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QUESTION:  KEEPING ACCOUNTS ON YOUR OWN RECEIVER
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Ken
    We have our own receiver with one of the central stations listed on your site. My problem is accounts with an alarm net cell unit have to put  on a different receiver. So the majority of our new accounts can't go on our receiver. Is there something else we could do to keep our accounts together?
Thanks for the daily info.
Charlie
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    You should be concerned with keeping your accounts on your own line, or on a receiver the central station will give you should you want to leave, which means only your accounts should be on that line.  I can't answer your question however - too technical.  Hopefully one or more central stations will respond to your question.
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VIEWING VIDEO RECORDING
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Ken,
    My question is my child attends a nursery school and there was a situation involving my child but the school will not allow me to review the video how can I do this?  Do I need to call the police and have them ask to review it or file suit in court and use a subpoena?
Best,
Steven B
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RESPONSE
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    They are not your recordings but the schools.  There could very well be private data recorded and the school is not wrong in treating the recording as confidential.  Complaining to police may cause the police to request the video.  Might be smart for you to alert the school of your intentions and ask that the recording be maintained.  Whether you would be successful getting access to the recording if you commence an action seeking such relief depends on many scenarios.  It's not likely the recording would be made available unless it was relevant to your litigation in some way and then there may be restrictions the court might impose on its viewing.  For example, if you claim the school personnel were engaged in inappropriate behavior the recording may be relevant; or if another child was inappropriate.  Under those circumstances, in a civil suit, the Judge may order an "in camera" review, which means the Judge would look at the recording and decide if it was relevant and should be made available to you for your case.  
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ANOTHER VIDEO -  AUDIO QUESTION
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Ken, 
    In Alabama it is illegal to record audio unless at least one party is aware / notified.  We provide a decal to be installed at the entrances of a business. But our residential customers understandably decline to use the decals.
    The question is, if a burglar breaks in and the audio catches a name or other identifying clues; is it admissible since criminals were not notified and the occupants of the home, normally the knowing of the audio, are not present?  Additionally, do we have any duty to this situation?
Regards,
Tim P
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RESPONSE
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    First of all, posting of signs does not indicate consent.  I am not aware of any audio or video law that calls for posting of signs.  The obvious reason is that not everyone reads, reads the language of the sign or sees the sign.  So while you may argue that the posted sign constitutes implicit consent there is no statutory authority I know of that supports that argument.  If anyone knows of any send it in.  
    Your second question regarding admissibility of evidence will depend on whether it's criminal or civil trial, the latter having a bit less stringent requirements for admissibility.  Suffice it to say that a criminal caught on viewing or audio is not going to be able to claim that his civil rights have been violated or that recordings properly authenticated should be excluded from evidence.  
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MONITORING INFORMATION SHEET
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Ken
    Do you have a recommended "Monitoring Information Sheet"? This is intended to be the form that the subscriber completes and gives to the dealer to arrange for monitoring.  It would have all relevant info about the account, including authorized users, pass codes, etc.
Thanks
Jim B
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    It would be foolish for an alarm dealer or central station to begin monitoring an account without a written monitoring information sheet.  But let me tell you what I really think.  There can't be any central station out there that is dumb enough or arrogant enough to monitor an account without a written call sheet.  You know of one?  Let us all know.
    When you buy the All in One Agreements we provide you with a Call List.  This is where the subscriber provides the names and contact information for those who are to be called and the order of the calls.  You should be using this Call List form or a form provided by your central station that contains much of the same information.  It may include pass codes, zone information, special handling instructions.
    The Call List is not enough.  Your central station should have a written policy for responding to signals; all signals.  Ask for this written policy.  Give it to your subscriber when you explain how to operate the alarm system.  If your central station doesn't have a written policy or won't share it with you, give them about 30 minutes to prepare and deliver it or look for another central station.  
    If you're looking for a central station be sure to select one that has agreed to use the latest form Dealer Agreement.  They are listed on The Alarm Exchange.  By using this form you will be assured of at least understanding what your arrangement with the the central station is, what you agree to and what it agrees to.  Don't be surprised later.  And yes, I do intend to put pressure on the central stations to use this form because I know it's fair to the dealer and also to the central station.