My elderly mother had a contract for service with Monitronics. The security monitory equipment was removed over a year ago but they continued billing with automatic wihdrawal from her bank account. Having read the other reviews, I see that others have had similar experiences. Lessons learned: 1. Removing the equipment does not terminate the service. I don't know if other monitory companies have the same policy but you should ask. 2. By contract there is a 30-day notice required for cancellation. 3. Do NOT allow automated payment from your bank or credit card. 4. Insist on documentation when calling to cancel service. Follow up with a registered letter of cancellation. 5. Consider purchasing a home monitoring system that notices the local police directly. Hope this helps.