--- company: adt title: ADT — how complaints actually go last_verified: 2026-10-13 --- ## In short Everything depends on the contract you signed, so get your copy first: ADT's standard terms run two, three or five years, then renew in 30-day periods, and cancelling during the initial term costs a share of all remaining monthly payments. If a salesperson signed you up at home in the last three business days, cancel under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule by mail instead. Call 800-ADT-ASAP to cancel or to check any door-to-door visitor who says they are from ADT, and confirm everything in writing. ## How complaints actually go - ADT's 10-K for 2025 says standard contract terms are two, three or five years "with automatic renewals for successive 30-day periods for residential security customers." [ADT 10-K for 2025](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1703056/000170305626000022/adt-20251231.htm) - Many accounts start with independent authorized dealers, who must offer ADT every qualified monitored account they sign; ADT's own direct channel includes door-to-door activities. [ADT 10-K for 2025](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1703056/000170305626000022/adt-20251231.htm) - ADT's main line is 800-ADT-ASAP (800-238-2727); ADT gives it for verifying visits and reporting attempts to switch your provider. [ADT newsroom, May 13, 2025](https://newsroom.adt.com/safety-trends/protect-yourself-from-sales-scams-how-to-spot-and-avoid-fraudulent-sales-tactics) - adt.com, its help center and its contract PDFs blocked automated reading on 2026-10-13, so an agent cannot check the contract terms online; work from the customer's signed copy. [ADT terms page (blocked to automated fetches)](https://www.adt.com/about-adt/legal/residential-terms-and-conditions) ## What tends to work - Cancel during a renewal period. Search results for ADT's residential terms quote that contracts renew for successive 30-day terms unless either party ends them at least 30 days before the end of the current term, and that no termination charges are due for a termination during a renewal period (search snippet only; check your contract). [ADT residential terms](https://www.adt.com/about-adt/legal/residential-terms-and-conditions) - Use a price increase. A search result for ADT's residential terms quotes a clause that lets the customer object in writing within 30 days of a monitoring price increase and, if ADT does not waive it, terminate without contract termination charges (search snippet only; confirm your contract has it). [ADT residential terms](https://www.adt.com/about-adt/legal/residential-terms-and-conditions) - Within three business days of a sale made at your home, cancel under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule: sign and mail the cancellation form, postmarked before midnight of the third business day; the seller must refund within 10 business days. [FTC: Cooling-Off Rule](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help), [16 CFR 429.1](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/429.1) ## Traps and fine print - Cancelling or defaulting during the initial term lets ADT collect a termination payment "equal to a designated percentage of all remaining monthly payments." [ADT 10-K for 2025](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1703056/000170305626000022/adt-20251231.htm) - Search results for ADT's terms quote 75 percent of the remaining monthly charges for residential contracts and 90 percent for small business contracts (search snippet only; your contract controls). [ADT residential terms](https://www.adt.com/about-adt/legal/residential-terms-and-conditions) - In California, an alarm contract that renews for more than one month needs a separate auto-renewal disclosure that the customer signed or initialed; without it the automatic renewal provision is void. [Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 7599.54](https://california.public.law/codes/business_and_professions_code_section_7599.54) ## By the numbers - ADT had about 6.1 million security monitoring service subscribers as of December 31, 2025. [ADT 10-K for 2025](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1703056/000170305626000022/adt-20251231.htm) - In a May 18, 2018 release, the BBB said more than 700,000 North American consumers used BBB resources to research home security companies in 2017, and thousands complained about misleading sales pitches or reported door-to-door scams. [BBB release via ADT investor relations](https://investor.adt.com/News--Events/news/news-details/2018/BBB-Helps-Fight-Fraud-at-the-Front-Door-by-Teaming-with-ADT-and-Other-Security-Leaders-05-18-2018/default.aspx) ## Scams that target customers - Door-to-door salespeople try to trick ADT customers into changing their security provider. ADT says its Solutions Advisors and Authorized Dealers carry company-issued ID, "If they fail to provide it, don't believe them," and to call 800-ADT-ASAP before letting an unexpected visitor in. [ADT newsroom, May 13, 2025](https://newsroom.adt.com/safety-trends/protect-yourself-from-sales-scams-how-to-spot-and-avoid-fraudulent-sales-tactics) - ADT's deceptive sales pages list pitches such as "We're here to upgrade your ADT system" and "Our company just bought ADT" (search snippet only). [ADT: deceptive security sales](https://www.adt.com/deceptive-security-sales) - Report a deceptive sales attempt to ADT at 800-238-2727, the Better Business Bureau or local law enforcement. [ADT newsroom, May 13, 2025](https://newsroom.adt.com/safety-trends/protect-yourself-from-sales-scams-how-to-spot-and-avoid-fraudulent-sales-tactics)