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MORE ON DMP - STILL NO RESPONSE
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Ken:
    As a DMP dealer, I am in shock and have submitted a ‘WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON ??” to our DMP representative.  As of this date, no response!
name withheld
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RESPONSE
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    Not surprised.  But this isn't going way without a response.  At the very least DMP can point us in the direction of other alarm equipment manufacturers who require their dealers, or perhaps those dealers buying at wholesale and selling at retail, to indemnify the manufacturer.  
    More surprising is that we haven't heard from more DMP dealers.  Either they are still in shock or can't read.
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COMPLETION CERTIFICATE
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Ken
    We purchased your Completion Certificate last year and then we made the switch to paperless. Our techs have iPads in the field, etc. Due to this change, we weren’t able to continue giving them paper, so on the electronic work orders for our technicians we put a statement that reads… 
     "By signing this work order, you agree that all work has been completed according to the estimate and to your satisfaction. Our technicians completed the work with excellence, and you have been fully instructed on how to use the system in a way that you understand."
    Would this cover us like the completion certificate if a customer signed under that statement and then a situation arose that would go against them signing and agreeing to that statement? Or is it too vague and not enough?
Thank you,
Megan
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RESPONSE
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    The Completion Certificate is not a substitute for a Sales Agreement or Service Agreement.  It's a worthwhile supplement.  I think your statement leaves out a few items that I believe our Completion Certificate covers, such as "alarm system has been left in working order".  Your statement also does not incorporate any protective provisions, such as the Exculpatory Clause and Limitation of Liability provision.  You could have taken the Completion Certificate you received from my office and used that electonically.
    Be sure you have every subscriber under a Service Contract.  Service is included in the All in One Agreements.  That's the form you need to be using.  The All in One covers the sale and installation and then all of the RMR items you do [or should] offer.  That includes repair service on an RMR or per call basis.  Use that and then you're best protected.
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PAPERLESS CONTRACTS
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Ken,
    We are working with Rob Gerhardt from Group Gerhardt to transition to paperless contracts.  We use your fire, commercial, residential, additional disclaimer, and cancellation notices.  Do we just need to have him put them on the tablets and email or print copies to our clients?  What about the separate cancellation notice for residential?  I’m trying to use MicroKey as well and going to paperless work orders.  Any concerns?
Thank you,
Ray Yauchler
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RESPONSE
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    Others may have experience with Rob or other electronic contract companies.  Presently the law requires that the 3 day notice of cancellation be provided in duplicate ready to be mailed or sent to you if the subscriber elects to cancel.  The law also requires that the subscriber get a fully executed copy of the contract.  Once the agreement has been executed electronically you need to figure out a way to get it to the subscriber or have the subscriber acknowledge that a copy has been obtained or received.  Short of that we are speculating how a Judge will interpret the existing law when applied to new technology.
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WHO OWNS STORED VIDEO DATA / WHERE CAN IT BE STORED
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Ken,
    I have some questions that have arisen from a customer. Most of it we can blame on our Insurance “requiring it”. I did have a specific question about the Central Station part of the Contract (Section 12). If a customer is storing data in the cloud, not a central station, this wouldn’t apply. However, it may protect the dealer (cloud host-er) from any issues arising with the data storage. The subscriber would like me to remove it simply because it says “Central Station owns the video”. Can you explain this further please?
 Thank you,
 Rachelle
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RESPONSE
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    Good question.  The Standard form agreements do indeed provide that the central station owns the data, be it video or audio.  This no doubt evolved by centrals telling me that's the way they wanted it.  As for an explanation, I suppose the best is that while centrals will always permit the subscriber to access or obtain the data, if it's lost or corrupted, at least in theory, the central would have less liability exposure since it owns the data anyway.  Also, by owning the data the central can establish standards and procedures for permitting the subscriber access to the data.  
    I was recently asked another interesting question that we couldn't find any answer to.  Can video or audio data recorded in the US be stored in a foreign country?  Any central stations have an answer to that one?
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ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE RESPONSE
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Ken
    Regarding accounting software.  We are a financial consulting firm that specializes in the Security and Systems Integration industry.  We have over 300 clients, all of which are in the industry.  I am very familiar with the specialized software for our industry and there are several excellent choices.
    Before choosing a software package it is important to determine your needs.  Accounting, billing and job costing software is not a "one size fits all" proposition.  We are glad to work with you to analyze your needs and to assist you by recommending what we believe may be the best alternatives.  Although we have an excellent working relationship with several of the industry specific software we do not take commissions or referral fees from any company.  We want to help you make the best decision without being biased or influenced. 
    We give any client that comes to us from Ken's blog two free hours of consultation.  This may be enough to guide you through the decision process.  It is important to note that after you have selected a software pacakage, you may want our assistance in installing and implementing it.  We are glad to help you with this process as well.
 
Mitch Reitman
Reitman Consulting Group
5408 Woodway Drive
Fort Worth, TX 
76133
817-698-9999
http://www.reitma
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SIGN RESPONSE
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Ken;
    With regards to signs for security providers, there are a number of reputable companies that have been around for a long time.  They appear at security shows and advertise in security publications. Some are members of your alarm association.
 
David M Johns,  Maxwell, to name a few.
 
    In addition to the ones you see at the trade shows, (I have not seen any in The Alarm Exchange) you can find good local sign providers in your own towns. You may pay a little more but isn't that what being a small business, patronizing local small business all about???
    Just a random thought from confused soul..
Joel
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