Amazon's Ring has doubled the price of its alarm monitoring service for existing customers.
People are understandably very upset.
A recent change in the pricing of the Ring alarm system has caused unrest among users, who chose this service due to its affordable cost of 24/7 professional monitoring, which was previously only $10 a month or $100 a year. However, many have received an email informing them that starting with their next renewal, they will have to pay double: $20 monthly or $200 annually. This new rate resembles the price of the Ring Protect Pro plan that Amazon launched three years ago.
While price increases are always frustrating, it could be argued that Ring remains a relatively economical option. Nevertheless, what has been particularly frustrating for many is Amazon's insistence that they responsibly notified existing customers about this change. A snippet from the received email states: "This is a reminder that we previously notified you." However, many users, including the person sharing their experience, do not recall receiving any notice regarding a 100% increase.
Upon investigating the company's website, a FAQ section was found mentioning that in September 2021, an email was sent stating that the Ring Protect Plus (1st generation) subscription would transition to a new plan starting in 2025. However, that email did not mention any changes to the pricing or features of the service, only that the plan name would be updated.
Upon reviewing previous emails, it can be noted that all contained a small section at the bottom with clauses indicating that users would continue to have access to the Ring Protect Plus (1st generation) until the renewal of their subscription after January 1, 2025. This has led to the conclusion that Amazon has been handling this information misleadingly for three years.
While many customers may be considering switching alarm systems, the reality is that uninstalling a Ring doorbell and risking losing a discount on their home insurance complicates the situation. Despite this frustration, some understand that the price increase may be a response to inflation and that longtime users have enjoyed lower rates for many years. Amazon has yet to issue a comment regarding these complaints.
