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Posted by mikey on January 9, 2006, 5:15 pm
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>
> R.H.Campbell wrote:
> > Sir, your post is full of half truths, misconceptions and plain outright
> > incorrect facts. See below
>
> Robert, this is a really great post.
>
> I'm sure you'd get thanks from everyone.
>
>
>
> >
............................................................................
............................................................................
..
> >
> > > Beware! Some alarm companies can be bigger "crooks" than the crooks
you
> > > are trying to protect yourself from.
> >
> > RHC: Some may be just as in every other industry; however, the vast
majority
> > are NOT, and are simply trying to provide good honest service to their
> > clients. Your generalized smear of the industry is not warranted in any
way,
> > shape of form.
> > >
> > > They will lock you into monitoring contracts and control the
electronic
> > > equipment so that if you cancel their monitoring, your equipment will
not
> > > function.
> >
> > RHC: They may well lock you into a contract of some duration. That is
the
> > industry norm. It's also a fact that if you shop around, you may be able
to
> > find companies that don't. However, cancellation of monitoring does not
> > affect the system in it's ability to work in "local" (non monitored
mode).
> > Many if not most DIY'ers opt for no monitoring, or something they call
"self
> > monitoring". IMO they are shortchanging themselves; however, the measure
of
> > security they choose is their choice. But all alarms will work in local
> > mode.
> > >
> > > Don't sign any contracts.
> >
> > RHC: A long term contract may or may not be an option depending upon
the
> > company you choose. However, no company will ever work without a
contract
> > being signed whatever the term...monthly or long term. That would be
> > extremely foolish !
> > >
> > > Buy your equipment for cash/credit card on internet or wherever. Pay
> > > someone to install it or do it yourself - no contracts.
> >
> > RHC: That is an option. However, it may be difficult to find a company
that
> > wishes to install a non monitored account...for two reasons. Or if you
do,
> > it will be at an expensive price. Monitoring is where the money is, and
> > second...non monitored accounts simply don't work very well. The party
you
> > choose to do the installations may or may not do a good job. It has been
my
> > experience that the contractors that do this casually for clients
generally
> > don't have the experience level to do what most would consider a
> > professional quality installation. That usually translates into the
systems
> > ability to do it's job with no false alarm problems !
> > >
> > > There are companies which will do monitoring for very little and have
> > > fairly simple contracts. The following company looks good to me, but
might
> > > want to look at others as well.
> >
> > RHC: Provided you choose a ULC rated company, you can get raw monitoring
for
> > $10 a month. What you give up is the warranty and service of a dealer
for
> > the extra dollars a month. At that point, it becomes a crapshoot !
You're
> > betting you never need the services of a dealer, because if you do, it's
> > going to be a subcontractor, and his prices for the simplest service
will
> > quickly eat up any perceived gain from the lower rate ! But like
everything
> > in life, it's the consumers choice. But my personal opinion, is it's a
poor
> > bet for the consumer !!
> > >
> > > Anyway be in the position where *you* own your equipment and you
decide
> > > where it will be monitored. If not happy with your monitoring, you may
be
> > > locked in for a year, and may be required to give them notice in
writing
> > > that you want to cancel, but at least you will be able to switch.
> >
> > RHC: That's the first thing you've said that makes sense !!! Freedom to
move
> > comes with the shortest contract but in turn will be the hardest to find
!
> > Long term contracts build a measure of equity in their companies, so
most
> > choose to sell that way. It's purely business; NOT a scam as you seem to
be
> > suggesting !
> > >
> > > Also alarm systems can be "locked out" by the monitoring company. Get
it
> > > in writing that they will not lock out your alarm system and that
should
> > > you cancel, they will return control of the alarm system to you.
> >
> > RHC: Your terminology of "locked out" is confusing. Every company
changes
> > the installer code while they are responsible for your system, and that
is
> > as it should be. Any other company coming in simply has to default the
board
> > back to factory specs, and reprogram. It's no big deal, and wise to do
> > anyway, to eliminate undefined signals going to the Central Station !!
> > However, if the board has the hardware lockout activated as well, this
> > cannot be done. If the equipment belongs to the client, and there is
nothing
> > owing in the way of revenues to the company, it is not legitimate for
ANY
> > reason. If it is locked, and the company refuses to unlock it, it
amounts to
> > theft, pure and simple.
> > >
> > > So far as interrior motion detectors, get a "dual" type which is IR
and
> > > microwave. The are not likely to have false alarms. And wireless
systems
> > > use batteries which cost a fortune. I have my system "hard wired" and
> > > don't need to buy any batteries.
> >
> > RHC: Wireless systems today are very good; however, they do require more
> > service due to batteries. A hard wired system overall usually gives you
more
> > reliable service over the long term.
> > >
> > > Ask questions here about specific door contacts, smoke detectors,
motion
> > > sensors, best monitoring companies, etc. and you should get good
answers.
> >
> > RHC: Yes, you will get good answers here provided you don't come in with
> > preconceived and incorrect ideas as you have stated in this post. Try
coming
> > in with an open mind; ask valid questions that don't piss people off at
the
> > beginning, and you will generally get good advice from professionals in
the
> > business. Continue to "diss" our industry and you will get what you
> > deserve...
> > >
> > > One monitoring company...
> > > http://www.alarmrelay.com
> >
> > RHC: Another good "direct to end user" ULC rated company in Canada is
> > www.themonitoringcentre.ca. But know beforehand, you will be charged for
the
> > setup, and one full year in advance. Service will be by subcontractor
who
> > has no vested interest in your system, and can be expensive. Your choice
!!
> >
> > R.H.Campbell
> > Home Security Metal Products
> > Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> > www.homemetal.com
> >
> >
> >
> > I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
> > http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html
>
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