Simplisafe Warns Customers About Alarm Fines
Author: Ari Erenthal, Published on Mar 17, 2017
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Comments (12)
Ethan Ace
Counterpoint: I was curious, so I asked multiple ADT customers if they knew permits were required in their municipality (they were all local, so I know that they are, in fact).
None of them had ever heard of an alarm permit. And I'd find it hard to believe ADT did it for them, considering there are typically fees involved, and personal information for contacts. So is this just a Simplisafe problem, or an industry issue?
I'm curious how intrusion companies normally go about this. Is there a clause in their proposals putting it on the customer? Do they go so far as to directly discuss it? I'm interested to hear what folks here have to say.
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Brian Rhodes
In my area, I would venture that 95% of resi systems either aren't registered or don't meet the registration/license criteria.
From: Who Displays Residential Alarm Permits?
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Undisclosed Integrator #1
Some of the first things I do when receiving a call from a new customer, to install a system, is to make sure I have an active business license in the municipality where the customer's home or business is located. Your contractor's license and/or state alarm license does not mean you can skip the business license.
Next, I check the alarm ordinance, whether they have one, and what the requirements are for the alarm company. Do they require an SIA CP-01 alarm panel? Does the alarm company file the application for the customer?
I've had customers who asked me to repair or upgrade a local (not monitored) alarm and they are adamant about not registering their alarm with the city/county. I've turned them down because the local jurisdiction penalizes alarm companies for working on unregistered alarm systems, regardless if they're monitored or not.
Also, when meeting with the customer I have the alarm ordinance and application in hand, printed from the municipality's website, which I give to the customer. In my contract I mention the alarm ordinance and who's responsibility it is to secure a permit.
My quote always mentions whether an alarm permit is required and who's responsibility it is to register the alarm.
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Ari Erenthal
How is that enforced?
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Undisclosed Integrator #1
I'm curious if businesses like Simplisafe obtain a business license from each municipality in which they sell alarm monitoring services? As a licensed contractor, I have to maintain a business license in multiple jurisdictions just to monitor my customer's alarm systems. Is Simplisafe, and others like them, held to the same requirement?
Or, if Simplisafe is monitoring through a major Central Station, are they maintaining annual business licenses in each jurisdiction where their customers are located?
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Undisclosed Integrator #2
Delaware has a statewide permitting agency called Crywolf. We have to sign each customer up with them online and they provide a permit number, and thats it. No fees associated with signing up but I think how it works is the police send records of false alarms to this company who tracks this and fines the customer after a certain number of false alarms.
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Undisclosed #4
Cellmate #1: Whaddya in for?
Cellmate #2: Burglary job, and you?
Cellmate #1: Burglary install job.
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