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NATIONWIDE MONITORING AND EXPOSURE FOR NO LICENSE
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Ken
re your comment in the August 13, 2015 article on monitoring licenses. 
    "The fact that he doesn't have the state license will not negate the protection afforded by the residential All in One, which he will get signed." 
    In Florida unlicensed contractors can't legally enter any contract.  It's technically null and void from day one.  If it goes to court the unlicensed contractor will lose by default and possibly face a countersuit of 3 times the contract price, fines, and jail time. If all depends on the severity of the breach of contract.
Ross Chadwell
Florida Alarm
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RESPONSE
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    I am going to go out on a limb and say that you're wrong on the law, especially in the context of the comment I made.  Many states have consumer laws that provide that if the contractor doesn't have a license it will not be able to enforce its contract to recover any money; collection case.  That is more than likely the law in Florida that you refer to.  However,  contract enforcement from the defense side is another issue.  The scenario is likely to play out in a lawsuit started by the subscriber, ot its carrier, where the claim is made that the subscriber had a contract with the alarm company to provide alarm services, breached the contract or was negligent in the performance of the contract and damges ensued.  It's the subscriber who introduces the contract in order to show the duty owed by the alarm company.  I suppose the subscriber could try and bring the case without mentioning the contract, taking the position that since there is no license there is no contract.  I don't think that will work for the subscriber.
    I am not encouraging alarm companies not to have proper licenses.  In fact we have a department of lawyers devoted to assisting with alarm licensing [contact Jesse Kirschenbaum,Esq at 516 747 6700 x 307 or Jesse@Kirschenbaumesq.com] and our Standard Form Agreements provide for the license information and placement.  We also offer The Alarm Exchange category for qualifiers looking for companies and companies looking for qualifiers.  
    I did mention that failure to have a license can certainly result in civil and criminal penalties imposed by the AHJ, and will likely be used against you to suggest that you're not qualified to provide the licensed service [or you'd be licensed].  But failure to have a license is not proof positive that you are negilgent or liable for a loss caused by alarm equipment or service failure.
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