Re: avoiding being "locked out"

["Stanley Barthfarkle" <sbarth@xxxxxxxxx>]

There are several reasons why it's in a monitoring company's best interest
to "lock out" a panel- mostly having to do with keeping installer codes
secret, (which might be used in more than one customer's panel) and keeping
account numbers and central station phone line numbers private. With this
info, someone could disrupt monitoring for one or even many accounts, or
create a "runaway" phantom alarm panel to keep the police from responding
after several false alarms.


<thesatguy1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:p9LQe.1026$oJ2.392@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.
>>
>>
>
>