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Question - camcellation and term issues 

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Ken

    We never make agreements in people’s homes;  it’s always by phone and then the tech carries the contract on install day.  Would we still need the right of cancellation filled out and 2 copies left with the customer? 

    Another question   Our current contract and most of our competitors have a 3 year contract, Can we change the Residential All in One contract to 3 year term?  Thanks

Mike

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Answer 

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    You apparently do enter into contracts at the home.  Your tech brings a contract for the subscriber's signature when going to the house for the install.  The contract is in fact being signed at the house.  The consumer subscriber has to get the cancellation option under these circumstances.  Also keep in mind that the cancellation notice is generally required unless the contract is executed by the subscriber at your regular place of business.  

    As a partical matter you're safer using the cancellation form for all residential sales.

    The Residential All in One has a term of 5 years.  That would apply to all of the services specified in the Residential All in One, including monitoring, service, inspection, and other RMR generating services that the contract addresses.      Most of your subscribers will accept the Standard Contract form as written,  Those that request a shorter term than 5 years can be accommodated by you crossing out the 5 and making it 3, by hand.  You can of course change the printed form to 3 years, but I don't see why you would.  

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Question - letter terminating account

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Ken

    Question – Is there a letter/notice for when someone has not paid their monitoring long enough that you finally decide to cut off their monitoring?  One the couple is getting divorced and sold/selling the house.  Husband moved out, wife I think is out now while it’s up for sale or being sold.  The other is a non-responsive customer that I presume had someone else come in but the radio we installed is still transmitting communication failures.

    I kept thinking about the contracts which we recently updated from you and the whole thing about the communication.     Since the radio is obviously still there and still transmitting I was thinking of having in the letter something about options of giving us access to take out the radio or for them to arrange to have it disconnected.  And also about that they may be responsible for future central station charges.

Jason

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Answer

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    The Standard Form Contracts - the All in Ones - do address termination of deliquent accounts.  Even though the contracts permit immediate termination I suggest that notice be given.  The important issue to remember when giving notice of termination is to fix a date and time certain for the termination, and be sure that your election to terminate is irrevocable, unconditional and unequivical.  By that I mean the notice should simply state "your service will be terminated on October 30, 2013 at 3 PM on that date".   The next important matter is that you actually terminate at that time and date.  Do not continue service after the termination date.  

    If the alarm is regulated by any AHJ then be sure to notify the AHJ of termination,  A copy of the letter of termination should suffice unless your AHJ requires something else.  Note that some AHJ may actually require you to continue service until the AHJ authorizes termaition [anyone know of any AHJ that requires this?]  

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comments on financing residential accounts from Oct 9, 2013 article

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Ken,

This is in reference to the inquiry from Diane on 10-09-13.

Ken, you are absolutely right, selling accounts does nothing for a dealer’s future.  Building equity, builds strength and the ability to withstand unexpected problems like recessions.  I do have such a finance program where we loan working capital funds to a dealer over a 24-36 or 48 month term.  When the dealer has paid the loan back over the selected term, he resumes billing the customer for his RMR.  This is a simple program that allows the dealer to build a flexible, business plan to meet his needs without  selling accounts.  

Thanks for including me in your Alarm Exchange.

R. Anthony Smith

Security Funding Associates, Inc.

Marketing and Financial Advisory Services

11143 Provence Lane

Tujunga, CA  91042

CA Lic. #5583

(626) 795-9199

(626) 705-4098-Cell

TSmith@SecurityFinance.com
www.SecurityFinance.com

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 Ken, 

saw the question from Diane this morning regarding residential alarm system financing.  I've had good luck with Time Payment (781-994-4775).  Super easy to become a dealer, simple application process, and quick payments.  

Geno Zucco

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Ken,

regarding the dealer looking for financing for residential accounts nationwide. I have a great program. We advance 23X on a 36-Month  contract. We need the Dealer to have credit and each customer to have at least a 640 credit score. We fund within five days and return the contract on the 36 Month.

Regards,

Rory Russell, Owner

Acquisition & Funding Services

Cell: (518) 366-5111

roryruss@roadrunner.com

www.afssmartfunding.com

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Response

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    Tony Smith and Rory Russell are listed in The Alarm Exchange.

If you are financing I encourage you to retain ownership of your RMR accounts.  You can pledge them as collateral for the loan but you should get them back once you've paid off the loan.  

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Webinars

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December 4, 2013   12 noon EST  Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4919260455763006721

 

    Title:  10 Things Residential Security Alarm Companies should consider BEFORE entering the world of Commercial Engineered System Fire Alarms

      Presented by:  Bob Williams, President of Briscoe Protective Systems and his Management Team. 

Briscoe Protective Systems has been in the industry for 35 Years and has made the transition from a Residential Alarm Company in the late 70’s to a Engineered System Fire and Security Company that is an SDM Top 100 Company. Find us on the web at www.BriscoeProtective.com or on LinkedIn under Companies, Facebook and Twitter@BriscoeProSys 

      Description:  There is a big difference between installing Residential Fire Systems and Commercial Engineered Fire Systems and there are “Key Factors” that Security Company’s should consider before attempting to go into this lucrative but challenging market.

      Who should attend:  Alarm company owners and fire techs.  

 

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