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Rating: 6.6 / 10 (Very good)
2 Customer Reviews - see all comments
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CPI Security is the largest privately-held security provider in the Southeast. The company is licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennesse, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, and Florida. CPI Security specializes in business and home security, web-based video monitoring, new construction pre-wire, and home automation for consumers across the country.
 
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How Do We Rate CPI Security?

Breakdown

3.4/5
Equipment
3.7/5
Monitoring Options and Technology
0.0/5
Value
2.8/5
Contract/Subscription Flexibility

Our Overall Rating: 3.3 / 5 (Very good)

CPI Security is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1982. The company designs, installs, monitors, and services security systems for families and businesses in the Southeast United States, serving areas in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Despite the company's impressive array of home security and automation features, the company's poor online transparency, repeated false alarm issues, and limited availability places it several steps behind other home security industry leaders.

How does CPI Security work?

Equipment - 3.4 / 5

CPI offers professional installation and charges a different installation fee ranging from $0 to $299 depending on which package you choose. Customers can customize their home security system with cameras, smart home devices, and much more. CPI offers glass break detectors, HD doorbell camera, touchscreen door lock, thermostat, garage control, light control, fire communicator, carbon monoxide detector, among many other things.
Installation
Professional
Ability to Reallocate System
Wireless Sensors
Control Panel
Event Triggered Siren/ Alarm

Security Monitors, Sensors, & Devices

Intrusion Protection

  • Door & Window Sensors
  • Garage Door Sensors
  • Glass Break Protection
  • Motion Sensors

Environmental Protection

  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Temperature Change
  • Smoke

Surveillance

  • Indoor Cameras
  • Outdoor Cameras
  • Doorbell Cameras
  • Live Surveillance
  • Event-triggered Surveillance

Life Safety

  • Panic Button

Monitoring

Monitoring Options and Technology - 3.7 / 5

CPI offers 24/7 monitoring and requires a five-year contract for their services, as well as upfront equipment purchase. The systems are monitored by the award-winning regional Southeast headquarters. CPI’s complete Security Package starts at $39.99/month including free professional installation, the inTouch mobile app and cellular communication with no phone line required. You can customize your CPI smart home with options like doorbell cameras, security cameras, touchscreen door locks, garage door controllers and smart thermostats.
Monitoring Options
Professional Monitoring
Monitoring Technology
Cellular
Monitoring Center Type
Owned
Professional Monitoring Services
24/7 Professional Monitoring
2-Way Intercom
Police Dispatch
Fire Department Dispatch
Medical Dispatch

How much does CPI Security cost?

Contract/Subscription Flexibility - 2.8 / 5

CPI provides free installation of its security and home automation systems to homeowners. After receiving credit approval, customers can have over $2,000 worth of security and automation equipment (i.e., security cameras, motion and glass-break sensors, door locks, carbon monoxide detectors, energy management tools, and more) installed for free.
CPI's upfront equipment purchase costs from $99-$299 and their monthly monitoring fee range from $39.99 to $64.99 per month. On the downside, CPI's monitoring contracts are for five years, and they don't have a cancellation option, and the company requires customers to purchase the equipment upfront, they pay a monthly monitoring fee on top of that.
Monthly Fee (min)
$29.99
Number of Available Packages
3
Equipment Starting Cost
$29.99
Contract Required
Minimum Contract Length
60 months
Warranty
1 year

Contract & Price Fine Print

https://cpisecurity.com/terms/

Technology Integrations

Technology Integration - 3.5 / 5

One thing we like about CPI’s security and automation system is that it supports broadband connectivity. In addition to its hard-wired system, CPI also provides a wireless network, which is both easier to install as well as remove should a customer be moving to a different home.
CPI also boasts a real-time response rate that alerts the authorities within seconds of a distress call. Customers can also choose to download the CPI Security Systems mobile app (available for both iOS and Android devices) to monitor their homes while they’re away. Through the app, customers can view security camera videos, adjust the thermostat, lighting devices, door locks and more.

Compatibility

Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Google Home
IFTTT
Z-Wave
ZigBee
Z-Wave Plus

Mobile Access & Alerts

  • iPhone App
  • Android App
  • Email & Text Alerts
  • Live Surveillance Feed
  • Remote Arm/Disarm

Home Automation

  • Lighting Control
  • Thermostat Control
  • Event-triggered Automation

CPI Security Reputation

Reputation - 3.7 / 5

CPI Home Security is one of the largest security providers in the Southeast. Not only is the company invested in servicing their customers but they also invest their time and donate to local charities, and hospitals such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Humane Society, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and countless others. Additionally, all of the installation and service technicians are full-time CPI Security employees, professionally trained, and IQ certified (Installation Quality).
Trust Pilot Rating
8.2 out of 5
BBB Rating
A+
Number of BBB Positive Reviews
0
Number of BBB Neutral Reviews
2
Number of BBB Negative Reviews
12
Date Collected
2018-07-13
Year Founded
1991

Certifications & Associations

  • Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA)
  • Underwriter's Laboratory (UL)

CPI Security Summary

In Conclusion

For more than 25 years, CPI Security Systems has provided service for the families and businesses in the southeast region of the United States. CPI Security is one of the few home security companies that install, design, repair, and monitor its own security systems. The company offers wired, landline-based home security systems or wireless cellular-based systems, and each has advantages and disadvantages.

CPI Security lets customers choose the best type of home security system based on their needs. The company offers traditional hardwired security systems, wireless systems and remote-control options for home automation. The company provides modern equipment, and the services CPI provides are comparable to other names in the industry. Also, customers can choose to download the CPI Security Systems mobile app (available for both iOS and Android devices) to monitor their home while they are away.

Although their monitoring fees are much higher than that of other home security companies, CPI has a promotional offer for monitoring starting at $29.95 a month. The website says that this promotional price is only for the first three months but then overlooks to say how much the cost increases after this period.
As it turns out if you read the fine print, the increase is up to $49.95 a month for monitoring. That’s almost double the initial price, which is already higher than most.
Also, CPI requires a five-year contract for any of its wireless systems. This contract and the hefty cancellation fee that comes with a wireless system is especially troublesome because of CPI's limited service coverage and lack of relocation options. This security service only covers residents in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Additionally, there is a long list of customer complaints online, mostly surrounding CPI’s customer service, hidden fees, misleading terms and lack of online information. Many customers complained of being locked into a five-year commitment period without their knowledge, while several others complained of hidden upgrade charges and promised refunds that were never delivered.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
https://cpisecurity.com/
Company Phone
(704) 945-6000
Headquarters Address
4200 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte, NC, 28273
Top Rated
Our Partner
(877) 676-5856
See Details

Professional Installation + $0 Activation

  • Cameras Use Light/Sound to Deter Crime
  • Doorbell Cam Detects & Protects Packages
  • Products Designed & Developed In-house
  • 24/7 Monitoring Starting at $19.99/mo
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Latest CPI Security Reviews

jillianhaileyh

5/12/2020
Homeowners beware, CPI will not protect your home or your family, only themselves. I trusted CPI to protect my family. However, after almost two years of multiple, traumatic break-in’s and burglaries, as a single mother with a ten-year-old child to protect: I abruptly and unexpectedly sold my home, Lost time at work to move my family to a safer location, Only to lose my job, And now, without medical insurance, am paying for psychological therapy. After filing a BBB compliant, CPI firmly argued in favor of protecting themselves, as opposed to my family and our home. I called to cancel CPI service. CPI states they do not have any record in my account history of these... Read More

Lennie W

1/13/2020
CPI Security is really good until you want to cancel. I pay upfront every 6 months. I had the service for several years. They refused to send the cancelation contract that they require until the very last minute then charged me 50 bucks for not giving enough time. The CSR was also very rude when I refused to hear her sales pitch. I went with another system that is more updated and cheaper and she proceeded to tell me they have another "new" plan that is more competitive. Well CPI, you should have taken care of me when I was your customer. And you should have let it go with this $50.00 scam charge for not giving 60 days notice. Now you get this rating. Great company as long as you never... Read More

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