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Posted by Roberto on August 7, 2005, 3:16 pm
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looking. I don't need service, installed the entire system myself. If the
panel cooked tomorrow, I could replace it probably cheaper than having
dealer service next door.
Bob
> Sir, the price you pay for monitoring has little or nothing to do with how
> good or bad the service is. The only real money for most companies in the
> alarm security business is in monitoring , so you will see every marketing
> gimmick in the book to get you to sign with them. Some of the real
> questions you should ask yourself before signing with ANYONE are:
>
> 1- Am I dealing with a recognized ULC rated monitoring station
> 2- Do I want or need the intermediary services of a conventional alarm
> company for service and warranty on my equipment (if so, you will be going
> through them for monitoring services), and realistically, most consumers
> definately do.
> 3- How long do I have to contractually obligate myself with the company in
> question (the shorter the term, the better for you)
> 4- How flexible are they in their ability to deal with my requirements for
> customization of the calling list and / or the exact type of response I
> require. This is especially important in locales with false alarm
> surcharges.
> 5- If the company is not local to you, how flexible are they in being able
> to deal with the specific requirements of the authorities in your locale.
>
> It's no different than any other service you require as a consumer. Here
> is how I see the pricing based on my years in the business (and my
> locale):
>
> Cheapest: Several larger stations geared to dealing directly with the end
> user for about $10 monthly. They usually have no contract, but require
> annual billing in advance....monitor your system just as well as any of
> the big stations....have no service on your panel available except through
> expensive subcontractors in your area...and little or no guidance if your
> panel goes on the fritz. You are largely on your own in spite of what they
> might say !!
>
> Medium priced: Service through an independant dealer from $15 to $20
> monthly, with contractual terms from monthly only, to 3 to 5 years.
> Usually includes the expertise of a dealer who knows your equipment, with
> different levels of service available depending upon the particular
> company in question. This category includes the vast majority of small to
> medium priced alarm dealers.
>
> Higher priced: Service from $20 to $29 monthly, usually with a contract
> from 1 to 5 years. This includes the larger companies with higher
> overheads, and (according to them) better service, long term stability etc
>
> High priced: In excess of $30 monthly. This is the domain of the phony
> "free system" marketers who are amortizing the artificially low price of
> the system in the inflated monitoring rate for a long term contractual
> period. If you're not paying for a system this way, then you're being
> asked to pay far too much. This is also the domain of those customers who
> don't shop well, or who simply don't care about pricing, or who have been
> fooled into believing that a "brand name company" is always best.
>
> Monitoring is a valuable part of your alarm system, and it is not wise to
> skip it in most cases. However, what you pay for it can be all over the
> map !! What do I have to pay for warranty and after sales service on my
> alarm system is an equally valid question, and one that is too often an
> "after thought"
>
> R.H.Campbell
> Home Security Metal Products
> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> www.homemetal.com
>
>
>
>
>>
>>>
>>>> I'm looking for a monitoring service. Anyone know anything about Next
>>>> Alarm?
>>>>
>>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>> They're a "dealer", not a monitoring service. They use "several UL
>>> Listed stations" across the US (depending on your location). Read their
>>> FAQ. I haven't heard anything "bad" about them, but then, I haven't
>>> heard anything really "good" about them either... Nice website
>>> though...
>>>
>> I checked out the 911 monitoring but they seem to say they call a friend
>> or family member instead of the police or fire department. They say it
>> cuts down on false alarms. What is my family supposed to do, come up here
>> with a shotgun? I could simply have my alarm dial my family instead of
>> paying them to do it. I'm beginning to feel that getting a monitoring
>> service is like rolling the dice and hoping for good luck. They all say
>> nice things about themselves but how does one really know until after
>> signing up with them? People say you get what you pay for so don't go
>> cheap, but with the big boys who charge over $30 a month, you don't seem
>> to get what you pay for.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>
>
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