Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit (2nd Generation) by Amazon | Home alarm security system with optional Assisted Monitoring - No long-term commitments

Top positive review

Simple, easy to fit, works great.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 15 May 2023

I have had alarms for years, but wanted to upgrade mine. Key things I wanted was for my dogs not to set the alarm off, different zones that I can control, remote access and notifications, which that has. installed it quickly and the instructions were great. One this I would like would have been able to set different alarms when you go out. At the moment is had "In" and "Out" put I would like to do part arming so as to be able to set the alarm excluding zones. I can do this but going into the settings and turning them off, but it would be good to have an extra option. Saying that, happy with the alarm.

Top critical review

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Paul Williams

Essential features behind paywall since end of March, system returned

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 19 April 2023

It is important to be aware that essential functions have recently been locked behind a paywall for all new customers from end of March. This makes the system essentially unusable without paying a monthly fee. This was not clear at the time of purchase.

We wanted a relatively basic home alarm system. Not bothered about cameras - just a few PIRs and door sensors. Crucially we wanted the ability to be notified about alarm activations and to be able to arm and disarm the system remotely, and we didn't want to be tied into a lifelong ongoing financial commitment. After much research we went with Ring on the basis of many glowing reviews (both on Amazon and elsewhere). The Ring website (at the time of writing) and all reviews I had found clearly stated that the above functions were available for free. There was no indication that this was planned to change.

On the plus side the system is well made and was easy to install. I didn't bother installing the keypad (as I intended to use the app) and after setting up the app (and declining the Protect paid plan) I tested the alarm via the app. Turning it on worked fine. Turning it off proved almost impossible (it has a battery so can't just be disconnected from the mains). I was astonished to find that I was unable to disarm via the app without signing up to a paid plan. The only other way to disarm was via the keypad but this could not be connected whilst the alarm was going (Catch-22). I had to therefore put the (very loud) alarm in a cupboard, endure complaints from family and neighbours and ultimately had no choice but to sign up to the Protect plan in order to enable the app function to disarm the alarm!

I subsequently spent more than 30mins on the phone to customer service to clarify what was going on. The original agent claimed the app functionality (arm/disarm and notifications) was still available for free. After much protesting I was passed onto a 2nd agent who finally told me that this essential app functionality had indeed been put behind a paywall at the end of March for all new customers. He called this a new 'feature'! He checked the Ring website and agreed that it still claimed that this functionality was available for free and does not mention anywhere that it is now behind a paywall. He indicated he would feedback to the company to try and get this changed. The amazon app description at the time of writing still claims that Assisted Monitoring is "optional" and "no long term commitments" are needed.

I feel I have been missold this product by Ring on the basis of their website and Amazon description. Concerningly the Ring agent indicated that although Ring currently continues to provide the essential app functionality for free to existing customers (who set up their system prior to the end of March), they intend to remove this functionality for all existing customers within the next 12 months.

This is classic "bait and switch" tactics and makes me very concerned about Ring's longterm intentions. Being forced to sign up to a longterm payment plan solely in order to disarm an alarm which can't be turned off by any other means has left a very sour taste in my mouth. I can't recommend Ring to anyone on the basis of my experience.

I have removed the system and returned it to Amazon today. I have ordered a Yale system instead which in the UK still provides free app functionality and notifications without a lifelong financial commitment.

37 people found this helpful

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Daz079

It has limitations

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 27 August 2022

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

I recently moved from a Yale alarm system, which I needed to replace as I recently got a dog and I didn't have pet friendly PIR sensors.

I could have just changed the sensors, but my other system didn't have the integrations I was after.

It's got a couple of fundamental weaknesses, that had I known about, I'd probably have gone for another brand.

The volume of the countdown voice and beeps are feeble, I have max volume set on everything and you can barely hear the countdown outside. Why is this important, I don't live in the best area, I want passers by to hear my alarm arming, like they could with my old system.

The siren doesn't make a beeping sound when I arm/disarm, my okd system did this and that feature provided another useful deterrent, in that passers by knew my alarm worked, knew it was armed.

I can only seem to arm it with the front door closed. I like my door open when I arm for the audible deterrent and also, I might be leaving with my daughter and/or the dog, having to close the door after my daughter has gone out already then arm, open it, just to go out and close it is also pretty poor fron Ring.

My last system had 'Final Door' if the door was open when I armed, closing the door would arm instantly, ending the delay. This option is also not available, which is another weakness of the system.

All of the above were options on my previous system, I wasn't forced to use them, but I chose to, because they additional deterrents and offered me additional convenience and peace of mind.

Clearly the system receives software updates, clearly the app does and I find it disappointing these features are missing.

I paid £295 for an 11 piece kit, with a free camera, if I'd paid full price, I'd be back up the ladders and sending it back, purely because the lack of some basic features mentioned above, doesn't give me a great deal of satisfaction

It was easy to install for the most part, I had a little trouble getting the cover on the siren as the place I installed it was previously pebbledashed, obviously I'd chipped the pebbles away, but the render isn't even and the cover doesn't have any give in it, on an uneven surface.

Motion detectors appear to work well, the app I guess is ok. I tend to have to use it to arm the system when outside, although it takes a little while to load the status, it'd probably be quicker using Alexa on my phone, once outside.

I've given it 3 stars, I'd probably give it 5 if the options I mentioned were available. It's not like it's brand new, they've been out a few years now, so it's unlikely Ring are even working on these things.

54 people found this helpful

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susan robson

Ring Customer support is abysmal.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 24 February 2023

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

I purchased a set and some extra sensors. One of the motion detectors did not work and had a serious fault that flattened the battery in hours. I contacted customer service and after some time getting through they agreed to replace it. I had to contact them again to arrange a delivery date and had to go through the whole process again. A replacement was sent except it was the wrong type 1st Gen., not 2nd. I then spent 30 mins online explaining the problem, sending a picture, etc. only to be told she could not help and I had to ring another number for help. Extremely disappointing, Ring need to get their act together

Helpful

Joseph

Good with major flaw

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 February 2023

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: +£0 Ring Indoor camConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

Firstly, the product is very simple to set up and use. Other Ring products you own will integrate really easily too.

However, the major downfall is the entry/exit delay timers. There are pre-set times of zero seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 120 seconds meaning that the alarm goes off after those times. However, I find that zero seconds is too short and 30 seconds is too long, but there isn’t a way to choose your own delay time (10 or 15 seconds would be far better for me). Having someone in your house for 30 seconds before being alerted is a VERY LONG TIME! Please change this!

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doublemp

Good and affordable, but with some annoying caveats

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 17 November 2021

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

I'll start with cons:
1. You cannot arm with the door open. You have to close the door, arm, and then re-arm. The way competition does it it lets you arm with sensors open, but it'll give you a warning. Then, those sensors will be armed too when closed.
2. You cannot arm without a PIN (except via app). I'm guessing it's to protect people from forgetting their own pin?
3. Shared users cannot set up or change their own PIN. The point of the PIN is that it's private and even I'm not supposed to know it.
4. No police/fire/ambulance dispatch in the UK. Just be warned in case you read US reviews.
5. Window sensors will sound the alarm immediately, even in home mode. (Workaround is available by setting them to entry door mode).
6. Range on offer is less compared to the US (no leak/flood sensor, for example)

Pros:
1. Lots of settings and configurations, from LED to sensor chirps.
2. Remote self-monitoring is free and notifications are reliable.
3. WiFi or wired connection
4. For £8/month, you get cellular backup and calls in addition to notifications.
5. Good build quality
6. Easy setup.

6 people found this helpful

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B White

Need to know technology

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 16 July 2022

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

Door chime not played on mobile phone. Repeated checks and reviews of instructions of setup have proved futule. Help facility just refers to instructions. Neughbour's works fine as does shared function with daughter. I don't know how to correct this.

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Assisted Monitoring & Base Station Siren

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 21 November 2021

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

The install procedure is fairly smooth but nearly stalls as it tries to get you to commit to Assisted Monitoring. It should have a 'skip for now' button like some of the other pages do.
The Base Station contains a very loud 104db siren. The volume cannot be changed or muted in the app. If you don't want to risk this going off, the system can be left in 'Disarmed' state. That way you will get the notification in the Ring app but not risk setting off the siren.
Sadly you have to pay monthly (Ring Protect Plus) for the privilege of utilising a USB 3G SIM equipped dongle to notify you in the event of internet failure.

3 people found this helpful

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Calum

Simple but just nowhere near loud enough.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 6 December 2021

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

When the alarm goes off in the lounge, I can’t hear it upstairs. Just not loud enough. Other than that:

Great little system. Easy to install. Minimalist design. Works well with a mobile phone through the app. If you want to monitor your own system through your phone (like I do) then you can overlook the quiet alarm that no one hears.

I also love the way the alarm leads the connection for the Ring cameras - we have had camera for a while but with the alarm they work so much better through additional functionality. Great feature I think.

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David Meagor

Good, but UK subscription is bad value

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 8 January 2022

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: +£0 Ring Indoor camConfiguration: 11 Piece KitVerified Purchase

The ring system is great but the assisted monitoring is nothing if the sort in the UK. The phone call is pointless when you need to check the app/video feeds to see if it's a false alarm anyway. Better to switch the cameras and doorbell for a cheaper eufy system and just have this for the alarm.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Poor attention to detail in instruction manual

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 November 2021

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: Ring Alarm KitConfiguration: 5 Piece KitVerified Purchase

Haven’t used this system for long enough to give an accurate star rating yet. But if the attention to detail within the instruction manual is anything to go by I am worried. The icons shown for Home, Away and Disarmed modes in the manual don’t relate to their actual function. This could be very confusing for some. I suggest Ring do away with the paper manual altogether rather than risk confusing customers.

2 people found this helpful

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Zoe

You have to pay for a subscription

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 4 January 2022

Colour Name: WhiteStyle Name: +£0 Ring Indoor camConfiguration: 11 Piece KitVerified Purchase

I dislike the fact that you have to pay a subscription to be able to play the video's back to watch!

One person found this helpful

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