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Notice:  Contract updates and "sale" - ONE MORE DAY - TRUST ME SALE ENDS TOMORROW


   The Standard Form Agreements have been updated and it's time for you to update your forms.  Changes were made as recently as third week in December.  Only the All in One forms will be updated at no charge.  If you purchased an All in One on or after June 1, 2014 you are entitled to a FREE UPDATE.  If you purchased an All in One between January 1, 2014 and May 30, 2014 your update is half price.  If you don't have the All in One forms. or if purchased in 2013 or earlier get the most current form before January 8, 2015 and receive $100 off each All in One form and $25 off the Disclaimer Notice.  Call our Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda at 516 747 6700 x 312 to arrange the discounted price.  If ordering for the first time please go to www.alarmcontracts.com to place your order and take the discount when completing the order form.
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Another Notice:  I am planning a few webinars that will be announced shortly.  A well known alarm expert will be presenting on a number of liability topics involving design, installation and services, important to alarm company owners, operation managers, technicians, insurance brokers and claims representatives.  Watch for the scheduled announcement.
    Another webinar will present on topic of alarm salesman perception.
    Yet another webinar will be How a small alarm company can get big.  I am looking for a few panelists for this one.  Anyone interested please give me a call.  I promise to do most of the work.
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QUESTION: COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS LIABILITY
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Ken ,
    I am in North Carolina. 
    We recommend our customers, new and current, to install a cellular means of communications for their alarm in case of:
1- customer switched home phone service and new one is not 100% compatible with the Alarm.
2- Teleco provider made changes in their service that effect the phone communications between the Alarm panel and central station.
3- customer wants to discontinue Teleco service.
4- Teleco provided line/cable is cut
5- Teleco provided line/cable is down due to AC power loss
    Do you provide a form that tells customers that if they do not follow our recommendations we will not be liable in case the Alarm panel did not communicate with central station?
    We really try to get our customers away from Teleco lines for their alarm systems since we found the cellular to work the best.
    Thanks for all you do!
Mark Pecker
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ANSWER
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    Communication pathways is an issue that must be addressed in the Subscriber Agreement as it pertains to not only central station monitoring but remote access capabilities for subscriber and alarm company access.  Excuse my technical limitations, but I believe the pathways include POTS, dedicated line, VoIP cable, radio, cellular and satellite.  What all had in common was that the alarm company disclaimed ownership, control and responsibility for all pathways.  That changed when alarm companies decided to own their own radios and repeating stations.  But the contractual disclaimers only needed minimal adjustment to include that change.  
    All of the Standard Form Alarm Agreements exclude liability for communication pathways.  The Disclaimer Notice still recommends POTS and cautions against VoIP.  
    One of the most recent updates to the Standard All in One Agreements involved encryption issues, obviously a communication pathway issue.  This was prompted by the recent ADT class action lawsuit.  So to answer your question directly, the Standard Form Contracts, particularly the All in One forms, address communication pathways and contain several protective provisions insulating the alarm company from liability for line or communication failure.
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QUESTION: FIRE ALARM CONTRACT INQUIRY
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Ken,
    I am inquiring into what kind of Fire Alarm Contracts you have that can be utilized in the state of Illinois and the associated cost for these contracts.  Also, is there a way to preview these contracts prior to purchase?
Thank you.
Jim G
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ANSWER
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    Jim, as you may have just recently found out, there is no Santa Claus.  Likewise, there is no "preview" of the contracts.  There is, however, a sale going on right now and I suggest you take advantage of it.  $100 off every All in One.  And to address your other question, the Standard Fire All in One is the premier commercial fire alarm contract, in Illinois, and everywhere else.  Regular cost is $850.00.  Sale price of $750.00 is good through Jan 8, 2015.  Residential fire alarms are covered by the Residential All in One.  Regular price for that agreement is $775.00.
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