Alarm.com Cancel alarm button February 5, 2019

EN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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Alarm.com Cancel alarm button
February 5, 2019
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Alarm.com cancel alarm button
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Ken
    We are using your contract with Alarm.com rider. Alarm.com now has come out with a feature that interfaces with the central station that when an alarm is sent there is a cancel button on the alarm.com app. You can push the cancel button and it stops the dispatch of the alarm at the central station. The question was asked, if a customer hit the cancel button and they planed or did not plan on hitting the cancel button and something bad happen is our contract as written going to cover us and the central station? 
Thanks
Jack DeBoer
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Response
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    Like a blanket. A cancellation button is actually a good idea to help reduce false alarms. Of course it needs to reach the central station before an operator has called First Responders. You will have to find out from your monitoring center what their policy is regarding calling a First Responder back to cancel the emergency call. We know that a fire signal, once dispatched, cannot be canceled [don't ask me why, it just won't be]. 
    The alarm.com app will have to be very clear that the button will cancel the alarm. It would probably make sense for there to be a verification code or at least second button to confirm the action, but no one tells alarm.com what to do.
    The subscriber needs to be well trained on the app. On our part, we will change the alarm.com rider to cover the use of that app. Even so, the contract provisions should provide contractual protection from claims. 
    There are so many scenarios that can go wrong, that expose an alarm company to liability. We try to cover all but the most egregious conduct, and I know we do a good job of it. Be sure to update your contracts. If your contract is older than 2017 you are not doing yourself any favors, and you are not growing the value of your company as you should and as you can. Contact our Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda at 516 747 6700 x 312 or order your contract at www.alarmcontracts.com. Today would be the best time.
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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
516 747 6700
www.KirschenbaumEsq.com