel up to 15 days before you want service to end.
You can also transfer your equipment and monitoring service to someone else if you can find someone to pick it up for you.
Say goodbye with a phone call at (800) 951-5111, option 4.
New customers have 15 days to cancel and get a refund for the cost of equipment, but Protect America doesn’t make it easy.
That 15-day period starts on the date of shipment date—not delivery date—to you. Your package returning equipment must be postmarked within those 15 days.
Protect America’s mailing address: 3800 Quick Hill Road, Building 1-100, Austin, TX 78728
You can get a full refund and avoid the trouble of postmarks and shipping equipment by canceling within three days of signing up.
Contact customer service to let the company know you’re canceling service. Agents can help you by chat or phone at (800) 447-9239.
You have 30 days to decide whether Brinks is right for you. If it’s not, you can cancel before that time is up and get a refund for monitoring and equipment. That includes Nest Secure customers who bought equipment through Brinks.
Contracts are important, but there’s a lot more to consider if you’re looking for a security system. Need help picking the right one? Read our best home security systems article for help finding security that suits your lifestyle.
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Close to $700 in fees within 3 days of service. That was a red flag. Then I looked into comparable units like the security system I was charged for by ADT and to my dismay, they over charged me by at least a grand. I have a hub with door sensors and window sensors and yes, no security cameras. He charged with a 20% discount $1600(.paid in 4 installments). I’ve only had service 3 days and already have been charged $700
I can’t believe the way this company operates! Due to a relocation for work, I am having to sell my home, pack up and move hundreds of miles away from my home. We have had our security system for a year. When I called I was given three options 1) Take the system with me 2) Find someone to take over my contract or 3) pay the $1,700 buy out option which means I pay for the remaining of my contract. First off, since this is a work related move, my company is placing me in housing of their choice and unfortunately the landlord will not allow me to install a security system because they don’t want their walls drilled into. Vivint encouraged me to make a post on Craigslist asking if someone wants to take over my contract – I’m sorry, but Craigslist isn’t anything I am interested in and dealing with someone trying to take over a contract – that puts me in potential legal issues because the person taking over can claim all kinds of thing and later sue me for a variety of things. So my only option now is to pay the $1,700 buy out for the remaining amount of my contract. I asked them to show me where it states the cancellation policy and the supervisor on the phone says, “sir, it doesn’t specifically say it in the contract but it is assume and is is clearly written on our website”. I asked him where on the website does it mention this and he was unable to provide that information. I asked again where in my contract does it state that if we have to cancel early, that I must pay out the rest of my contract. Again he stated that it doesn’t specifically say and that it is implied by the “42 month term”. After spending AN hour on the phone with them trying to get them to understand this move is OUTSIDE of my control, they told me those were my only options they had for me. Then he proceed to end the conversation. I can’t believe how this company treats its customers when things are outside of their control! Please be warned and DO NOT do business with Vivint!
Is there some requirement that I must give Adt written notice of my intent to cancel or risk the 3 yr contract auto renewing for 3 more years? I e had APX, Apex, Vivint & ADT………the first two were fantastic. The last two sucked.
In CA the contract is limited to TWO YEARS. Then it will renew for month to month. I am with ADT
That’s only with ADT and their affiliates. They got sued a while back and can ONLY offer 24 mo. That doesn’t apply for other firms, such as Protect America…