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 ****************************** How should central station communicate June 24, 2024 *********************** How should central station communicate *********************** Ken With the ever changing technologies effecting the monitoring industry today. What is the type of means of notification that can be used to contact a keyholder in the event that their fire alarm or a trouble/supervisory signal has been received by the central station? Can you use texting or email to notify someone of the signals or do you need to actual attempt to make a verbal contact via a phone/Cell phone? Is leaving a message considered notification? Do you need confirmation back once a text or email is sent or a message is left? Anonymous ********************** Response ********************* This is fairly simple question, but the answer may not be as easy as one might think. I am not aware of any statute, NTLR guideline or custom and practice in the industry that mandates how communication is to be effectuated. There are a slew of options ranging from written, mailed, certified, overnight, email, text, phone call. Obviously some of these communications are not practical; you’re not going to mail a letter to a subscriber that the house is on fire. We have instant ways to communicate with telephone; voice and text. Email would be next efficient way. Snail mail is useless for emergency situations. So how do you decide how to communicate? Well, as usual with my responses, you must look to your contract, because it’s the contract that’s going to specify how communication is made and what is sufficient. You need to be careful that your contract language actually coincides with how your central station operates. For example, you can’t contractually commit to text if the central station won’t send a text. You can’t commit to making 5 calls if your central station will only make one. The Standard Form Agreements permit communication by most means, particularly voice, email and text. Certified mail is never required. Make sure your central station knows how you have committed to communicate signals so that it can comply. I also do not recommend telling your central station how to communicate. The better, because it’s safer, practice is to find out how your central station communicates and make sure your contract mirrors that procedure. Also make sure your subscriber knows the procedure so expectations are met. ********************* 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
