Patrol Automation Systems - Gardena, California

Robert Preston

Update: the despicable ethics of this company continue to be on display. They found out the name of the company I hired to replace them, and have contacted that company disparaging my actions and requesting they not take over my project.

My contractor selected Patrol to do the pre-wire and whole home automation system (Control4) for a new construction in South Bay. Despite having access to the plans at pre-construction, numerous mistakes were made installing the speaker components. This necessitated ceiling repairs (drywall and paint). The first mistake they made, I covered the costs. But the second time, I asked them to pay for those mistakes. Not only did they refuse that reasonable cost sharing request, they charged me time and labor to fix their initial mistake!

And this was just the beginning!

Next came the development that they are *NOT* an authorized dealer of Control4. (Contact Control4 in Salt Lake City to discuss). They instead have an associated firm that you have no contract or professional relationship with to do the Control4 programming and administration. Control4 advised me that Patrol is not authorized to bid, advertise, sell, or install Control4 products. They aren't even supposed to quote Control4 on a Patrol letterhead.

Next, it emerged that the Control4 equipment they did transfer to me (allegedly obtained through another vendor with whom I have no contractual relationship) was marked up much higher than authorized dealers would do (per Control4). For example, I had to add an extra power module due to the number of loads in my system -- Control4 says the extra module was just $1320 and not typically marked up by authorized dealers, but Patrol charged me $2800.

Next, Patrol told me I needed an AV receiver to drive my Control4 audio. So I bought a $4,000 ARCAM receiver. Wrong again! Didn't need this at all for audio...Control4 drives all my music in the house. A wasted $4k expenditure because Patrol doesn't know the product they're advertising and selling (probably because they're Control4 unauthorized and thus haven't had proper training)

Next, a 75" TV and mounting rack FELL OFF THE WALL in my house. Fell. Off. The. Wall. Fortunately no one was hurt. They did replace the TV and the mount within the week. They did not pay for the damage to the floor and drywall when it careened off the wall.

Next, when I reviewed their final invoices, they had installed far fewer electronic light switches than the original plan... which is fine, as it's a boiler plate contract. But in the same way they charged me for an extra module when the boiler plate contract didn't cover the extras we needed (which I expected) you would expect them to reduce proportionally for the switches, right? Nope. They refused.

Next, they stopped supporting my system as I attempted to amicably discussing the overages. This hostile act had the effect of them leaving me without programming support in an effort to blackmail me to pay their incorrect invoices without any ownership of their mistakes.

Bottom line: Avoid Patrol. Make sure you contact Control4 and ask for an authorized dealer prior to planning your whole home system

Richard Flores

Bob, is a rude supervisor. I was acquiring for their services to install a CAT 5 Low voltage cable in a hospital. He said he didn't know what i was talking about. kept cutting me off and then hanged up. That's not the right way to do business.

Prakash Singh

They are really good at low voltage jobs, Home theater, Home automation, Alarm systems etc.