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WHO IS GOVIA BY BLACK+DECKER?
GOVIA SERVICES ARE NO LONGER BEING OFFERED. THIS REVIEW IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED.
Black+Decker is a trusted brand that has been around for over 100 years. Recently, they have launched a direct-to-consumer Health Division and their first product is the new medical alert line called goVia. goVia will help seniors age in place longer and give their loved one’s peace of mind. Black+Decker goVia products are powered by Medical Guardian.
Medical Guardian was founded in 2005 and have served over 200,000 medical alert users. The goVia line was created with Black+Decker’s reputation in creating quality products and Medical Guardian’s expertise. The goVia medical alert system is monitored 24/7 and all calls will be handled by Medical Guardian’s TMA Five Diamond Certified call center partners.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Black+Decker goVia medical alert monitoring line currently has 5 product offerings that vary between in-home and on-the-go use. They also have an in-home automatic fall detection option to choose from. You will have to first purchase the equipment through Amazon and then call their customer service number to connect to the monthly monitoring service provided by Medical Guardian.
1. MINI is an unobtrusive medical alert system that can be travel with you outside the home. It is wearable as a neck pendant, wristband, on a belt or can be put in a pocket. The system operates using nationwide cellular coverage on AT&T’s LTE network. The device can be tracked via GPS and has a 24-hour battery life after each charge. Automatic fall detection is available for an additional monthly fee.
2. MOVE is an on-the-go medical alert system that can be worn and it includes nationwide cellular coverage on AT&T’s cell network just like the Mini. When you’re home, you can choose to wear the button so that it is constantly in close proximity or charge it while wearing the optional wearable help button. You can then press the wearable button when you are within 300 feet of the move button. Once the button is pressed, you will be connected to the monitoring call center. The Move can also can be tracked via GPS and has a 24-hour battery life after each charge. Automatic fall detection available for an additional monthly fee.
3. HOME Classic s an at-home medical alert system. Seniors can wear the medical alert response button on their wrist, as a necklace or they can solely use the base station. This features a 32-hour back-up battery in case of power outages. This system requires a landline. The classic system’s range is 1,300 ft from the base unit.
4. HOME Wireless is a medical alert system that can be used in your home and in close proximity. There is no landline required with this system. The button can be worn as a neck pendant, wristband or solely by using the base station. The Home Wireless system also is powered by AT&T’s cellular network. This features a 30-hour back-up battery in case of power outages. The Home Wireless system’s range is 600 ft from the base station.
5. HOME Auto Fall Detection is similar to the Home Wireless system except it includes the addition of automatic fall detection. The system detects changes in motion which can be associated with a fall. When a fall is detected, you are connected to the emergency response team. You can choose to wear the button around your neck, on your wrist or you can solely utilize the base station but not all of these options will allow for automatic fall detection. There is no need for a landline and this unit is also powered by AT&T’s cellular network. The system has a 30-hour back-up battery and can be used within 600 ft of the base unit.
PROS
CONS
RATING: 
SINCE YOU’RE LOOKING AT GOVIA BY BLACK+DECKER, CONSIDER TAKING A LOOK AT MEDICAL GUARDIAN FOR COMPARISON.
COMPARE DEVICE FEATURES:
PROS & CONS TO CONSIDER | How did goVia by Black+Decker do? |
| Price | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| Cost for Equipment | The cost of the goVia Move system is $74.99. The cost of the In- Home systems start at $44.99 and the goVia Mini cost is $99.95. |
| Cost Per Month | The cost per month for medical alert monitoring services start at $29.95. |
| Advance Payment Discounts | No |
| Monitoring Agreement Term | You do not have to sign a long-term contract and you can cancel anytime. Even if you cancel in the middle of the month, you will be refunded a pro-rated amount of what you pre-paid. |
| Repairs or Replacement Charges | You can purchase a 2-year or a 3-year protection plan through Amazon. The costs start at $2.99 for the 2-year plan. You will pay no additional costs for parts, labor and the shipping is included. The plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracks due to normal use covered from day one. Malfunctions are covered after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. |
| Cancellation Policy & Discounts | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| Cancel at Any Time | Yes |
| Senior Discount | No |
| Other Discounts | No |
| Equipment | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| Approximate Button Range in Typical Home | The Home Classic system has a 1300 ft. range. The Wireless and Fall Detection systems have a 600 ft. range. |
| Watch/Button Battery Life | Battery will last around 3-5 years except for the Mini & Move systems, which require recharging every 24 hours. |
| What Happens if I Lose Power | Approximately 32 hours of backup battery for the in-home systems. |
| Is the Watch/Button Waterproof | They are water resistant. |
| How Can The Button Be Worn | Neck and wrist options are available. |
| UL Certified Equipment | Yes |
| Does The System Automatically Test Itself To The Monitoring Center | Yes |
| 24 Hour Technical & Customer Support | Customer Support is available 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM EST (Monday – Friday) and 9:00AM to 5:00PM EST on Saturday. The monitoring center is always available for help 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. |
| Monitoring Station | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center | Yes, but it is not company owned. |
| Typical Response Time When Button Pressed | Roughly 30-45 seconds |
| Other Options & Information | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| How Fast Does System Ship | Ships from Amazon. Free shipping for Amazon Prime Members. |
| Do You Need Separate Systems For Mom & Dad | No but you will need to purchase and additional pendant. |
| Optional Advanced Features | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| Activity or Inactivity Monitoring | No |
| Senior Fall Detection | Yes |
| Cellular or No Phone Line | Yes |
| Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Protection | No |
| GPS Medical Alert Tracking System | Yes |
| Special Offers | goVia by Black+Decker Review |
| Special Offers For Our Visitors | None at this time |
MONTHLY COSTS & FEES
When considering Black+Decker’s medical alert systems, keep in mind that you will be purchasing the equipment upfront, in addition to paying a monthly fee for the medical alert monitoring services. Many medical alert companies do not charge equipment fees, however you will have to ship the equipment back if you cancel their monitoring services. That is not the case with goVia, since the equipment is yours to keep. Black+Decker’s site directs your equipment purchase to Amazon, where you will get free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime Member.
goVia does not require a long-term contract and you can cancel at any time. Currently, they have the same monthly pricing as Medical Guardian’s similar products.
Also, you can add automatic fall detection to any of the systems for an additional cost of $10.00 per month.
| Black+Decker goVia System | Cost Per Month | Equipment Cost |
| goVia Mini | $39.95 | $99.95 |
| goVia Move | $44.95 | $74.99 |
| goVia Home Classic | $29.95 | $44.99 |
| goVia Home Wireless | $34.95 | $49.99 |
| goVia Home Auto Fall Detection | $44.95 | $54.99 |
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT BLACK+DECKER’S GOVIA
Reasonable Service Rates – goVia has reasonable monthly service rates compared to other medical alert companies in the industry.
Cancel at Any Time Policy – Since you do not have to sign a long-term medical alert monitoring contract, you can cancel at anytime. If you aren’t satisfied with your medical alert monitoring service, you can request a refund for any unused months of service paid.
Automatic Monthly Tests – Black+Decker’s base station will test monthly to the monitoring station. These periodic checks are to ensure that the base station is talking to the monitoring center.
Flexible Monitoring Agreement – With no lengthy contracts, cancel any time if you are not satisfied.
Cellular Option – If you do not have a landline in your home and you want a more traditional system, you can utilize the Home Wireless system which is a cellular model.
Fall Detector Option – Seniors have the tendency to fall, especially if they are diabetic. Automatic fall detection gives additional peace of mind. If the emergency button senses a fall, it will automatically call into the monitoring station in case you are not able to. This is available with the goVia Fall Detection In-Home System and others as an option. Monitoring fall trends can give family members better information to inform their loved one’s physicians.
Monitoring Center Has Top Certifications – Black+Decker’s goVia systems benefit from using Medical Guardian’s monitoring center which gets high scores for being UL Listed as well as TMA Five Diamond Certified. Medical Guardian’s call center reps go through periodic testing and are randomly checked for their level of service, and also that the monitoring center maintains required back-up power systems, redundant monitoring equipment, and communication channels.
WHAT WE DISLIKE ABOUT BLACK+DECKER GOVIA
Monitoring Center Not Company Owned – We like that they utilize a TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center but keep in mind it is not company owned which means they do not have direct control over operations.
Black+Decker is Basically a Reseller – Black+Decker is relying upon brand recognition to help sell the goVia product. goVia systems are shipped by Amazon and monitored and supported by Medical Guardian.
No Pill Reminder Option – Some medical alert monitoring companies offer a medication reminder system which is a nice add-on to your monthly monitoring system. Although you can find these for sale elsewhere, it’s nice to have it included with your medical alert monitoring system.
No Carbon Monoxide or Smoke Detector Options –Every home should be equipped with a carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. If your medical monitoring company does not offer this, we suggest installing the proper amount of detectors separately.
No Activity Monitoring – Monitoring your loved ones activities can come in handy to ensure they are active each day. It can also be very helpful to make sure they are not inactive for a long-period of time, which can be a sign of an emergency.
Fee for Equipment – You have to purchase the Black+Decker goVia medical alert equipment upfront and you are getting the same monitoring services as Medical Guardian. Since Medical Guardian offers free equipment with some of their systems, this can be a big drawback.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
How do I activate my goVia device?
Once you receive your equipment, you can call Medical Guardian’s customer service number to set-up your monthly monitoring service.
Who does my goVia medical alert call in an emergency?
When you have an emergency, you will be connected to Medical Guardian’s monitoring call center. From there, an agent will call emergency services if they are needed and/or family and friends you would like notified.
What do I do if I lose or break my goVia medical alert device?
You can purchase a protection plan when ordering your goVia system from Amazon. This covers the cost of a lost or stolen device and if your system breaks for any reason.
Do I need a landline to use goVia?
You can utilize goVia’s Wireless or Fall Detection In-Home systems that use the AT&T cellular network.
Does goVia have automatic fall detection?
Yes, it comes standard with their Home Fall Detection system and as an option on all other systems.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BLACK+DECKER GOVIA
Since goVia was recently released by Black+Decker in 2021, there are not many product reviews to be found online as of the writing of this review. However, there are a few five-star Amazon reviews of users who are happy with the quality of the system and the compact size of the Mini.
Black+Decker is not BBB accredited and they have an average of 1.2 out of 5 stars with the Better Business Bureau at the time of this review. Keep in mind these reviews are on all of Black+Decker’s products, such as their household items and tools, and none yet on their new medical alert systems.
Medical Guardian, who provides the customer service and monitoring of the goVia systems, has been BBB accredited since 2009. They currently have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating with 203 complaints at the time of this review.
BOTTOM LINE
Black+Decker’s goVia line is an exciting new departure for the company with lots of potential. Currently, they aren’t offering anything distinctive in the medical alert market that makes them stand out other than the goVia Mini. The Mini’s small discreet design can be an attractive option to those who don’t want to wear a bulky medical alert device.
Keep in mind that you are purchasing the medical alert equipment as opposed to renting it like most medical alert competitors in the market. This will mean more up-front out of pocket expenses. With medical alert technology rapidly changing, we don’t suggest purchasing pricey equipment. The goVia line is however affordable and you can sometimes find coupons on Amazon.com.
The customer service number provided by Black+Decker connects to an automatic survey and gives you a lengthy list of offers for companies such as DirectTV and it doesn’t connect to Medical Guardian. We suggest calling Medical Guardian directly for accurate pricing. Currently, Black+Decker’s goVia medical alert systems are the same monthly monitoring cost as the equivalent Medical Guardian system. Since Medical Guardian offers some free equipment and the same monthly service, it would make sense to use them directly for your medical alert monitoring needs.
Considering that Black+Decker is basically reselling Medical Guardian’s service, we suggest reading Medical Guardian’s review thoroughly before making your purchasing decision. We’d also like to see some newer technology such as medical vitals and activity monitoring options added in the near future.
We give high praise to Medical Guardian’s monitoring center which uses two operators on calls that require emergency assistance. Their call center operators are also available to speak in many different languages. Top certifications such as TMA Five Diamond Certification also help with their ranking however it would be ideal if it was company owned.
Although our experience with this company had these results, your experience may be different. If you’re interested in this company’s services, contact them to judge for yourself.
