Re: ARE YOU REALLY BEING MONITORED? READ THIS

[Devin <youdontneedit@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well thats why we use a daily test signal from all our panels. If the
station doesnt get the test signal every night, we get a fax in the
morning saying which account didn't test.It costs us nothing to do,And
the customer is called by 10am that morning.

Why do a monthly "ping test" so to speak when almost all panels can do a
daily test.



Sonicduck wrote:
> One of the most interesting, yet disturbing things about monitored
> security systems is their ability to tell whether your system is
> actually online or not.  The method most companies do this, and most
> security consultants do not bother to tell their prospects, is by an
> "electronic bullet".  The electronic signal is sent from the monotoring
> center and "dials into" each customer home, and waits for a signal
> telling it that everything is working ok.
>
> This activity cannot be done all the time.  Realistically, it can only
> be done efficiently once a month.  First, the companies performing this
> "service" have to pay for all the long distance phone charges, the
> postage for letters notifying those failing, that their system needs
> service, and the humans performing these tasks, usually get paid by the
> hour.  I knew the receptionist in our branch (ADT) was charged with
> this task.  She used to tell me it was an impossible task.
>
> While working at ADT, I discovered through conversations with
> installers and managers that they NO LONGER send this test signal.  I
> had access to ADT's at home VPN, or remote access to their website and
> database, through the internet.  I was shown an area on Mastermind, the
> software used by most, if not all major security companies to track
> everything from billing to service, to account, and alarm status
> history.  The area I was shown detailed any service related issues.
> One night, while learning the system, and using my town code, I
> discovered about 14 of my recently installed customers were NOT being
> monitored.  They had "error codes", when tested from the initial
> install.  When I confronted my manager, and asked him why, he said,"ask
> the install/service manager."  I asked him, and he just sighed, and
> never really gave me an answer or promise to correct these issues.  I
> feel like I must have opened a can of worms.  What this means to me, is
> that many, many customers are out there, that are paying for moitoring,
> but are not even online to the monitoring center.  They won't know
> unless their alarm goes off, and no one calls.
>
> In Bell South from Protection One's defense, and Brinks, to the best of
> my knowledge, both companies are still sending the bullets monthly.
> ADT is not.  It was simply too expensive for a company with 5 million
> customers to do it once each month.  Is this ILLEGAL?  To NOT send a
> signal and still charge you?  The short answer is no.  They covered
> their butts by their agreements, or contracts.  In that little, small
> type that every sales rep. tries to "blow by you", they state that "IT
> IS THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL THE MONITORING CENTER WEEKLY"
> to make sure they are active.  Most rep.'s will tell you to do whatever
> is comfortable, whether a weekly call, or a monthly call.  Any SALES
> REP worth his or her salt, if he/she REALLY cares about your safety,
> WILL tell you to make those calls.  It is the ONLY way you will know
> for sure.
>
> If you don't do this simple task, and remind yourself to do it, you
> risk having a serious emergency event, with no response, at your
> residence.  Almost as bad, in the long run, short of having a non
> responsive emergency event, you will be paying for a service you are
> NOT receiving.
>
> Don't be misled.  Be safe!  If you have any questions, please do not
> hesitate to e-mail me.
>