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INQUIRY: MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
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Ken,
    Thank you for continuing to generate these emails, it is a true help and asset to have them in my inbox every morning.
    We are looking into changing our account management software as we are not happy with our current program. We are hoping either you or someone who reads these emails may suggest a good program for us to try out.
    We currently have a program for our account management that we are less than thrilled with. The software has a very outdated feel, but the steep annual fee to keep it updated doesn’t match. The program does however have some functions that we would like to make sure we get if we were to switch- area for basic account information, area to put support logs/notes on the account (we take a lot of calls and notating conversations help us to keep on top of things), invoicing, service ticket generator, etc.
    We would also like a program that has good tech support when we need it- I cant tell you how many times I have called to report a bug and our current tech support has said “well if I cant see it happen myself, I cant help you!”
    Any advice from anyone is greatly appreciated! Thanks again
Mandy Dofflow
Nite Owl Alarm & Video, Inc
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CONTRACT TERMS AND MODIFICATIONS
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Ken
    I wonder if different contract length and terms are fesible.  What I would like to do is reduce my contract length to less than 1 year, but make it clear that the customer does not own the equipment until after 36 months. I will still be using the value of the communicator in addition.  I also want to avoid the 'retail installment' issues. 
    My reason:  a 'local' national branch opened in my area and they require 60 month contracts.  I am looking to draw a big difference between the business by being able to claim 'No long term contracts.'  This is also a reality issue in that since my markets are so small (the major city has only 30k in it, less 150k total pop w/in 90 miles), i don't have the resources or blue sky to fully enforce a breach of contract by a subscriber.  Also, I don't do 'free' or $99 installs, so the customer has to pay something upfront.  
    Cost for the wording?
Curtis
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ANSWER
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    Closest agreement would be the Residential Lease All in One.  You can agree to abandon the equipment at the end of the lease.  Don't sell it; that would be deemed a retail installment contract.  
    We can design the contract as a Retail Installment Contract but that will probably require you to comply with other consumer laws that are not applicable to alarm contracts typically.  We stay away from Retail Installment Contracts because the requirements in some jurisdictions are incompatible to the RMR model we use in the alarm industry.  Retail installment sales disclose the purchase price and interest.  That number is going to be lot bigger when you have to disclose on going monitoring and service charges, as well as the balance of the purchase price.  
    You can also use the "free alarm" model.  When you order the contract call our Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda 516 747 6700 x 312 and let her know that's the form you want.  It doesn't have to be "free".  It provides for a waiver of certain charges which are recouped if the subscriber fails to complete the contract.  Compliance with Retail Installment Laws would most likely not be required, though we will check your jurisdiction when we do the contract so you comply.
    There is a Standard Form Agreement that fits almost every alarm business model and to answer your question regarding modification, it's your contract and we can modifiy it to accommodate your ideas.  Cost to modify, cheap.  We charge a little more if you want to help (unless we ask you to).
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