Hey everyone! We’re moving at the beginning of the year and decided not to bring ADT with us to the new house. Is there any way to cancel the contract without being hit with fees? I’d love to hear if anyone has had success with this.
I think I’m the only person who’s ever managed to cancel an ADT contract, and that was because they violated a local ordinance they couldn’t fix. I threatened to set off the alarm daily and sue them for the fines if they didn’t cancel it.
They’re usually airtight with contracts. Your options might be to transfer it to the new house or try to include it in the sale of your current home.
@Hayden
I’ve heard people say they’re moving to California, and ADT will let them cancel but charge for the equipment.
Probably not. ADT is notorious for locking people into contracts. There was a case where a guy’s house was destroyed by a hurricane before they installed the system, and they still tried to hold him to the contract. They only backed down when the media got involved.
This is a forum, not ADT customer service. You might want to try calling them directly.
Vesper said:
This is a forum, not ADT customer service. You might want to try calling them directly.
You think OP is going to put in their own effort? Nah.
Yes, if you’re moving to another state, you might be able to cancel without penalties since contracts are tied to the property’s location. Call ADT to discuss your options—they’ll be able to tell you what’s possible.
@Harley
That’s not always true. If you move and don’t start a new contract, ADT will charge you for the remaining balance. They have exceptions for military deployments or moves to nursing homes, but you’ll need proof.
@Kelby
We moved across the country and didn’t have to start a new contract. ADT told us to leave the equipment at the old house, and we didn’t have any issues. It might depend on state laws.
Harley said:
@Kelby
We moved across the country and didn’t have to start a new contract. ADT told us to leave the equipment at the old house, and we didn’t have any issues. It might depend on state laws.
That’s interesting. Did the new owner of your old home take over the contract? That might explain it.
@Kelby
It’s possible. We had a new system installed at the new house, so maybe the old one was transferred to the new owner without us realizing.
I doubt they’ll waive it unless it’s for something like military deployment. ADT is strict with their contracts.
I’d suggest switching to a self-monitored system at the new house. ADT will probably charge you for the remaining balance of your current contract, but with a self-install system, you won’t need a new contract every time you move.
@Kelby
That’s what I’m thinking. We don’t really use the monitoring side of the system anyway, so going self-monitored might be the best choice.
Kitt said:
@Kelby
That’s what I’m thinking. We don’t really use the monitoring side of the system anyway, so going self-monitored might be the best choice.
Good idea! Just keep in mind that there might be some value in having a monitored system, especially for fire safety. Fires spread faster these days due to modern materials, so having that extra layer of protection could be worth it. But if you don’t want to deal with another ADT contract, self-monitoring is a solid plan.
Thanks for all the advice! I’ll call ADT and see what my options are before making a decision.
ADT’s business model relies on locking people into contracts. They’ll likely tell you to transfer your system to the new house at your own expense. ADT has a reputation for being a nightmare to deal with—they’re like the gym memberships of alarm companies. Sorry you got roped into it!
@Lyle
Yeah, it seemed like the right move at the time, but now I regret it. Thanks for the heads-up!
I had ADT for seven years and moved twice. Each time, they made me transfer the service and restart a new three-year contract. When I tried to cancel, they wanted over $1,000 in penalties. It’s a nightmare.
@Vale
That’s what I’m worried about. I’ll call them and see what it’ll cost to cancel before making a decision.