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comment on third party administrators
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Hi Ken;
    An additional comment for the August 11, 2012  Newsletter about "third party administrators".
    Something is wrong with the picture painted by SIAC.
    If the stats are reasonable accurate, this new industry of "third party  administrators (of false alarm legislation)" would NOT be needed, instead it is growing.  I challenge the self serving stats of SIAC.  Remember, local police do NOT care about the calls for help you do NOT make, only the actual number of your calls for help.  Association membership should be asking for sources and details of the polling data.
    We believe a different set of facts would be presented if they do simple and honest polling of the 10 largest monitoring stations (5 Third party, plus 5 first party) for the actual number of calls for help made to local police during selected 30 day periods.  This data is readily available. Then you do the math.
    We quickly forget. Nationwide false alarm legislation does not compliment the industry, it is a nasty insult to all of us.  It says the industry failed in its responsibility to police itself and correct its flaws, so somebody else will do it for us.  
Lee Jones
Support Services Group
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subscriber request for changes to electronic contract
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Ken,
    This is a perfect topic for your column.
    We have been using your contracts for years and recently moved to using an electronic type signing facsimile. This has allowed a higher than average amount of people to actually read and dispute specific clauses, causing delays and additional time including exceptions to getting the contract signed.
    I have attached a copy of a contract that a client commented on and wont sign before changes are made. He is not even an attorney and I can agree to some of these comments but certainly not all. Could you please let us know which clauses are "not negotiable" based on the comments along the paragraphs?  Obviously , we don't wish to lose a customer nor do we wish to risk our business for a small monthly income.
Best Regards,
LL
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Response
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    Actually the topic is perfect but I can't review specific subscriber requests for changes to the contract on this forum.  I'd be making changes all day.  I too have to make a living.  I review contract change requests for a modest fee.    
    But it is a good topic because there are many contract changes that can be made. some less than others, and a few provisions that really need to remain intact perhaps with slight modifications.  When I am asked to review requested changes or negotiate on behalf of the alarm company with the subscriber or its counsel, I typically ask my client two questions before getting started [and accepting a fee].  1) Is the subscriber negotiable on its terms and 2) are you going to sign and do the job no matter what?  If the answers are no and yes, respectively, then there's not much I can do.  
    Most subscribers however are negotiable and especially reasonable if they are willing to take the time to understand why alarm contracts read as they do.  Negotiations are of course tailored to the alarm company's instructions regarding the work.  Some jobs are not going to be passed up and terms that would otherwise not be considered are accepted.  My job then is to make sure the alarm company understands the risks assumed.  Often insurance can provide adequate protection and the cost can be passed onto the subscriber.  
    Present your contract to the subscriber.  That's your starting point.  If changes are more than you can handle then send them to me.  Together we can salvage the account without accepting more risk than you need to. 
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