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COMMENTS ON INSURANCE CERTIFICATES FROM JUNE 1, 2015 ARTICLE
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Ken 
    Many thanks for your hosting the most excellent  exchange of alarm industry related information on an ongoing basis.
    What the insurance company is requesting is a form confirming that the alarm company installed a security system, when it was installed, what it covers and if it is monitored - by whom.
    We created a simple form many years ago that provides the basic information along with the U. L # of the monitoring center and have never had an insurance company request more information than the very basics above.  Nothing is in our form relative to operation of the system and we simply state what we are covering such as doors, windows, motion detectors and smoke detectors, etc. and that the alarm control was manufactured by XYZ company and is U. L. Listed for Residential Fire and Burglary applications - unless it isn't in which case that information is not provided.  Same form for commercial applications.  Keep it simple, strictly generic if possible, very basic information.
    Much ado about nothing.
Seth Oginz
SECURITY CONSULTANTS UNLIMITED
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Ken
Re:Providing insurance certificates
    Could a certificate or letter be created that has the information they are requesting but also includes something that makes clear that the service is provided subject to the terms and agreements on the attached contract and reference the contract by date or however you identify your contracts.
Doug
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RESPONSE
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    Attaching copy of contract which is not usually asked for can result in opening can of worms.  If the insurance carrier actually reads the contract it will see the waiver of subrogation provision.  That could cause a rift between the carrier and your subscriber, the carrier's insured.  
    Better to respond only to the items in the request.  Don't volunteer additional information.
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QUESTION: WHEN YOUR SUBCONTRACTOR MESSES UP AND YOU HAVE TO PAY
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Ken
    Had a job that needed a fire guy to do because i don't do fire; for a company out of state.  we  had verbal agreement. that he will do the job for 3500  we got the job done and the company that hired the company that hired me told me that they no longer wanted him out there because he would not go back and clean up his job .  It was sloppy and the company did its walk through and several times he would not show up and they got tired of it and kicked him off site. They call me and that is where they said that they did not want him or is company back on site. My contractor called me and said they had to send a another company to go out and clean up his job and they were charging me with the cost.  $700 dollars.  He took me to small claims court to try to get 5000 out of me  the Mediator made us sit down and try to talk it over.  The judge said that if it goes to court that he can sue me for 10.000 so he said that he would agree on 3500 so i agreed on it but i have to pay it by the 1st of June.   Can i do any thing to fight this. or go to trial and fight this.
BK
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Response
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    Hard to know where to begin.  I suppose at the beginning.  You should have used the two subcontractor agreements that my office provides.  One would be with the contractor who hired you, the other with the subcontractor you hired.  You also should have been careful getting involved in this job, probably passing on the fire installation.  Since you've already been through mediation and you apparently agreed to settle the matter, that is how you should finally end this.  Chalk it up to a relatively cheap lesson in how not to conduct your business.  Too bad you are spending your hard earned money on this settlement instead of $425 for the sub contracts that would have likely prevented you losing the money you did.
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