Re: avoiding being "locked out"

["R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The big difference is you use the lockout feature for it's intended purpose,
and willingly return the panel to factory when the client chooses to leave.
Unfortunately, there are a minority of companies that don't operate as
ethically as you do.

There is another danger as well with wholesale locking of all boards,
especially with very small companies that lock their boards and then just
disappear. These are the guys that get about 10 accounts, then decide this
"free system" stuff is not all it's cracked up to be, and simply disappear.
Their customers are then left with a locked board to contend with.

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6S%Ne.2$FY6.1560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> The main reason for locking the panel is to protect proprietary monitoring
> information and protect the owner from having programming changed
> (possibily by a moonlighter that doesn't know enough abt the system), all
> my panels are locked. If a client wants to change monitoring co's all they
> have to do is call for it to be unlocked and I remove our proprietary
> info.
>
> Unfortunately, some less than ethical companies may use this feature to
> hold their clients hostage.
>
> hmmm.... I have to admit that it may be useful if the client hasn't paid
> for monitoring in 9 months.
>
>
>
> <powercat@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1124629286.071477.270930@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Greetings I know a commercial alarm system installer who moonlights on
>> residential set-ups.  Basically I do the unpleasant part (running the
>> wiring) and he does the programming and is paid appropriately for that
>> task.  What he does not do is sell alarm monitoring to avoid a conflict
>> with his "real" employer.
>>
>> This all sounds very fair to me.  He does say "pick an alarm monitoring
>> company that won't "lock out" your panel and prevent you from switching
>> later".
>>
>> In short how do you know if a company is engaged in that practice
>> (obviously I can ask).  This sounds very shady to me especially if I
>> own the equipment.
>>
>> Thanks for any comments.
>>
>
>