‎Recordings oddities | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
dlpsr's profile

1.6K Messages

Thursday, May 8th, 2025 6:55 PM

Recordings oddities

@simplisafe_admin 

Perhaps someone at Simplisafe can explain this. Honesty preferred not the run around canned replies.

I reluctantly signed again today for self and recordings rather than let 5 of 7 cameras just rot,  and not feasible financial value dollars wise, to return all for refund.

 

Might as well get a little coverage for $9.99 per month for $850 worth of mediocre cameras. 

The oddities are, that Simplisafe records videos even if you are not paying them.

Just self monitoring. We can't see them but they apparently or possibly can or could.

I sighed about noon today for the 3 month $9.99 per month free trial.

Magically,  at least the "least" the last 30 days of recorded videos showed up in my timeline.

Rather weird and stalky IMHO. Probably illegal taking videos like that unbeknownst to customers.

Show me that in terms and conditions. I want an answer. ASAP!

Official Solution

Community Admin

 • 

1.4K Messages

10 days ago

Hello @dlpsr -

 

First and foremost, no one other than you is able to view your cameras’ recordings without your specific consent - and even with your consent, it’s only for service or product improvement related purposes. Further, all recordings are encrypted at rest and are automatically deleted after 30 days. 

 

We’ve flagged your post to our Specialist team, and they’re reaching out to you directly to discuss what you experienced when you upgraded and the details of your three-month trial. Regarding the trial, given you already had a paid subscription with us and your billing date doesn’t change, we tie the kick off of your three month trial to that same billing date; however, we will be refunding your $9.02 charge. Our Specialist can discuss this further with you as well.

1.6K Messages

@simplisafe_admin

I need to see the specific TOS clause that states that specifically about self monitoring recordings happening without my known consent.

We all know hackers can see a lot and employees even more, ie; $30+ million dollar Ring settlement for exactly that.

All the ad in the app says is 3 months free trial, try recordings. Misleading advertising.

2nd. With self monitoring for many months there shouldn't even be any recordings, it's not included. 

I'll still need to see the specific TOS clause for recordings of me and my family without my explicit permissions with self monitoring alone.

760 Messages

https://support.simplisafe.com/articles/simplicam/when-does-the-simplicam-wired-indoor-camera-record/634492a3013ba90af0bce767

https://support.simplisafe.com/articles/smart-alarm-indoor-camera/camera-recording-behavior-for-the-smart-alarm-wireless-indoor-security-camera/6478a095c3b1ef2541c74107

https://support.simplisafe.com/articles/video-doorbell-pro/recording-behavior-for-the-video-doorbell-pro/65afe5271446fc277820861a

SimpliSafe cameras always record when some events occur that include but aren't limited to the system being disarmed, secret alerts being triggered and power being restored.  You cannot disable this behavior and even if you have the privacy shutter enabled the shutter will open so the camera can record during these events. This also happens whether you pay for monitoring or self-monitor. (I just armed and disarmed my system and checked my video doorbell pro and it shows a status of recording for 60 seconds.)

I haven't set up a SimpliSafe camera in ages but I don't recall any of this information being shared when I set up my SimpliSafe cameras. None of my cameras face indoor areas so it doesn't affect me but I can see where it would bother some people for sure. 

1.6K Messages

@worthing​ It's the point of the matter to me.

ALL OD cameras (5) and (2) doorbells, recordings of the last 30 days popped in after clicking try recordings free for 3 months in the app. $9.99 plan.

(On 2 doorbells and 3 OD cameras,  because I have OD cameras on two base stations, (weak RF) those other two OD cameras are currently, inaccessible for video recordings) Up to ten on the plan, and no TOS shown or known otherwise. Verbal excuses only why I get only 5.

Self monitoring only, should NOT be recording voice and videos without my/our consent, per Pennsylvania wire tap and consumer protection laws.

Law generally supercedes TOS in the courts.

I am not a lawyer, but I can consult one after AG, FTC and Consumer Protection complaints are filed, if no resolution offered, and if found necessary.

And if, SimpliSafe is still unwilling to explain without the usual rhetoric why we were recorded for at least 30 days,  continually for many months, assumes a running 30 day deletion, if true, while NOT on a paid plan.

And show proof it's being remedied for all users. From a lay person,  it appears to be illegal.

All I wanted was at least some use from this substantial investment until it fails and I can trash it. I expected recordings to only start when I re-upped self with recordings.

Only to find videos and voice of my family and visitors are being sent back to their servers for at least a known 30 days or longer.

1.6K Messages

10 days ago

@simplisafe_admin 

crickets on my May 8 demand for the Terms of Service clause justifying unauthorized week-long video and audio recordings during my non-recording plan (self-monitoring, live view only).

Your silence proves you’re dodging accountability for practices that likely violate Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) for deceptive data collection and Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (Wiretap Law) for unconsented audio recordings.

Now, you’ve got the nerve to slap a $9.02 charge (Prime Visa, May 9, 2025) on my 3-month free trial ($9.99 plan, signed up May 8 via app).

Why am I billed for a free trial?

This smells like another deceptive tactic, violating UTPCPL for unauthorized billing, especially with your forum’s endless complaints about post-cancellation charges and refund delays.

Add your greedy push for two $9.99 plans for two base stations (one property, 10-camera plan, no ToS justification) to the pile of UTPCPL violations.

Show me the exact ToS clauses for:

Recording/storing video and audio during a non-recording plan.

Charging $9.02 during a free trial.

Requiring dual subscriptions for one account’s cameras.

No “we’re so sorry” BS—give real answers, reverse the $9.02, and delete my previous recordings, or I’m escalating to the PA Attorney General and FTC, who are already watching your “stalky” scams. Forum users, join me—report this greed! Answer ASAP!

1.6K Messages

10 days ago

Pennsylvania Laws (Titles Only)

Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 5704, § 5725)

Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (73 P.S. § 201-2)

Prime Visa: You made an online, phone, or mail transaction of $9.02 with SIMPLISAFE on May 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM ET.

Or Explain.

1.6K Messages

3 days ago

@simplisafe_admin 

I need Chris Martin, CEO Escalations to make that final call to me or email me, very soon with answers and solutions! Or not, your choice of course.

I've given Simplisafe ample time, I've been as professional as possible and very patient.

It's around 8 or 9 days now total, since initial contact. 

I need an answer concerning recording us and possibly recording everyone with self monitoring, on at least running 30 day recordings, presumably since first contact with Simplisafe in or around Dec., Jan. 2022/2023 initial purchase.

Not including any initial few months of full monitoring, which I cancelled after 6 or 7 months. Nor those times I had self with recordings. 

I mean when we didn't have a recording account, only self monitoring, nor did we provide consent for such recordings of us, unbeknownst to us.

Both video and voice has been recorded and I have downloaded samples, as well as any TOS I thought might be applicable.

Pennsylvania has very strict wiretapping laws. 

Or you leave no choice but take the complaints, elsewhere. 

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