KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE You can read all of our articles on our website. Having trouble getting our emails? Change your spam controls and whitelist ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** Verifying business name February 16, 2026 ************************ Verifying business name ************************ Ken, Yesterday I received a call from another alarm company owner that we have worked with for many years. He received a call from a restaurant and lounge owner stating they needed someone to inspect, test and service the fire alarm and sprinkler systems. He asked me to look at and perform what is needed to clear the sprinkler violations, so I did. The business is currently shut down by the city until they comply with correcting violations, thus, a rush to get things done so they can reopen. I sent an email with the cost for the required five year test, monthly inspections and a list of issues I noted while walking through the place. I sent an email stating "review agreement carefully, complete, sign, scan and email back". We use your K&K agreements (updated this year) and the spots for initials were blank, the person who was emailing back and forth with me has a different name than the one listed as owner and the signature appears (to me) as computer generated rather than hand signed. We always check corporate names on the NYS web site; however, this is not a corporation; is there a way to check the name and ownership? Typically we will start to move forward with starting the agreed services upon receipt of the signed agreement via email, then bring an original to hand sign when we start, which is our plan with this, however, concerned about the name and ownership. Jeff ************************** another related question *************************** Ken I have a customer who wants to use a PO Box only for his management company. Can I accept and use a PO box on the Fire All in One for monitoring and service? He is asking us to use the site address where the fire alarm work and service will be performed for the management company address. Don't I need to have the legal address of the management company for the agreement so if he doesn’t pay me I can go after the customer? *************************** Response *************************** It's essential to know who your customer is; simple as that. To help you understand the issue, no one would fill out a contract and put as the customer "Joe". You would know you need more information than that. Well, putting down "Joe's Pizza" is the same thing, it's just Joe. People and corporations have names and you need to know that name for your contract. It's not just that you might need to start collection proceedings, you might run into a problem when you go to sell your accounts and a buyer realizes that you don't really know who your customers are. You might be providing services to a building owned and or occupied by a party who has not signed your contract, or any contract. When that party has a loss you won't be able to pull out your K&K contract to defend yourself. So what? Well, it just might be a catastrophic loss and you, or your central station [who you agreed to indemnify] did in fact make a mistake. The management company who wants to use a PO box is a different matter. You can use a PO box for billing purposes; the contract has the address where the services are being provided. Generally you can get an address off a website or a license hanging on a wall or the State you are in has an address for service of process on file. But if you don't get paid by the management company it's the owner of the property you're going to sue. The management company is an agent and agents are not responsible for the contract. the principal is. ************************** STANDARD FORMS Alarm / Security / Fire and related Agreements click here: www.alarmcontracts.com *************************** CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY - You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304. *********************** ALARM ARTICLES: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles updated daily ******************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE - the alarm industries leading classified and business exchange - updated daily ************************* Wondering how much your alarm company is worth? Click here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/what-is-my-alarm-company-worth ****************************** Getting on our Email List / Email Articles archived: Many of you are forwarding these emails to friends or asking that others be added to the list. Sign up for our daily newsletter here: Sign Up. You can read articles and order alarm contracts on our web site www.alarmcontracts.com ************************** Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC Attorneys at Law 200 Garden City Plaza Garden City, NY 11530 516 747 6700 x 301 ken@kirschenbaumesq.com www.KirschenbaumEsq.com
