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Wednesday, February 12th
An award-winning company, Telus is a well-known tech provider known for having an impressive 15.2 million customer connections. Telus' extensive offerings include the deployment of a national 5G network spanning both urban and rural regions throughout Canada. On top of that, Telos offers a range of tech solutions for private customers, covering Internet, home phone lines, TV bundles, smart Home Security Systems, and online security. The company was founded in 1990 in Edmonton, making it one of the few companies on our list that got their start outside of the US.
Availability across Canada
Being one of the largest companies in Canada has its benefits. Telus has an impressive network that covers every province. However, Telus does warn that customers living in more rural areas where connections are sparse to begin with may still struggle to get a solid connection through Telus. Since this company is based in Canada, all of the prices on the Telus site for Home Security Systems are listed in CAD.
Four packages with 3-year commitments
At Telus, the packages and monitoring services are all extremely simple. Everything is rolled into one monthly price. There are four different pricing tiers to choose from. The two lowest tiers offer self-monitoring systems, and the two highest tiers offer professional monitoring included in the cost. The only snag is you are required to commit to a minimum term length of 3 years (with some of the terms being even longer). Here are the features you can expect from Telus' tiers:
Extras are confusing
While the Telus site seems to advertise extra items to add to your security package, our research shows this isn't actually the case. Instead, each extra item redirects you to the packages page where you pick out the prefab packages already priced out by Telus. With other companies allowing for customization or at least the purchase of extra alarms or cameras during the initial sign-up, this feels a little lacklustre in comparison.
Expensive cancellations with Telus
The cancellation terms and returns aren't stellar with Telus. Since you're committing to a 3-year contract minimum due to the added monitoring included in your package, it can be expensive to change out of Telus if you don't like the service. However, there are a few ways you can get out of the contract without paying.
If neither of those is an option for you, here's what you can expect: if you cancel your monitoring services or payment before the contract period is over, you'll be charged a $136.50 removal fee, an installation fee of $409.50, and $75.00 for each free service call conducted. Ouch!
Some of the lowest ratings out there
If you weren't impressed with the cancellation problems, well, neither were other customers. Reviews for Telus are some of the lowest scores in our review with only a 1.2-star average on Trustpilot. Customers say that Telus customer service is "shockingly bad” and some have waited for hours on the phone just to not have their issues resolved. The news from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) isn't great either. The company has a mid-tier "B” rating, and there have been over 500 complaints lodged with the BBB in the last 3 years.
Not a fan favourite for anyone
While the full-country coverage is impressive (so long as you don't live in rural areas), Telus falls flat from the high expectations set by this industry giant. The prices are a little high and without customizable security packages or extras, the selection of security systems feels lacklustre. Plus, if you want to cancel within your 3-year minimum contract time, Telus makes it a huge pain (and an expensive process). At the end of the day, our research leads us to agree with the customers.
Did you know there are over 150,000 burglaries in Canada every year? It's no wonder that Canadian home security systems have surged in popularity in recent years. Potential intruders tend to skip homes with security systems when seeking an easy target. And, burglaries and break-ins aren't the only things you might want to protect your home from.
With modern systems, you can integrate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, flooding sensors, and front door cameras to protect your family and belongings from natural disasters or in-home accidents. Plus, with modern connectivity, emergency services can be immediately dispatched when an alert occurs.
The good news is that whether you're moving in somewhere new, or you're looking for a little extra security at your existing family home, there are lots of choices for Canadian Home Security Systems on the market today. From systems that are straightforward do-it-yourself packages with just a few sensors, to cutting-edge professionally-installed security systems, there's a package out there for homes and budgets of every size.
Whether you want to monitor your own home or have a pro watch over your family, modern security systems can help keep you and your loved ones safe. And just having a security system or clearly indicating that you have 24/7 monitoring on your home can prevent criminal activity before it even starts. As an additional perk, some homeowners even enjoy reduced insurance costs with a security system in place.
There are a lot of companies out there vying for attention in the Canadian home security market. How can you determine the best fit for your needs? Consider these factors to help you make the best decision for your home:
With all those details squared away, all you need is your new Canadian Home Security System to help you feel at ease in your home.. To that end, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best home security systems available in Canada today. We hope this helps you select a home security system that gives you the 24/7 protection you need for your home and family!
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