August 1, 2011

 

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Question

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    In a situation where you have a company that owns apartment buildings and wished to install security systems for the tenants that occupy them can the contract be made with the properly owner ? Is there a required signature from the tenant as we dont have any obligation to them. Our obligation is to the property owners. However what about any liability issues should the tenant suffer a loss injury or death.

Brett

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Answer

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    The way you frame the question makes the answer more difficult, because the assumptions made in the questions are undoubtedly inaccurate.

    The owner of the building has engaged you to install alarm systems, presumably burglar alarms, in tenant premises.  Your statement that you don't have any obligation to the tenant is suspect.  Is the tenant getting a passcode?  Is the tenant getting a call from central upon receipt of an alarm signal?  Can the tenant call for repairs?  Can the tenant cancel a false alarm with central?  In other words, is the tenant using the alarm system, and do you know about that use?  I am sure the answer to at least most of the questions is Yes.

    Since that's the case, you need the tenant to sign a contract.  The owner can sign a contract agreeing to pay for the installation, monitoring and service, but the tenant should sign as well, agreeing to all the terms, even if not making the payments.

 

    Sure there are ways around this scenario.  The owner's lease with the tenant could refer to the alarm contract or incorporate its terms, and then the tenant's signature on the lease would be a good substitute for signing the alarm contract.  Trouble is, most owners won't have that in the lease and won't want to put it in, and you would have to verify that in every case.

    Since you'll need subscriber information for each tenant it shouldn't be too hard to get a contract signed, especially one that says the Owner not the tenant is making the payments.

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a POTS question

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Hello Ken,

     We are about to embark on a new marketing campaign to

"cut the cord" and I wanted to know what legislation is currently out there on

 landlines. I know there has been some talk about landlines coming to

an  end within the next decade or so, but I was wondering if there was

anything more specific-maybe at a state level. I am having trouble

finding information on line and was told by Amy that you are the expert

in the field. Could you maybe point me in the right direction on where

 to search?

Thanks for your time. I greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,

 Jennifer

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Answer

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    Can anyone help out with an answer on this one?

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Comment on alarms or dogs?

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    Dog is immediate response, unfortunately police take 10 min to 2 hours

after alarm signal.

Edward J. Newman