Insurance companies generally provide a discount if you have a monitored alarm system professionally installed in your home or business. After we have completed the installation or taken over your existing alarm system, we will provide you with a monitoring certificate and you can present that to your insurance company.
FAQs
Accounts & Billing
How do I update my account information?
Updating Passcodes and Call Lists:
If you need to change your verbal passcode or modify your call list, please contact our office for assistance.
Alarm.com Customers:
To update basic information, log into your Alarm.com app or use the Alarm.com website. Any changes you make will automatically update at the monitoring center.
Other Customers:
Please contact our office for assistance in updating your information.
How do I request a service call?
You can request a service call by using our Service Request form. Once we have reviewed the request, we will contact you to schedule an appointment. If your system requires emergency repair please call (833) 833-4200 for assistance.
In order for your system to be serviced, an adult (18 years of age or older) must be present.
How do I get an insurance discount?
How can I benefit from referrals?
For every referral you submit, you could earn a gift card!
Receive a $50 gift card for every referral that transfers their alarm system to our monitoring center or purchases 2 or more cloud cameras.
Receive a $100 gift card for every business referral that signs up for or transfers their existing video monitoring services to our monitoring center.
Receive a $100 gift card for every referral that purchases a new alarm, video surveillance system, or 4 or more cloud cameras for their home or business. Businesses that purchase a new access control system also qualify for this promotion.
There are no limits on how many referrals you can submit. Visit our Referral Page today and start earning!
Do you match competitors pricing?
We work extremely hard to keep our prices affordable and often meet or beat the big guys pricing. We realize this is not every situation however our services are priced fair and we do not nickel and dime our customers for features.
Just show your salesman the competitive quote for installation and/or monitoring and we will do our best to make you a satisfied customer!
Do you offer financing options?
Yes, we have multiple financing options for clients. We can include equipment, software, labor, maintenance agreements, and monitoring services in your financed amount, so you only have one monthly payment.
Residential Clients:
We currently work with Sunbit and Paypal. Customers can use the no risk, no hard inquiry pre-qualification option with Sunbit by Applying Here or use PayPal at their convenience.
Sunbit offers 4 interest-free payments for approved customers with a maximum financed amount of $10,000.
Commercial Clients:
We currently work with AlarmCredit and Paypal. If you are interested in commercial financing options and would like to see estimated payments please reach out to your salesman for assistance.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes, we offer multiple discounts for our customers. Discounts cannot be stacked or combined.
Prepayment Discount:
Any customer that prepays for alarm monitoring services, 1 year upfront will receive a $5.00 monthly discount on their monitoring fees for that year. An upfront payment must be made each year to renew at the discounted rate.
Senior Citizen Discount:
$5.00 monthly discount on alarm monitoring services and 5% off any new equipment purchase.
Public Servant Discount:
$10.00 monthly discount on alarm monitoring services and 5% off any new equipment purchase.
Valid for employees of the county, state or federal government with proof of current employment.
Non-Profit Discount:
$5.00 monthly discount on alarm monitoring services.
When will my invoice be generated?
For Monitoring Customers:
Invoices are automatically generated at the end of each month and payments are automatically processed on or around the beginning of the month. Invoices are delivered based on the specific billing cycle you selected when signing up.
For Service and Installation:
Invoices will be generated and due at the time of service. If you purchased a new installation, you will first receive an invoice for the initial deposit and the final balance will be due at the time of installation.
How do I make a payment?
The majority of our customers are using auto pay or attach a payment method to their account for future transactions. Adding a payment method to your account is easy; first open your invoice notification, click to pay it online, and enter your payment information. Be sure to select to keep it on file for future transactions.
If you are not using auto pay, invoices can be paid individually online, over the phone, or by mail. Invoices are due by the date listed and any payments received past the invoice due date may incur additional fees, as specified in one or more of your agreements.
Will my monitoring rates increase?
Currently we have no plans to increase the cost of our monitoring plans. If the price of our monitoring plans change, you will be notified of the new rate before your next renewal.
Adding certain features like advanced automation, a cellular communicator, video packages, or open & close reports cost extra and require a new agreement to be signed before the changes take effect.
Will I be billed for false alarms?
Unless we receive a bill for a false alarm or runaway account, you will never receive a charge from us. Most locations have established false alarm limits. For example, there may be an allowance for 3 false alarms per year. Once you exceed the false alarm threshold you may be charged by your local municipality for any unnecessary responses.
These fines vary based on your location and depend on if you are a homeowner or a business. Remember a false alarm is an alarm activation that you do not cancel at the system or thru the monitoring center causing emergency services to be automatically dispatched to your location.
Is there a service reconnect fee?
Yes, we charge $50 to reconnect each account that has been disconnected for failure to pay or renew their license. If a technician is required to visit your location, you will be billed for time and any materials used.
How do I cancel my service?
Are you moving to a new location?
No need to cancel, we can assist you with transferring your existing service to the new location.
For all other termination requests:
Please contact our office for assistance in terminating your services.
Disconnect Fees:
We charge $50 to disconnect any systems in which our proprietary data is entered or has licensing attached. This fee is independent of any other termination fees involving monitoring agreements or 3rd party services.
Installation & Service
Can you monitor my existing system?
Yes, as long as your alarm system is not being monitored by another company. Most alarm systems are not locked on the panel level, this means you are free to use your existing alarm system with a new company once the current company has removed their access.
Be aware of companies that tell you no one else can monitor your alarm system, this is a common high-pressure sales technique and is used against homeowners. As a homeowner once the equipment has been installed, you hold all ownership rights to the installed equipment.
We have several ways of working with your existing alarm system, even if it is locked or your current provider refuses to remove their access. If we cannot gain access, we may be able to upgrade you for minimal cost!
Request a Free technology assessment by visiting our main page!
Can you service my existing system?
We do not service or repair any systems that are under contract for monitoring with another company.
If your system is out of contract or if it is a stand-alone system, visit our Service Request form.
What makes your service different?
Personal Service:
The big guys treat their customers like an account number, we are a local business focused on customer satisfaction and building long lasting relationships. We do not believe in selling our accounts for a quick profit or sacrificing customer service, our accounts remain in-house ensuring you only receive quality service.
Flexible Monitoring Options:
We offer flexible terms for our monitoring agreements. Our default monitoring agreement is a 1-year term with an option to receive a discount by entering into a multi-year monitoring agreement.
Note: Pricing will vary depending on term and services selected.
Real Security Solutions:
We will custom design a security solution for your needs. The big guys love to hook you with basic or free, often lacking features, security system leaving you with known vulnerabilities. These systems sound good, but most customers end up paying for them over many years along with high monitoring rates.
Say no to basic and free equipment offerings that fall short and are not truly free!
Monitoring Center:
Our monitoring center has been in business for over 40 years and maintains millions of monitored accounts. The monitoring center has 8 geographically dispersed, UL-listed, TMA 5-diamond certified central stations and is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with an average response time under 10 seconds.
In addition, the monitoring centers have redundant infrastructure to include; multi-carrier signal implementation, redundant networks, 2 backup generators at each location, next generation firewalls, and hot switching capabilities in the event one center goes offline.
Doesn't my internet & cable company offer this?
Some internet and cable companies do offer monitoring services while others have suddenly stopped after a few short years, leaving their customers in a tough situation with unexpected costs or loss of service.
While internet and cable companies may be capable of installation and monitoring, they do not specialize in the integration and maintenance of security technology and are less likely to provide you with a real solution.
Do I need an alarm permit?
Generally yes, most jurisdictions have ordinances in place requiring you to register your alarm system. While our staff may have local knowledge, it is advised to contact your local law enforcement agency to verify if an alarm permit is required for your location.
Remember law enforcement agencies may not respond to your alarm without having a permit on file and not obtaining the proper permit could result in receiving a fine.
Do you offer a warranty?
In addition to manufacturer warranties that cover defective equipment, all installations are backed with a 30-day workmanship warranty covering any necessary labor.
We offer extended warranties and service plan options that are available at the time of service. These plans cover items such as consumables, replacement parts, and labor.
What are my alarm signal options?
Due to the unreliability of telephone lines and customer side internet access, we prefer to use cellular communicators using the Verizon and AT&T networks for alarm system monitoring unless you are in a commercial environment.
Cellular communicators are the most reliable communication method and provide fast data transfer, they are capable of sending signals to the monitoring center even when your telephone and internet access is down.
What redundancies are available?
We have multiple options to help keep your systems online:
Extended Battery Backup:
We can install an extended battery backup system for your alarm or access control system that will provide extra power during a power outage. In most situations the battery backup system can easily double or triple the battery capacity of the original battery.
UPS Power Supply:
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an electrical system that provides emergency power when the input power source fails. A UPS is typically used to protect hardware such as telecommunication equipment, computers, data centers or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could cause injuries, serious business disruption or data loss. UPS systems enable you to safely shut down critical systems during a power outage.
Hard Disk Raid Configuration:
RAID is a data storage technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into one or more logical units for the purposes of data redundancy, performance improvement or both. If you had multiple hard drives and one was to malfunction the other hard drives would have cloned data ensuring the data was accessible and not lost.
System Performance Monitoring:
System performance monitoring is designed to automatically run a series of system checks to determine if you system is operating at its optimal performance. It can detect a wide variety of system faults: connection issues, camera failures, image integrity, hard disk failures, recording issues and time and date inaccuracies.
Video Archiving Service:
Video archiving will store data for up to 3 years without being overwritten. Using a video archiving service to store and review your footage long after the video recorder has overwritten the data can aide your business during a legal situation and provide much needed evidence. System performance monitoring is also included at no additional charge and will notify you of any system issues or failures you may have.
What if my internet changes?
It is always best to notify our office of any changes you plan to have with your internet before it happens. When your system was initially setup, it was specifically programmed to communicate within your network. Simply changing a router can leave your system unable to communicate properly or unable to access your network for backup communications. If the changes to your network have affected your system, we may need to send a technician to your location to make necessary changes.
How do I add open & close reporting?
Please contact our office for assistance. This service does require an additional monthly fee and may require a technician to come to your location for programming.
Alarm Systems
I forgot my alarm password can you help?
Legacy Systems:
If you forgot your master code on the alarm system that allows you to arm and disarm the system, add users, delete users, etc in most cases there is nothing we can do to remotely recover it. We will have to send a technician out to your location to reprogram the unit.
If you forgot a user code that is not the master code, you can go into the system with your master code and remove the user from the system and create a new user.
Alarm.com Customers:
For Alarm.com users, we have a few different ways to assist you with changing your master code. Please contact our office for more assistance.
If you forgot a user code that is not the master code, you can go to Alarm.com or access your Alarm.com app and edit or remove the user from the system.
How do I test my alarm system?
You can test your alarm system with the central station by placing your alarm system on test. The monitoring center can be reached at (800) 318-9486. Be sure to have your account information available when calling.
Note: The alarm system must be in an alarm state for at least 45 seconds before you attempt to disable or silence the alarm. It is best to test your system in away mode by opening and closing your delay door to simulate you leaving the premises. Once the alarm is set in away mode, trip the motion detector or open a door, let the alarm activate and then go into alarm.
What happens when my alarm goes off?
After a few seconds your alarm system will automatically send signals to the monitoring center where they will be immediately received and a dispatcher will attempt to reach you to determine if it is a false alarm or a real emergency. If the monitoring center does not get a response from you, emergency services will be automatically dispatched.
If you answer the monitoring centers call and they can verify your passcode and establish that it is a false alarm, emergency services will not be dispatched unless you specifically request them.
Why am I seeing a low battery alert?
Wireless sensors run on battery power. Generally speaking batteries typically last between 3 and 5 years with moderate usage. If your alarm system receives heavy use you may receive this alert sooner than expected. The backup battery on alarm panels should be replaced every 3 years to ensure reliability.
In the event you receive a low battery alert on your backup battery or another battery operated device, contact us or Request Service so a technician can come out and replace the necessary batteries for you.
When your system is first installed you may see a low battery alert. This is common and generally clears itself after a few hours once the battery has initially charged.
Can I replace my own batteries?
You can replace your own system batteries but it is not recommended. It is best to call our office for assistance or submit a Service Request. Simply removing the battery cover without the system being on test can send a tamper alert to the monitoring center and police may be dispatched.
Legacy Alarm Systems:
Legacy alarm systems mostly use 12v 4Ah Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries. Depending on your system and battery backup design, your system could utilize a single 8Ah battery or multiple batteries in combination.
Interactive Alarm Systems:
Interactive alarm systems use a variety of batteries at different voltages and sizes. You will need to determine the manufacturer and model of your alarm to identify the battery needed.
Wireless Sensors:
The majority of sensors use CR123A and CR2032 lithium batteries. Some older sensors may still use AA or AAA batteries. It is recommended that if you are going to replace your own batteries, you replace them with an exact match and pay close attention to the type of battery; alkaline or lithium.
Electronic Door Locks:
Be sure to follow the battery replacement guidelines from the manufacturer. Most electronic locks will have a battery health indicator to relay the battery levels to you. Depending on your lock, it might call for a specific type of battery such as alkaline instead of lithium.
How do I add sensors to my system?
It is not recommended that you try and add any sensors to your system, doing so may result in voiding your factory warranty or cause unnecessary alarm system issues. New alarm sensors must be recorded on the zone list at the monitoring center and tested for proper functionality before going live.
Please contact our office for assistance if you want to add sensors to your system.
Will my alarm system work without power?
Your alarm system will come with a backup battery. The battery is designed to provide a few extra hours of power to run your alarm system until the power has been restored to your location. The monitoring center will receive an alert stating you have power loss and that you are operating on your backup battery. If your battery gets low, you may be notified by the monitoring center.
We can install a separate battery backup system to provide additional power for extend system uptime if you feel you may be prone to long term power outages.
