Buyer’s Guide Part 3 – Contracts and Fees
As with any service and device, there are financial and legal issues that you should be aware of before embarking on choosing a medical alert company.
Member Discounts, Promotions and Coupon Codes
We all like to save money, and there are opportunities for discounts when purchasing equipment and services, and medical alert systems are no exception. Some companies may offer member discounts for those who are members of other organizations, such as AARP, AAA and USAA. There also may be promotions available, or even coupon codes that can help you save money on hardware and services.
Cancellation Fees
You will find that you may not be charged a fee to cancel with some of these services, but you may not be able to get a full refund if you pay ahead. For example, if you pay for the next three months but decide to cancel after two, you may not get your money back for the third month. Again, this goes back to individual company policy.
Activation Fee
You may also find an activation fee is listed on your first bill following the start of your medical alert service. This fee may be as small as $10 or $20 or as high as $90 or more. Some companies, however, do not charge this fee, so research this before working with a company.
Plans and Pay Ahead Options
Companies also offer plans where you will pay once a month for your service. However, many also offer pay ahead options where a customer can pay ahead for the next three, six or 12 months. Though many medical alert companies offer a small discount if you pay ahead, you also are unlikely to get your money back if you choose to cancel. Each medical alert company has their own pricing plans, so make sure to look into those before choosing the right company for you.
Free Delivery
Most companies out there will offer free delivery of their medical alert equipment, but if they don’t, make sure to add that to your financial considerations as you compare medical alert companies.
Repairs and Replacements
Another thing that may differ from company to company is their policies on repairs and replacements. Some companies, for instance, will perform repairs and replacements free of charge. Others will charge a small fee. There are also some companies that will replace some parts, like batteries, free of charge, but other repairs may have fees associated with them.
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Continue Reading:
- Buyer’s Guide Part 1 – The Company and Its Monitoring Systems – Click to Enter!
- Buyer’s Guide Part 2 – Company Service Equipment – Click to Enter!
- Buyer’s Guide Part 3 – Contracts and Fees – You are here!
- Buyer’s Guide Part 4 – Protection Services and Premium Features – Click to Enter!
- Buyer’s Guide Part 5 – Additional Features of Medical Alert Systems – Click to Enter!