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Notice: To Central Station Owners - The new Dealer Agreement is now available. Order at www.alarmcontracts.com or call Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda at (516) 74706700 x 312 Avoid price increase as of January 1, 2015
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MORE ON LICENSE QUALIFIERS - IN FLORIDA - FROM DEC 5 2014 ARTICLE
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Ken
If you want someone to "lend" you a license come on down to Florida. The State now allows one license holder to maintain four or five individual companies in an attempt to get control of the countless unlicensed vendors and quadruple the competition in the marketplace with one fell swoop. It seems to be working out pretty well as my competition has literally quadrupled as a result. Now, anyone that wants to open a fire alarm business is easily capable of doing so. However, the State seems to place more importance on other related licenses as they are still limited to a one license, one company scenario! For example sprinkler alarm, suppression alarm, extinguishers and electrical are only capable of operating one business at a time. Apparently fire alarm companies are much easier to oversee. The rates have gone way down with the increase in competition so you may just have to find someone to lend you that license for free to keep the numbers making sense! Also, many of the companies operating under someone elses license will say they have been in business for as long as their license holder, making it look as if they have been in business for much longer than they have. I guess I shouldn't expect more from folks that were operating illegally just a short time ago!
Sorry for the rant!
Anon in Florida
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RESPONSE
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Though Florida permits a Licensed Qualifier to qualify for more than one alarm company, the responsibilities of the License Qualifier is actually more extensive in Florida than most other jurisdictions. For example, Florida has a pecular provision that requies the Qualifier to be responsible for the company finances. That goes beyond insuring compliance with license issues or proper installation of security or fire systems and alarm operations. So there is really a great difference between "lending" the license and finding a qualified person to accept the duties of a licensed qualifier. Though that licensed qualifier can qualify for more than one alarm company the qualifier needs to be able to perform the licensed duties or risks the license which will affect all the companies covered by the license.
The alarm company and the license qualifier should have a written agreement. You can get that from our Alarm Licensing Department. Contact Jesse Kirschenbaum, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 307, Jesse@Kirschenbaumesq.com, or me directly.
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SARRG RESPONSE FROM DEC 4 2014 ARTICLE
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Ken,
In response to Justin Owen,
It's like anything else, like getting contracts signed without changes is easy if you know what your talking about and confident in your knowledge.
B++ is fine for government entities if you engage them in a discussion as to why. Many of these government entities are insured by pools or mutual companies formed by municipalities for municipalities and are NOT rated at all. Once you know this, the SARRG B++ is just fine.
As a full service insurer we have and continue to be available for our insureds to speak to their customers on their behalf.
In 10 years I can only think of one government entity I could not close.
Bart A. Didden, Executive Claims Manager
Security America Risk Retention Group - SARRG
877-872-1266
bdidden@securityamericarrg.com
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RESPONSE
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This is sort of what I mean when I say that SARRG is alarm industry owned and operated. They speak your language and share your issues. Try getting that from the "national" insurance companies.
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Speaking Engagements
If you would like to schedule a free live video/webinar presentation for your association meeting or event contact Eileen Wagda at 516 747 6700 x 312.
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