Simplisafe: Making simple security much harder than it needs to be

If you are thinking Simplisafe will be simple, think again. It's simple to set up for sure. It's a heck of a lot harder to keep it working properly. Wait for it...you'll just be sitting there minding your own business and a brand new sensor will randomly fail on you and the base station will start beeping as a result. The incessant beeping. It doesn't stop until you fix the sensor, which won't talk to the base station, which won't talk to the sensor, which won't talk to the base station even though it's RIGHT NEXT TO IT and did I mention the incessant beeping? Then try to get customer support. Welcome to your next surprise - it's a bot. You'll spend five minutes just trying to get an agent. Then you'll spend tons of time with the agent just trying to fix things until they finally admit it's a "known hardware problem" and send you a new base station (with, strangely, an older manufacturing date on it)...only for the problem to start all over again a few weeks later. It's maddening. I don't trust this system to protect us because I can't trust it to work on a daily basis. Look elsewhere please!!!

An alarm system that you CANNOT get support from a human!!!!

Sadly, I have bought 4 of these systems. I say sadly, because they have changed so that THEY CANNOT BE REACHED FOR TECH SUPPORT!!!!! They push you to their "Live Chat", which is NOT a chat system, it is a VERY stupid AI system. When you call the phone number, they tell you they will send you a text to get support, and that text just puts you back in the fake chat system. Having an alarm system (that, incidentally, is over $300/yr for monitoring cost!) that you cannot talk to someone about an issue? Forget it...I will NEVER buy another and I will NEVER recommend it again!

Not worth it

Unless you have the best wifi ever do not buy. We have bought 2 wifi extenders so we can try to view the cameras on the corners of our 1500 sq ft house. They don't work when you actually want to view them. They don't pick up something in motion until it is in thr middle of the frame. Too many issues and headaches for the "#1" security company. Especially for the price. I tried to contact their customer support and they were not helpful at all, basically had nothing to say other than reboot your wifi and the cameras. Also if the power goes out you're screwed.

Buyers Beware!

If negative stars were an option, I would give them. My experience with SimpliSafe’s customer service and technical support has been extremely disappointing. The equipment failed just three months after purchase, and despite their advertised warranty, the company refused to honor it. Customer support was no help—I contacted them multiple times, received no meaningful assistance, and was repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak with a manager. Ultimately, I had to dispute the charges through my credit card company, which was a stressful and time-consuming process—but fortunately, my credit card company ruled in my favor.

Expect Value Then Read Here

SimpliSafe is about lies and excuses, do not trust this company. They violate FTC and Consumers rights, but of course US poorly managed government aren't much different as they only chatter b/s about protecting your rights as an American citizen. Stay away from both, politicians and SimpliSafe as both dwell within bad company. Follow-up, James M. of Indiana first never recalled talking to you, never mentioned ADT neither; and, "you enjoy" SimpliSafe. but hey I don't. My conversation had nothing involving you, so why stick your noses in a conversation not associated to you, James M.

I’ve had nothing but issues with…

I’ve had nothing but issues with SimpliSafe. The base station has already been replaced and the replacement base’s light is half faded and WILL NOT turn off. There are two window/door sensors that I have to replace the battery LITERALLY every single month. And the doorbell camera disconnects from the WiFi REGULARLY. Honestly, just an awful product considering the price.

This system is a BIG JOKE

This system is a BIG JOKE! We have had multiple issues with this system since we purchased it. We started calling customer service right off the bat. The outdoor camera and doorbell camera does not always pick up somebody, when it does, half of the time we get notified 30 min to an hour later. We have had deliveries on our porch and driveway, and NEVER get notified. We have the system set for people only. We have had bees, wasps, neighbors’ flag, dogs, cars and trucks set the system off. We have areas set NOT to monitor and that does not work either, it still picks up everything. Customer service has had us, reset the cameras, replace the cameras, they even replaced our base station. We still have the same issues. After a 1 ½ years of fighting with them they finally sent me to the next level up for help. After them having me do the same troubleshooting for days, and finding it still does not work. The gentleman, told me that these are known issues, and at this time they are not working to resolve them. He said have a nice day and hung up. So, SimpliSafe advertises a safe working alarm system, knowing that there are issues that keeps their system from working properly and have no plan on fixing it. You call them for help, they do what they can to keep you using the system past then30 days so you can’t return it. This is SIMPLY A RIP OFF! Buy a real alarm system and buy a Ring !!!

Like most complaints on this sight I…

Like most complaints on this sight I had the same issues easy to install but the system does not work..cameras go offline for no reason...sensors do not work as intended. I have spent hundreds of dollars replacing this system after 60 days of use

Went from being relable to crap

Went from being relable to crap! Don't waste your money, "Techinicians," if that is what you can even call them. They have NO idea how the system even works, much less how to fix the issues.

Don't waste your money

The sensors do not stay where you stick them-anything can make them fall off. You have to be physically present for the base station to be upgraded which is insane if you are "away" which I am most of the time for work. Customer service is a joke. On hold forever, people do not speak English that you can understand and do not understand the product. I 100% regret ever spending one dime on this useless product.

Rep was very argumentative

Rep was very argumentative. I advised him of the issues I was having with my system and what troubleshooting I have already done. He don’t want to listen and just wanted me to repeat what I have already done. He had a simple answer of the camera was updating but when I advised him the camera goes out multiple times a day he didn’t listen. Per his words the camera updates once every two-three months and that what makes it go out. I tried to get him to explain to me why it does it everyday then. He has no explanation. The he advised me that the update would only last 15 mins. I was on the phone with him for 25 mins. Reset the camera and it was still out. That when he wanted to argue. I really hate that I paid and am paying for something that doesn’t work.

Disgraceful customer service

You can upgrade = pay more money from the app, but if you need to stop the contract you need to speak with someone that is nearly impossible. You get put on hold forever without any hint of where in the queue you are or how long it is likely to take. The people that were supposed to phone "within seven working days" took their sweet time at 11 and 12 days, phoned twice, I couldn't pick up as in work, they closed the request, so in their head I need to start all over again because, as I said, phoning in is a waste of time and phone battery.

OK but not great business practices

Simplisafe was easy to install but we have had some issues. The keypad lights up randomly. This appears to have resolved after a reset from tech support. The privacy shutter on the indoor camera stopped opening. Simplisafe replaced it, but with a refurbished one. That bothers me because I paid for a new camera, it was defective so they replaced it with a refurbished camera. Seems like a shady business practice.

Faulty Smart Lock? Too bad.

After spending good money on a SimpliSafe Smart Lock, and hours on the phone with technical support (both calls which the reps eventually gave up and dropped the call), this unit simply doesn't work, and SimpliSafe will not replace it because it's out of warranty. That's on me, but I had hoped for an exception to be made; I purchased this product in new condition from a private seller with warranty time remaining, but took too long to install it, being busy with adjustment to a new home and kid this past year. SimpliSafe had nothing but empty consolations in response. "We're so sorry this has been your experience." If they were really sorry, they would trouble themselves to replace their defective product here with a working unit. Their refusal is fair, but not customer centered. I plan to junk or sell my SimpliSafe system after this debacle. Selling may prove difficult since I plan to be honest about product quality and customer service with any potential buyers.

Easy to buy and setup, not reliable and hard to cancel

Within a week, the keypad had disconnected from the base station. I discovered this when returning home, thinking my system was armed, but it wasn't. In order to fix this, I had to take the batteries out of the keypad to force a reset. It was unable to reconnect on its own. After this experience, the inability to reconnect really undermined my confidence that this alarm system was going to be reliable. Personally, I wasn't willing to give this another try after experiencing a silent failure like this, so I decided to call and get a refund. The point of an alarm system is to give peace of mind. Seeing a silent failure like this ruined it for me. Hold time was about 30 minutes, it took another 15 minutes to get the return label and a refund to be processed. On top of that, I had to be transferred to another team to cancel the monitoring. The whole process reminded me of trying to cancel a newspaper subscription.

Slow to recognize someone at the…

Slow to recognize someone at the doorbell. Delivery people are on their way back to the street before we're able to see in the camera. Exterior cameras often show their connection is fair. Simplisafe replaced the batteries, with no improvement.

I went to install a newly purchased…

I went to install a newly purchased system. The adhesive didn't work. I figured, no big deal. I reached out to get them to replace the adhesive. I was met with accusations that I hadn't set it up right. Adhesive was out of warranty. That the site was wet or the walls were textured, etc. Yet 3/4 of them installed properly. I hadn't yet set up monitoring and they wanted to charge me 3.99 per adhesive. 8 didn't work (3 senors and double on the motion sensor), so that's 12 adhesive strips. Then they didn't believe me and made me take pictures of the adhesive that wasn't working. I'm exhausted just with having to deal with their crappy service. I'm contemplating returning the entire system. If they are this crappy at addressing concerns can they actually monitor a home? Also, I just received the order...they sent 3

I'm just 10 days into my SimpliSafe…

I'm just 10 days into my SimpliSafe nightmare. I have a total of 16 devices which consist of door sensors, motion detectors, etc. Devices keep losing connection with the base station. Every other WiFi device I own works fine in my house. It's truly hard to understand how this company is still in business, and I question my decision to even give them a try. I've spent 2+ hours on the phone so far, and now they have determined the base station needs replacement. I will update this review if this cures my problems, but I highly doubt that will be the case. Do yourself a favor and stick to the major brands with encrypted signals to the devices and keypads. I don't feel comfortable leaving my home with or without the system armed, due to the many errors that I consistently get. So damn annoying.

Horrible company

Horrible company, my new alarm worked perfectly until I canceled and now I'm having all kinds of connection issues. I'm going back to ring

The latest SimpliSafe scam

The latest SimpliSafe scam. I cancelled my SimpliSafe video contract. Until recently, when I was alerted to motion at the door, I could look at the video in real time. Not any more. Now the app repetitively cycles to a solicitation for a contract and doesn’t let me see my camera image. This system is crap.

Simplisafe - the extremely clingy ex

Absolute ridiculous customer experience when it comes to cancelling service that makes an extremely clingy breakup seem like a fun time. First off, you have to call in to cancel. Second, the initial person you connect with (offshore resource) will collect all your information only to inform you that they cannot cancel accounts and need to forward you to a specialist. Finally, you get forwarded to a different person who collects all the same information again and then like a desperate ex tries everything possible to get you to stay, offering free months of service to free equipment and has a clever reason not to leave for every possible objection. This kind of old school sales tactic is mildly offensive and a massive waste of time - just honor what is asked for and be done with it. I used the service for 6 years and then moved to a new home that had different security equipment pre-installed. I'd never reconsider Simplisafe in the future simply because I don't want to deal with possibly having to cancel at some point.

No Subscription, No Alerts

Honestly, I bought all equipment for over 600 bucks and moment I stopped my subscription, I do not get any alerts on the phone like RING or ARLO cameras. I do not have choice of using those cameras or entry sensors on wifi. I would buy other brands who DO NOT force you to buy subscription

Good CS but worthless in fixing the…

Good CS but worthless in fixing the issues. Main issue: the outdoor cameras are advertised to last 3 to 6 months depending on alerts etc. The longest I go was 2 weeks the first time but after that 2 to 3 days!!?? Replaced batteries several times & then the cameras. Bought the solar chargers but never could get more than a few days with those so I spent over $1000 for a system that I could only use part of?!! Very disappointed. Lastly, they said I could self monitor but they were useless in helping set it up. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!

The cameras and app are mostly useless

The cameras and app are mostly useless. I put this on my mothers home so I could keep an eye on her. There are times when I'll get notifications (sometimes several in a row) but when I try to look to see what's going on the app fails to open the camera. I do get a message that the problem should resolve itself soon so that's really nice when you're trying to figure out what's going on. Also the camera will completely miss her pulling into the driveway and all the way into the garage. The cameras don't stay on long enough to capture anything when they do catch something. In and effort to brag about battery life they cut off the video recording within seconds. Meaning you might see someone take a couple steps into the driveway but there would be no video of them breaking into a car or house or doing whatever. They are aware of these concerns from countless users but won't change anything on the recording settings and typically blame everyone's internet service for any issues. I'm just hoping that the alarm works and sends help if that is ever needed. The rest is more hassle than help.

Simplisafe App CANNOT be downloaded on…

Simplisafe App CANNOT be downloaded on the majority of android phones, now making their service utterly impossible to use for about half of their potential customers. About half of android phone cannot upgrade to android 9 or higher, and the IT dolts at Simplisafe recently told the google play store to stop allowing any downloading of the Simplisafe app unless you are lucky enough to have a phone with android 9.0 or higher, 100% stupid. Their competitors don't do that.