Re: ARE YOU REALLY BEING MONITORED? READ THIS

["Doug L" <vssdoug@xxxxxxx>]

That is not how it works,  the monitoring center doesn't dial into each
customers home and wait for a signal, its the other way around, if a timer
test is programmed into a panel at the customers premises, then the control
panel calls the monitoring center at preset intevals, if this test signal is
not received at the monitoring center then the monitoring station system
will flag a no timer test and the appropriate action can be taken.

Mastermind from MAS (General Electric) is but one of many software packages
used in the industry.


Doug L

--

"Sonicduck" <jones1019@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1132272672.113574.41260@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.
>