[Bend it like Bourgeois]

I've always been a skeptic. Other than a sticker on your window I'm not sure what they do for you.

But with the new house a few years back one was thrown in and the monitoring was cheap, so we did it. My wife liked the idea as well, so that never hurts. (it's not as cheap anymore)

A little while back though I got a call from my alarm company that confirmed my suspicion.

I'm out with the wife and kiddies and my cell rings. It's the alarm co saying my basement window alarm has been tripped. The chance of this being an actual break in on a Sat afternoon in my neighborhood are slim and none, but whatever.

Then they ask what I want to do. I say I don;t know, they are the alarm company, what do they suggest?

She says they can send a car (part of the service I pay for)...if I want...and it's pretty clear she doesn't really want to do that.

I say hell yes. It might be a one in a million chance I'm being robbed but that's what this silly thing is for right.

She says ok, it'll take at least 30 mins. 30 mins! By that time I'd be cleaned out (or chopped into little bits if we were home).

So then I ask what would have happened if I did not answer her call. Turns out they try the house and cell, and if there is no answer they leave a message. That's it. I suppose if the axe-weilding home invader my wife is afraid of is good enough to answer and request the cops, we'll be ok.

In the end I went home, shut off the alarm, and when the guard didn't show after about 45 mins called and cancelled it so we could go back out.

So, now I'm deciding between cancelling the whole shot, or just switching companies.

Does anyone have an alarm company that actually does something, or are they all like this?