monitored alarms

waveydave79 · 16 Dec 2008 at 05:19

Damm monitored alarms.

double edges swords.

Ours has an ACE keyfob so theres no code, No fob=no deaactivation. this went wrong for us today when the key was 150 miles away. LOL.

Are these types of alarms worth it when offset a standard alarm. Offset the insurance/peace of mind. Just seems a lot of money

£50 replacement fobs (2)
£120 / Year subscription
£50 call out fee for them to turn off the alarm.
All adds up...

Iam sure it wouldnt increase the insurance by this much.

platinum87 · 16 Dec 2008 at 07:43

cut of the power?

smash it to pieces?

Ciphon · 16 Dec 2008 at 09:22

We had this at my old place of work... It used to lock the doors by magnets, and one day it stopped working.. so the front door was constantly unlocked..

Luckily someone realized, and it was deadbolted (Security ISO's ftl).. but everyone had to ring the buzzer to get in... just turned out to be a pain in the arse all day long!

waveydave79 · 16 Dec 2008 at 11:59

sure woud love to smash the thing to pieces! However dont really think its the best long term option.

Basically I had a bit of a disagreement with the company that ran it yesterday when i returned from the inlaws down south london and had accidental left the fobs to de-activate it. I had no option but to pay a call out fee, eventhough i pay a subscription I think this was a total waste of money.

When speaking to the company that ran out apprantly the phone numbers it dailed out where some unknown number, it appeared they had the numbers wrong! Admitadly, when this happened I was none too happy on the phone, even less after being advised about the fee.

I need to contact the company and have them adjust the correct phone numbers, or do I just cancel the monitoring after the poor show?

El_Watcher · 16 Dec 2008 at 12:10

Seems strange that the alarm system wouldn't have some sort of backup in case the fobs fail/not there. Our office uses a fob system, but will also allow you to put a code in if you don't have the fob.

As for monitoring, it depends on what would be stolen, and whether any police/security go past at any points. If there is a regular patrol, I wouldn't bother with monitoring.

Greebo · 16 Dec 2008 at 12:18

El_Watcher said:
Seems strange that the alarm system wouldn't have some sort of backup in case the fobs fail/not there. Our office uses a fob system, but will also allow you to put a code in if you don't have the fob.

As for monitoring, it depends on what would be stolen, and whether any police/security go past at any points. If there is a regular patrol, I wouldn't bother with monitoring.

As I discovered last month when we had a major power cut, my MD for "security" reasons had all the electronic door locks set to lock in case of power cuts rather than release (every door in the building has one).

I had specified for health and safety reasons that they should be release in case of fire and thought that it has they had been set. Little did I realise that my MD had overruled me.

ANyway, a fire wouldn't be too bad since there is a release on the inside of every door. The funniest thing was and why it has now been changed, is that any room which was empty when the power went off (3 days), nobody could get into. I was in another office so I couldn't get to my desk or work for 3 days

waveydave79 · 16 Dec 2008 at 12:23

El_Watcher said:
Seems strange that the alarm system wouldn't have some sort of backup in case the fobs fail/not there. Our office uses a fob system, but will also allow you to put a code in if you don't have the fob.

As for monitoring, it depends on what would be stolen, and whether any police/security go past at any points. If there is a regular patrol, I wouldn't bother with monitoring.

This is what I would have thought. as the sticker did say -'Call for deactivation' Im going to check my home insurance, and see if it was stated on the schedule.

I was actually very annoyed that the company had the wrong numbers to call out when it went off. The engineer admited this to me, so if it had of been real then it would have been no good.

With the current ecomonic climate I could do with tightening my belt, and could do with £10 more, however my wife likes it when we go out as its piece of mind.

Appranltly there can be no overide as its monitored, so there is no code that can be entered instead. However if we switch off the monitoring it can be left using a code only.

Im not sure if my house is on a patrol route. I often see 1 police car at night, very rarely comes down our street, we do have good neighbours Im sure if they heard anything they would also ring the police, and in future I can also fore-warn them when we go away to do so.

Need to get in touch with the alarm company next and see what phone numbers they do have stored for us, or just cancel it. I do feel that I would probably be better off writing them a strong letter.