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    Reporting to credit agencies is one way to get your subscriber's attention.  Many rely on their credit report and you'd be surprised how many check their credit often.  A negative credit report will affect credit rating, which in turn will affect the person's ability to get a loan, credit, payment terms, collateral or the interest charged.  
    There are a few drawbacks you might want to consider.  Once a negative report is sent in it may not be as easy to clear the report if you find the report was in error or your subscriber has cured the default and conditions the cure on you withdrawing the negative credit report.  Because negative credit reporting can have serious consequences for consumers there are strict statutes in place with stiff penalties for non compliance.  Also, not just anyone can report to the major credit agencies.  You have to be a member, pay annual fees.  
    My office, which has a fair size collection and litigation department and probably handles more alarm cases than any other lawfirm, certainly here in NY, does not report to credit agencies.  Once we get a judgment against a defaulting subscriber the credit agencies pick up the judgment from the court records.  It's not uncommon for a subscriber - now a judgement debtor, to contact us asking - sometimes demanding - that we withdraw the negative credit report, which we routinely decline to do since we didn't submit the negative report.  We occassionally agree to write a letter to the credit agency that the dispute has been resolved.  
    The Standard Form Contracts permit you to run a credit report, but do not permit you to submit a negative credit report.  If you want to do that then you should include this in your contract:
     
Collections: Customer hereby authorizes Alarm Company and its affiliates to report any payment defaults to credit reporting agencies. 
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Customer has the right to notify Alarm Company if he/she/it believes we have reported inaccurate 
information about Customer’s account to any credit reporting agency. Please include in any such notice Customer’s name, current 
address, Social Security number, telephone number, account number and type of account, and the specific item of dispute and why Customer believes the information reported is in error. Such notice should be sent to Alarm Company, Attn: Privacy, your address.
    Check the Fair Credit Reporting Act carefully before reporting to credit agencies or adding any provision for reporting to your contract.
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why are some companies promoted in this forum
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Ken,
    For the sake of total transparency, would you kindly state whether you do, or do not, benefit from any of the 3rd party vendors whose services are promoted through your website.
Many thanks for your helpful emails.
KS
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Response:  sometimes - rarely - they say thanks.  No monetary benefit.  Listings in The Alarm Exchange are available to almost everyone.  Vendors and dealers are expected to deal fairly with each other and if don't they will be removed from the listings.  Same goes for having your comments and questions circulated or your services or products featured.  No cash consideration is requested or accepted.  A good cigar or scotch will be !!
   I also appreciate the reciprocal endorsements, recommendations and referrals that I get from those who participate in the forum and The Alarm Exchange.  So thank you.
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follow up to Seattle false alarm fines from July 17, 2014
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Ken,
    Unfortunately, Leo does not know the Seattle ordinance. Like it or not, the customer is not billed by the City for false alarms, they bill the alarm company. The alarm company then recovers the fee from the customer. This has been in effect since 2004. The false alarm limit for Seattle is 6. Leo does not understand the ordinance. It is difficult to make excellent points when you haven't done your homework. Leo makes no excellent points.
R. Noresby
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TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com.  Most comments and questions get circulated.

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                                                        Speaking Engagements

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Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis.   September 16, 2014.  at Tech Electronics HQs office at 6437 Manchester  Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139.  Meeting is from 11:45 – 1:30  Video conference presentation starting at 12:15 CST.  For more information or to register contact Tony Drago adrago@tyco.com  www.alarmstl.org
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NYSESA - September 17, 2014 at Honor's Haven Resort, Ellenville, NY.  This is the NYS Electronic Security Assoc annual meeting.  Presentation on updated contracts and current legal issues will be at 10:30 AM.  For more information or reservations contact Dale R. Eller, Executive Director (814) 838-0301  dalereller@itzsolutions.com
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Alabama Alarm Association.  AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205  for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org  (205) 933-9000 

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Electronic Security Summit for 2014.  October 22-24, 2014  at the landmark Broadmoor Hotel. Colorado Springs, CO.  For more information contact Alexander J. Quirin, CEO & Managing Partner, Advisory Summit Providers, LLC.,  (786) 999-9738    alex.quirin@aspsummits.com    www.aspsummits.com

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