March 1, 2011
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Question
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Ken,
Not sure if you have a contract avail. for my situation.
We install alarms & on occasion sub-contract for private alarm responders to go out on alarm calls (some are armed & some are not). How do I best protect our interests in this scenario both with the client & the guard company (don't believe your 'Rent-A-Cop' contract is for this-it says it's for standing guards) ?
Daryl
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Answer
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Alarm guard response is another security service available to subscribers. Your scenario is typical, the guard response is in connection with an alarm signal received by the central station. Some centrals have their own guards, others subcontract out the guard response service.
You are the installer; you have the contract with the subscriber. Your contract would have to include guard response as a service to be provided. A guard response provision is included in the Standard Commercial Lease. A guard response provision is not usually included in the Standard Monitoring Contract, but it can be added if other provisions, less essential, are removed [assuming you want to keep the form contract front and back].
As with every security service the contract will specify how you intend to provide the service, in this case, respond to an alarm condition.
You indicate that you will be contracting the guard response service to a guard company. That company should have a contract for you to sign, and one for the subscriber in the event you don't have the guard response provision in your contract with the subscriber. You are correct that the Standard Guard Contract is for stationary guards, not response. I have guard response contracts, both for installers and the guard company, but they are not listed under the standard forms. You can call Eileen at 516 747 6700 x 312 for the forms.
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more comments on Verizon
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I'm against companies like Verizon messing with our business, but we have to understand that every business has to deal with competition. Cable TV selling phone service, phone companies selling TV service. Nobody complained when GE bought small security manufacturers and killed the line of products. Now GE is selling the entire security business, but that won't bring the small manufacturers back. I think, our biggest concern should come from the government trying to throw speed bumps our way, regulate where we can and can not work and extort money in licensing, taxes and fines.
Dusan
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Regarding Mike CSS, C'mon Mike, you don't really think that is a good answer, do you? [ Mike suggested: "I would go one step further and move any accounts I have with Verizion, wireless, phones & cable in protest to them muscling in on our businesses. Let them know the reason why you are moving your accounts to a different carrier. Mike CSS"]
Do you think Verizon cares if you do that. Do you not think technology has a way of getting in the way? Just think about (well) 30 years ago when the industry was transitioning from McCullough, Direct Connect, Direct wire, and all that C/S Ademco to Fire and PD facilities? What happened to the industry when the digital communicator was brought out? Were you around then? Look what has blossomed into being a very competitive industry.
Aside of the new technology communition devices being introduced to the world, just also think of the smaller service providers...do you think that when they see a "cash cow" and all its its potential revenue they are going to say, "well yes, that would bring in millions of dollars but that isn't our core business."
I think not!
M Winger