KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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Why you should use our central station - webinars start today

July 13, 2020
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Today's webinar:  starts at noon ET.  Register now:
AvantGuard Monitoring Centers - July 13, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/678509033268733199
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Why you should use our central station
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            Today K&K kicks off its Central Station 2020 webinar series, Why you should use our central station?  K&K will host webinars for central stations listed on The Alarm Exchange, the cream of the crop in the monitoring industry.  While all monitoring centers listed on The Alarm Exchange should be considered, those participating in this webinar series deserve your particular attention.  They are most eager to earn and retain your monitoring business.  
            As close to marriage your relationship with your central station is, it's not really a marriage, and it's easier change monitoring centers than it is to change spouses.  But where to stay and where to go?  The selection is daunting. There are 49 monitoring centers listed on The Alarm Exchange.  That's a lot to consider and it's not easy to know which one is the right fit for you. As an aside, and draw whatever analogy you will, Ben and Jerry has 54 flavors, Baskin-Robbins 31, Friendlys 22 and Ralphs Ices 150.  You can stand there all day trying to figure out which one to try.            
            In my article Marrying your Central Station almost a year ago on July 25, 2019 I opined that selecting your central station was like selecting your spouse and getting married; the Dealer Agreement presented by the central station is its "pre-nup", laying out the deal during, and regrettably, after the marriage.  I wrote then:
                  "Compatibility is certainly important and plenty of alarm dealers select their central station because they like the salesman or central station owner or management.  It’s important to have a good rapport.  
            It’s essential that the central station be able to monitor the systems you intend to install.  Not all central stations are able to offer all services.  Some specialize in fire, some PERS, some medical alert, some two way voice,  some video confirmation and some video escort service and 24/7 viewing,  You know what systems you install or plan to install so it makes sense that you select a central station that can accommodate your subscribers.  Of course you aren’t locked into a single central station, unless you are.  Give that some thought before you commit all your business to one central station, which I agree would be ideal if possible.  
            Because your central station is most definitely going to require you to sign a pre-nup agreement you need counsel to review that agreement.  K&K offers a flat rate of $500 to add a Rider to the central station dealer agreement which provides the essential provisions a dealer needs when entering into this relationship.  Give me a call or send email for this service."

            I am looking forward to the central station webinar series and I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to hear from the wide selection of monitoring centers who are looking for your monitoring business. Your central station is a crucial part of your operation; essential to your growth and success.  You don't have to settle for less when there are so many highly qualified central stations interested in you and your business.  Here are a few issues to think about during the webinars, which by the way start today and will continue into August [we are adding additional central stations who want to participate - so keep watch]:
          Do business only with central stations who:
  *  insists you get licensed when necessary
  *  insists that you use proper contracts - your contract form, not something the central station gives you
  *  insists that you carry E&O coverage, and name the central station as additional insured
  *  presents a Dealer Agreement and accepts reasonable modification to that agreement upon request [note K&K has a standard Rider to the Dealer Agreements - applicable to all central stations.  Cost, $500]
  *  is listed on The Alarm Exchange, which will ensure that disputes will be fairly resolved
  *  does not lock you in to a long term agreement, unless it has fronted you "consideration"
  *  encourages you to have your accounts on your own line
  *  is willing to accommodate reasonable requests regarding monitoring policies and practices
            If you put a flavor ice cream in your cone not listed on The Alarm Exchange and it melts all over your shirt, expect a costly charge if you call me to clean up the mess. 
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What Sets AvantGuard Apart From Other Central Station
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           A third-party central station essentially becomes an extension of your business. You want your central station to be reliable, have integrity, and to always have your employees’ and customers’ best interests in mind. That’s why AvantGuard exceeds the standards it takes to become UL Listed, FM Approved and TSA Five Diamond Certified, but also create a positive culture where your business and AvantGuard can both grow and thrive. 
           There are over 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States. Of that 2,700, less than 200 of them can say that they have earned The Monitoring Association Five Diamond designation. Year after year, Avantguard continues to earn the Five Diamond designation through a great commitment to job related training, relationship building with our partners and dealers, as well as a commitment to customer service and technology. 
            AvantGuard takes great pride in hiring and training operators. In fact, our in-depth training and vetting of operators for specific personality and characteristic traits is what makes AvantGuard Monitoring Center operators different from other central stations. We understand that they are the ones who are the point of contact for your customers, and we do everything to ensure that our operators are highly trained and prepared even under the most stressful situations. 
            In fact, AvantGuard just had two employees receive TMA awards: Amanda Edwards received the TMA Operator of the Year award, and Gavin Butterfield received the Support Person of the Year award for 2020. Gavin and Amanda are great examples of how the AvantGuard training process truly makes great operators and dealer care representatives.
            One of AvantGuard’s core values is innovation. Not only does that mean finding the newest, best and most efficient ways to provide our dealers and customers service, but also to be ready and prepared for the unexpected.
            Weeks prior to the mass gathering shutdowns, including the postponement of ISC West, AvantGuard was already taking the necessary steps to create an emergency plan to continue service, while keeping employees and the community safe from the spread of the virus.
            AvantGuard began testing a virtual workplace by having the IT team set up an encrypted virtual private network for operators to access the necessary monitoring software. Mobile workstations (laptops) were provided to operators as well as a list of guidelines and best practices for monitoring virtually. Through this advanced planning and foresight, AvantGuard was able to meet the virtual workplace guidelines set forth by the UL the moment the new guidelines were released. AvantGuard also joined a live webinar with other central stations in the industry to be a leader and provide insight on how to keep central stations operational amid the pandemic. 
            Dealers and integrators are spread out all over the country. It can be difficult to coordinate times to get together, meet, build relationships, and talk shop. AvantGuard works hard to create an environment where relationships are built and can grow successfully. We host a number of events throughout the year, such as our Lunch, Learn, and Ski event, or our Elite Adventure Series, to get dealers and partners together to learn about the newest happenings in our industry, start new partnerships, but to also allow them to enjoy themselves. Some of the activities our dealers have joined us in are skiing, fly fishing, riding ATVs and jeeping down in Southern Utah. 
            AvantGuard has built a culture where our employees can grow and succeed by helping others, but also where your business gets the best technology and customer service available. We call that our “we care F.I.R.S.T,'' model (fun, innovation, relationships, service, technology) and as you can see, it’s what sets us apart from other central stations.
Jonathan Knoder
Content Manager at AvantGuard
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Central Station* 2020 webinar series K&K is hosting webinars by central stations, one at a time, who will address "why you should be using our central station".  Each webinar will be approximately 20 minutes and then Q&A opportunity.  See what your central station has to offer or what others offer, enabling you to choose the right central station for you.  You should be using a central station listed on The Alarm Exchange to be assured of quality and more importantly, accountability.
  *  only central stations on The Alarm Exchange will be invited to participate
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Register Now for the CS webinar series: 
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AvantGuard Monitoring Centers - July 13, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/678509033268733199
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UCC – United Central Control - July 14, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3503808614443052302
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Rapid Response - July 15, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2467263818567576075
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Dispatch Center - July 16, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5719660994972167691
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Statewide Central Station - July 17, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2654849298360793872 
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Affiliated Monitoring - July 20, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6582371903028819982 

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Dynamark Security Centers -  July 21, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2732409948268814863
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Stanley Security Wholesale Monitoring  July 22, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1266411303572956432
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Allstate Security Industries Inc – July 23, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7997485149440152333

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General Monitoring Services  - July 28, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6847800607085109776
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Cops Monitoring - July 29, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5614688421138368523 

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Security Partners - July 30, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2765625095170808591 
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National Monitoring Center - July 31, 2020
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2527889790544756495
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Central station 2020 webinars
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             Not all central stations listed on The Alarm Exchange have opted to participate in our webinar series, "Why you should be using our central station" and I've been wondering why.  Only answer I can come up with is, apparently, they don't think you should be using their central station.  Go figure.
            Our central station's webinars have begun.  Register now.  
            Central stations will have the opportunity to tell you what services they offer, to what extent the services are unique or specialized and what you can expect to pay.
  
            The webinars offer an excellent opportunity to interact with your central station, scope out another central station, and consider whether you want to move accounts or open new accounts with a particular central station.  Am I encouraging central station hopping?  No, but I am encouraging you to use central stations listed on The Alarm Exchange.  Why, for you, not me.  You get the added protection of knowing that the listed central stations are expected to deal with dealer issues and cooperate with a goal of resolving disputes. Those that fail to co-operate risk having their post removed from The Alarm Exchange.  That may not sound like a big deal to you, but check out The Alarm Exchange central station category.  Every major reputable central station is participating.  If your central station isn’t, move to one that is.  If you don’t, don’t bother complaining to me about problems you have with the central station; I have no relationship with that central station and won’t be able to make a call to resolve your issue.  
            So make some time to attend the webinars, by video or on your phone.  They will all be recorded and you will be able to view or hear them by visiting the K&K website and navigating to the alarm webinars:  https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-webinars
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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