Re: question about burglar alarm dispute (San Francisco Bay Area)

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Roland Moore wrote:
> Well I think you're focusing on the receiver. Many central stations actually
> monitor the phone lines for activity before it reaches the receiver. The
> receiver gets the caller ID before it picks up the call, so the logging with
> automation can begin before the receiver even picks up. There is a separate
> layer of software for monitoring phone line activity. I guess if you just
> have a receiver and no automation software and don't monitor the phone lines
> then anything bad like this can happen. Is that what you use?


You're still missing the point, Roland.  The issue brought up by the OP
is that the panel is not calling an 800 line.  It's calling a toll line.
  There is no way for the CS to collect caller ID if the customer's
decided to block that information.  If the panel is a "runaway" or
attempting to communicate unsuccessfully using local (or dialing long
distance) toll lines the call block feature will prevent the CS from
identifying the source.  Our CS is local.  We've programmed all our
panels to dial "*82" to avoid this very issue and to ensure the account
is properly identified.  In a large third party station, it's important.