Re: avoiding being "locked out"

[<thesatguy1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At several points I have contacted all the buyers of alarm system contracts
and they all want to lockout the panels of the accounts they buy mainly
because they think you won't change companies at some point if you're panel
has to be replaced.

Clearly if the customer owns their panel (any many do not ever own their
panel) they should be able to do whatever they darn well please with it.
However, a lot of companies simply go along with the programs they have
hooked themselves up with and violate the law.  I remember Counterforce in
Houston telling me I would have to replace every panel that they could not
download and lockout or they wouldn't buy the contracts.  It boggles the
mind.

All you can do is ask.  You should also verify they didn't lie to you.

<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.
>
>