I've had a Phantom tracker in my van since I bought it in 2008. It was installed with a link to the Sigma alarm, so if the alarm went off Phantom detected that and I would get a phone call from them to alert me. That was good, and I'm now half way through my third 5-year subscription period. Not cheap, but peace of mind.
Because my children are now starting to use the van for their holidays I emailed Phantom recently to ask if I could track the van on Google Maps. Very soon after, I got a phone call from Phantom saying 'no' but we'll let you have an upgrade for £99 (for something on their website at £599). I got no impression from the conversation or the follow-up emails that the "upgrade" was just anything other than a like-for-like replacement, just with new electronics.
I said yes, but things didn't work out. The fitter who came (and seemed very competent) told me he was surprised at the installation he found. He told me the "new" tracker he had brought wouldn't connect to the alarm as things stood, I said that was a "downgrade" not the promised upgrade. He suggested removing the passenger side fascia in case he could connect up with the speaker, which - in a Hymer A-Class (and a 13-year old one at that, showing a degree of 'brittle plastic' syndrome) that's asking for trouble. I declined, and asked him to refit the old device.
So, I'm down £99 and not even sure the device is still working as it did before. Phantom have offered me £40 (out of which I get to pay for the return of the "new" tracker out of that) -- from something the fitter said, I suspect that Phantom had some undeclared reason for offering me the deal in the first place.
I'm interested to hear from anyone with similar experiences, and/or additional information.
John
Because my children are now starting to use the van for their holidays I emailed Phantom recently to ask if I could track the van on Google Maps. Very soon after, I got a phone call from Phantom saying 'no' but we'll let you have an upgrade for £99 (for something on their website at £599). I got no impression from the conversation or the follow-up emails that the "upgrade" was just anything other than a like-for-like replacement, just with new electronics.
I said yes, but things didn't work out. The fitter who came (and seemed very competent) told me he was surprised at the installation he found. He told me the "new" tracker he had brought wouldn't connect to the alarm as things stood, I said that was a "downgrade" not the promised upgrade. He suggested removing the passenger side fascia in case he could connect up with the speaker, which - in a Hymer A-Class (and a 13-year old one at that, showing a degree of 'brittle plastic' syndrome) that's asking for trouble. I declined, and asked him to refit the old device.
So, I'm down £99 and not even sure the device is still working as it did before. Phantom have offered me £40 (out of which I get to pay for the return of the "new" tracker out of that) -- from something the fitter said, I suspect that Phantom had some undeclared reason for offering me the deal in the first place.
I'm interested to hear from anyone with similar experiences, and/or additional information.
John