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What You Should
Know Before Purchasing a Security System
When planning the purchase of a security system, you will likely
consider whether, and by whom, your security system should be
monitored. Most alarm dealers will make every effort to convince you
to sign up for their monitoring service at an additional cost to you
of around $20 to $35 per month. And, assuming that you agree to use
their monitoring service, many alarm dealers will employ some or all
of the following practices which restrict your ability to later switch
to a different monitoring station of your choice:
- They install "proprietary"
equipment, which is incompatible with industry standard alarm
monitoring receivers, and which cannot be serviced or monitored by
any other monitoring station. Tip: Ask and verify that the
equipment to be installed is not proprietary, and that it is
capable of being fully monitored at any monitoring station.
- They lease, instead of sell, some portion
(the master control panel, for example) or all of the security
system to you, and, even though you may have paid for its
installation, they could remove some or all of the security system
from your home in the event that you cancel their monitoring
service. Tip: Ask and verify that all equipment to be
installed shall be your property, and not leased.
- They may activate a "local-programming
lockout" virus in your security system, or may refuse to give
you the "lockout code" or "master program
code" necessary to reprogram your security system to a
different monitoring station. Tip: Ask and verify that the
equipment to be installed does not have a "local-programming
lockout" virus employed and that you receive the
"lockout code" and "master program code".
- They ask you to sign a long-term (several
years) monitoring contract, frequently in connection with a
subsidized installation charge, whereby you are obligated to use
the monitoring station selected by the installer. Tip: Ask
and verify that the monitoring contract is for a maximum term that
is satisfactory to you.
- They ask you to sign a monitoring contract
which automatically renews forever unless you remember to cancel
it in writing at least 30 days before it would otherwise
automatically renew. This provision is sometimes called an
"evergreen" clause. Tip: Ask and verify that the
monitoring contract has a termination clause that is satisfactory
to you.
- They ask you to sign a monitoring contract
which provides that they may increase your monitoring service
rates at any time for many different reasons. Tip: Ask and
verify that the monitoring contract has rate increase limitation
clauses that are satisfactory to you.
- They may, immediately upon installing your
security system, sell or assign your monitoring contract to
another monitoring station (who will pay your alarm dealer a fee
of about 24+ times your rate-per-month) over which they have no
control, and which may or may not give you satisfactory monitoring
service. Tip: Ask and verify that the monitoring contract
provide that you may cancel it at any time in the event of
unsatisfactory service.
- Telephone solicitors may claim that their
company's "low" monitoring fee is very competitive. Tip:
Compare monitoring rates among several monitoring stations.
Of course, always ask for references, verify
that the alarm dealer is properly licensed, and read their contract
before signing it.
© 2006 by 911 Inc; Used with permission.
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