KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE You can read all of our articles on our website. Having trouble getting our emails? Change your spam controls and white list ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** Self-monitored systems May 19,2022 ********************** Self-monitored systems ********************** Ken We are currently using your 2020, All In One Commercial and Residential Contracts. We have a few clients that do not want their alarm systems monitored by central station. However, they would like to use their systems remote communication and control capabilities. For us this is primarily though Honeywell Total Connect which does require us to setup an account with our central station for the communications path and billing of services. Where this is not our focus to provide systems without monitoring, earning additional RMR never hurts and being the point of contact for a client does bring in other work while retaining the option to provide central station monitoring at a later date. Do we need to have our clients sign a contract for these services or only make use of your sale and disclaimer notice forms for these accounts as you had stated in an article on self-monitored systems from a few years ago? Darren ************************* Response ************************* Presumably you are talking about residential accounts. These residential customers should be signing a Residential All in One [and, by the way, an updated 2022 Residential All in One, not the 2020 version which is now in need of update]. The Residential All in One has provisions for self-monitoring. Self-monitoring, so we are on the same page, means that there is no professional central station operator involved in the alarm signal, no matter what kind of signal it is, from line outage, trouble, panic, security breach or fire. Self-monitoring means that a signal will go out and generally pass through some manufacturer’s portal, gateway or receiver [which all mean the same to me – but I am not technical]. The manufacturer’s role is automated; no operator is involved. The signal travels from the subscriber’s panel to the manufacturer’s receivers back to the subscriber’s smart phone or Internet connected device. [I suppose it could travel over cellular too]. The point is, no central station operator is going to get a signal and dispatch to First Responders or check in with the subscriber. The Residential All in One has a check-box for self-monitoring and self-monitoring is described in the agreement. You should use the Disclaimer Notice all the time, but it’s especially important when your subscriber wants to self-monitor because professional monitoring is a higher level of security or fire alarm service, you offer it and they should be getting it. If the subscriber doesn’t want professional monitoring then they need to acknowledge that in the Disclaimer Notice. ********************** To order up to date Standard Form Alarm / Security / Fire and related Agreements click here: www.alarmcontracts.com *************************** CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY - You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304. *********************** ALARM ARTICLES: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles updated daily ******************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE - the alarm industries leading classified and business exchange - updated daily ************************* Wondering how much your alarm company is worth? Click here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/what-is-my-alarm-company-worth ****************************** Getting on our Email List / Email Articles archived: Many of you are forwarding these emails to friends or asking that others be added to the list. Sign up for our daily newsletter here: Sign Up. You can read articles and order alarm contracts on our web site www.alarmcontracts.com ************************** Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC Attorneys at Law 200 Garden City Plaza Garden City, NY 11530 516 747 6700 x 301 ken@kirschenbaumesq.com www.KirschenbaumEsq.com
