Special considerations when selecting an alarm company

The cost of the installation

Many companies bid very low in order to get an account. In most cases hundreds of dollars below cost. These companies have deep pockets but usually cover their outlay by having the client sign a very restrictive contract and in addition may retain ownership of the equipment. Remember there is no free lunch. Study every aspect of the contract. It is also a good idea to evaluate if the proposed system is user friendly and properly designed. Many security sales people have had only limited experience in the security field and know little about the actual installation or how it's done.

2. The contract

Contracts can be very complex with lots of fine print. The customer should make sure the contract is read and everything not understood, explained. Never assume, because the salesperson is nice or because it's the security business, that the contract is straight forward. Basically a contract should say that the company will provide a service and the customer to pay for services received, not much else. Some questions worthy of answers:

a. - What happens if I move?
b. - What happens if the security co sells my account to another company?
c. - What equipment is warrantied and what services do I pay for?
d. - What happens if I want to change security companies? How can I get out of the contract?
e. - Who owns the equipment?
f. - Why should the contract have a long term?
g. - What happens if the company fails to perform?

3. The monitoring

Who will monitor the alarm and who is responsible for insuring that the proper information is logged and maintained at the station? If I have a problem with the monitor what is my recourse? Can I have my alarm monitored elsewhere if I'm not satisfied? Is the Monitoring Station ULC rated? Is the Station out of the Province? If so do they adhere to the Security Act of British Columbia?

Service and Maintenance

What happens if there is a problem with a component of the alarm or a family member needs a refresher course in how to use the alarm? How does the company handle these issues? If I have a service problem or a question to whom do I talk and what city is this person in? How fast can I get service and what does it cost?