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Question - How many monitors can an operator monitor? 

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Ken

    I have been researching issues on “dummy cameras”  and I wanted to thank you for the many articles you have written and made available to the public and security industry.  Your thoughts have brought the issue into focus with clear and concise points.  I spent decades conducting risk assessments and spent the last 8 years in a large healthcare system as security director and chief of police.  This issue continues to  come up and many supposed experts make blanket statements that have no basis in fact or backed up with research. 

    If you ever have to look into how many monitors a security person can monitor effectively I hope I get to read it.  There seems to be no real research in this area as well.

Thanks again.

Shawn

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Response 

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    This is an important question because video monitoring is the "now" technology; latest bell and whistle.  Video Monitoring, covered by the All in One contracts [both the Residential and the Commercial ] typically comes in two varieties.  First, video clips can be received by the central station upon activation of an alarm.  Second, operators can remotely access and view cameras at any time, and this can be periodic or constant surveillance.  

    If you're selling and offering video monitoring [as opposed to self monitoring by the subscriber on Internet connected device] you should know your central station's capabilities.  Of course, the same issue pertains to alarm monitoring, and it's even more essential a question when you know there is alarm verification procedures which will take more operator time per call.  So if one operator can monitor 1000 alarm accounts for burg, fire and other signals, how many video subscribers can an operator monitor?  Surely as the number increases the likelihood of ineffectual service increases, and that translates to poor service, customer dissatisfaction and increased exposure to liability.

    Coincidentally as I was finishing up this article I receive a call from a central station monitoring facility that will be monitoring only video systems.  It's service will be to monitor live camera video when a motion sensor activates.  I am told that one operator can monitor 10 subscribers.  Sounds like a lot of man power in operators as this central grows.

    Here is an opportunity for the central stations featured in The Alarm Exchange to share their experience and practices on these important issues.  Timely responses will be circulated. 

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Question - cancellation due to fines

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Ken,

    We are finding that subscribers want to cancel their monitoring due to Nassau County Police fines.   Some of the subscribers have called for repairs and others have not.  I found that the subs that want to cancel are the ones that never called in any complaints and just let it trigger multiple times.   Is there any information you have in regard to this issue?  Any other companies find the same problems?

Thanks

Jeff Carlin

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Answer

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    The Standard All in One Contracts are crystal clear on this issue.  The false alarm fines are the responsibility of the subscriber and certainly not a basis for the subscriber to terminate the contract.  Use proper contracts and enforce them when necessary.

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Comment on bounced check - file mechanic lien

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Ken

If this was the sale and installation of an alarm system it is possible that the alarm dealer would have mechanic’s lien rights if the dealer had given the proper prior notices etc. Have such rights is an very powerful collection remedy.  Often the threat is often.  The smallest I ever did was $700 and the client got paid and got my fees.

Regards.

Alan L. Pepper

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Response

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    Filing a notice of mechanic lien may be available, but I don't see it as a practical approach.  Perhaps mechanic lien laws are different among the states, but in NY you can only file a mechanic lien if you have improved real property.  The Standard Form Contracts make clear that the equipment is and remains personalty; therefore a mechanic lien may not be available.  Once a mechanic lien is filed you usually have a limited time to commence an action to foreclose that lien, and in that action you must name and serve all parties with superior liens and interests, which means the owner of the property, mortgagors and existing judgment and tax lien creditors, all of whom will be paid ahead of you, and you will be the one funding the prosecution of the mechanic lien foreclosure action.  In NY the first expense you'll have is getting a title search so that you can ascertain the property parties you have to serve.

    There are times when a mechanic lien can be an effective tool.  The filing of a mechanic lien usually is a violation of the tenant's lease, and it's also usually a violation of a mortgage.  Since the owner/landlord and mortgagor will be served with a copy of the mechanic lien they may bring pressure on the tenant or mortgagor to resolve and remove the lien.  I think you will find actually starting a mechanic lien action a costly proposition unless you are in a state that simplifies the procedure - and that won't be NY.

    Another effective tool and one that is less costly is made available in the Standard Form Contracts - filing a UCC-1 security interest lien.  That can be foreclosed under the Uniform Commercial Code and not real property law procedures.  You can file your lien by right under the contract terms and the cost should be under $10.  

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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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