BRITS have been given an urgent warning about the hidden costs of having a Ring doorbell – and the possible fines could leave you seriously out of pocket.
Getting a Ring doorbell might be the latest must-have gadget offering some extra security for households but the devices come with some extra charges and could see you fined as much as £100,000.
More than 100,000 households in Britain which have installed doorbell cameras could face a £100,000 fine for breaching privacy under data protection laws by inadvertently filming their neighbours and then keeping the footage following a landmark ruling.
Having a Ring doorbell will not get you into trouble when recording images within the boundary of your private domestic property.
However capturing images beyond this boundary means you will need to comply with data protection laws and uphold the rights of the people on your recording.
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In October 2021, a judge at Oxford County Court ruled that Jon Woodard's use of his Ring cameras broke data laws and that he had pursued a course of harassment during his dispute with Dr Mary Fairhurst.
She was forced to move out of her home in Thame because the WiFi-connected gadgets were "intrusive".
£100,000 FINE
He was ordered to pay a fine of £100,000 for putting the doctor under "continuous visual surveillance".
Amazon, who distribute the Ring devices, are advising Ring customers to make it clear if one of the doorbells is in use at a property.
Ring said in a statement: "We strongly encourage our customers to respect their neighbours’ privacy and comply with any applicable laws when using their Ring device.
"We’ve put features in place across all our devices to ensure privacy, security, and user control remain front and centre – including customisable Privacy Zones to block out “off-limit” areas, Motion Zones to control the areas customers want their Ring device to detect motion and Audio Toggle to turn audio on and off."
Amazon has advised owners to ensure people know they are being filmed by putting Ring stickers on their door or windows.
You can make use of the Privacy Zones feature so you're only filming your property.
BATTERY
Anyone thinking of getting a Ring doorbell should also be aware you could be hit for hidden costs if you need new parts for it that are not included in the warranty, such as the battery.
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A customer in the US warned others in a post on YouTube.
They wrote: “There are a few other possible hidden costs as well. If you hardwire the doorbell into your current doorbell chime, the transformer may not have enough power to handle both.
“This happened to me. The battery would not stay charged even though it was hardwired and supposed to recharge automatically. I had to purchase a new transformer ($20) but it still had a problem with the battery discharging down to 2%.
“Upon calling Ring support, I was told that apparently I had a faulty battery and their remedy was for me to purchase a new one for $30.
“I told them the unit was 3 days old and what about the warranty. I was told the doorbell was covered but the battery was not.”
However, they explained that after speaking to a supervisor a replacement was sent out free of charge.
So once the battery has died customers may need to fork out for a new one as the device won’t work without it.
WI-FI
Anyone thinking of getting a Ring doorbell will also have to have wi-fi and an internet connection installed in their home, which will come with a fee.
You’ll need wi-fi to be able to see video, use two-way talk and get alerts, notifications and updates.
The cost of wi-fi can vary enormously depending on the package you get and which provider you use.
The average broadband bill is now £30.30 a month, according to Glide.
Prices start at around £18 a month for a basic 10Mbps internet package and £20 for a fibre deal although prices will rise if you want faster speeds.
Ring Video Doorbell model 1, 2, 3, and 4 are completely wireless and powered by battery. They connect to your smart phone, tablet or computer via wi-fi.
SUBSCRIPTION FEE
Unlike ordinary doorbells, Ring doorbells come with a subscription fee.
The basic package now costs £34.99 a year.
Prices for a Ring doorbell can vary considerably depending on the model bought but the costs start at £43.95 on Amazon.
