This is the first article in a series of six articles regarding dealer's selection of central stations.  Future articles will address the specific considerations mentioned below.

             Alarm dealers who do not have their own central station facilities face the option of selecting from the plethora of companies that provide monitoring for other companies. This is known as "wholesale" monitoring or "third party" monitoring. Here are some issues that a Dealer should consider.

1. Does the dealer require UL certified monitoring, and can the central station (CO) provide that service?

2. Is the CO competitive in its prices for its monitoring service?

3. Does the CO carry industry accepted errors and omissions insurance?

4. Does the CO provide any type of support to the dealer other than monitoring the accounts, such as technical support, assistance with service or equipment, or discounted errors and omissions insurance premiums?

5. Does the CO require that the dealer sign a contract, and does that contract lock the dealer into a long term relationship with the CO, does it require the dealer to indemnify the CO, and does it give the CO an option, first right of refusal, to purchase the dealer's subscriber accounts if the dealer wants to sell?

6. Is the CO also an installer that may actually be in competition with the dealer?

7. Is the CO a local company providing monitoring to dealers in its geographic area, or a nationwide monitoring company?

8. Will the CO permit the dealer to have its own telephone line coming into the CO?

9. Does the dealer require the dealer to have all subscribers sign the CO's monitoring contract, a "three party contract"?

10. Does the CO have a reputation for honesty, efficiency, providing good monitoring service, keeping good records and being responsive to the dealer when necessary?