KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE You can read all of our articles on our website. Having trouble getting our emails? Change your spam controls and whitelist ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** alarm co complains about another alarm co's customers demanding radio codes May 26, 2026 *********************** alarm co complains about another alarm co's customers demanding radio codes *********************** Ken, Interesting dilemma. A number of individuals with active alarm service provided by another alarm co. have approached us to take over the service because they're displeased with the current provider. These prospective clients have communication radios in place that were bought and paid for by the client. The dilemma presented is the current alarm co. refuses to release access to the radio so another authorized alarm co. take over the service. The radio service provider says it's an easy process; the current alarm co. simply needs to send them an email releasing the radio before it can be reused. We realize that this 'dog fight' is between the alarm customer and the current alarm co. but many of those customers have expressed to us they feel they're being held hostage and asked what they might do. So my question to you is what specifically can those alarm customers state in a strongly worded letter to their current alarm co. to compel them to send that release email so the radio can be reused (without having to burden the customer with additional expense to replace that radio)? Thank you Ken, name withheld ********************** Response ********************** It took me a while to compose myself and wipe the tears from my eyes with this sad tale about these helpless alarm customers. You think maybe the other alarm company has a different take on this scenario? So here's my advice: Tell the customers to call their alarm company and pay off what they owe and find out needs to be paid to be entitled to the codes they need. As a concerned person you of course can make the call for them and pay whatever the other alarm company wants. No, I have no sympathy for the alarm customers. Their alternative is quite simple, enter into a contract with you and pay you to put in a new system or new radio or reprogram the panel. If the system is proprietary, like a Brivo system, my understanding is that Brivo won't recognize a new alarm company unless the old alarm company releases the account. Good for them [if that's true]. You might want to point out to the customer that the Standard Form Agreement you will have them sign, before you do any work, provides that you own the codes, and you won't give up the codes until the contract term is completed. In other words, pretty much what this other alarm company is, I assume, demanding. If the systems are leased then the codes need never be disclosed because the subscribers will never own the system. If at a later time the alarm company and subscriber decide that the alarm co will sell the system to the subscriber then of course the codes will be provided. I can't take the side of the customers, even at the request of an alarm company. The reason is simple. Tomorrow I may get a request from one of your competitors asking me to help them take-over your accounts. I haven't survived for over 50 years representing this industry by siding with subscribers. *********************** STANDARD FORMS Alarm / Security / Fire and related Agreements. click here: www.alarmcontracts.com *************************** CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY - You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304. *********************** ALARM ARTICLES: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles updated daily ******************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE - the alarm industries leading classified and business exchange - updated daily ************************* Wondering how much your alarm company is worth? Click here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/what-is-my-alarm-company-worth ****************************** Getting on our Email List / Email Articles archived: Many of you are forwarding these emails to friends or asking that others be added to the list. Sign up for our daily newsletter here: Sign Up. You can read articles and order alarm contracts on our web site www.alarmcontracts.com ************************** 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
