Scanned Contract , Fine Print Contracts

WEBINAR NOTICE: The Central Station series
Why you should use our central station
see schedule below for presentations

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Question: scanned contract
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Ken
I have just received a signed contract back that is a scanned copy sent to my email. Is this valid or do I have to get the original signed contract back? Thanks for your guidance

Juliann Olivera
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Answer
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   The scanned copy is fine. Make sure you have the entire contract scanned and not just the front page or the signature page. If it was emailed back to you keep the email too.
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COMMENT ON FINE PRINT CONTRACTS FROM SEPT 1, 2014
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Hi Ken;
   The alarm industry is constantly thrust into a bad light by those that practice false advertising, or pseudo intellectuals who think they know the law. I cancelled a subscription to paid radio service because of the wording in their commercials for a "do it yourself" security system that charges only $15 per month for monitoring. I didn't care so much about the product, but the wording in the ad was offensive as they referred to alarm dealers a having unethical work practices and long term contracts with fine print that screws the consumer in the event of a loss. After writing several letters asking them to change their script, I gave up and just cancelled "their" service. I believe in voting with my wallet.
Are there some unscrupulous alarm contractors? YES, just like there are some unscrupulous doctors, nurses, lawyers, cops, firemen and every other occupation. What galled me about the ad, was the guy whose show it was (who is a multi-millionaire) and has armed security protecting his property (most of these guys are ex-special forces so you know they don't come cheap,) and he claimed he has one of these "do it yourself" specials in his own home. I would bet a months pay that if he has it in his house, it is in a box and never been installed. Would any sane person spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per year on armed security and then install what amounts to a "toy" for their electronic security?
Getting back to the contract, it is unfortunate that we have to protect ourselves with lengthy provisions, but if you changed the font to normal size print, the contract would be about five pages long. No one would sign it. I ALWAYS tell my customers that all a security system will do, is to help limit the amount of the loss. It can't prevent a burglary or fire. And to the best of my knowledge, no burg/fire system has ever caused a structure fire. Most of us have our systems send weekly tests to the central monitoring station, but that is for our benefit so we can get alerted if there is a communication issue. It shouldn't relieve the homeowner of his responsibility to test his system on a regular basis. Our weekly tests only test the communication link. It wouldn't necessarily alert us if there was a problem with the siren or if any number of zones became inoperable. People don't take the testing instructions seriously until there is a loss, and then they try to lay fault on the alarm dealer. So yeah, we need those provisions in there to protect us from a litigious society.
   John from NJ
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   WEBINAR ANNOUNCEMENTS
   The Central Station Series
Why you should use our central station
Each Webinar will cover:
territory covered by cs
types of alarms cs equipped to handle or specializes in
description of cs facilities and equipment; redundancy of more than one location
general policies on handling alarms
what makes your cs stand apart from others
pricing - why your cs charges what it does and special deals if any
contracts the cs requires
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    Sign up for each presentation. All Start at 12 noon EST to 1 PM
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October 23, 2014 - USA Central Station https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1676699519071453697

October 28, 2014 - SentryNet
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6448324896921683457

October 29, 2014 – Rapid Response Monitoring https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4898797453548148993

October 30, 2012 – COPS Monitoring https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6318369219588363265

November 12, 2014 - Statewide Monitoring https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/339270067719231489

November 13, 2014 - Centra-Larm Monitoring https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3930780819384477185

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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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Alabama Alarm Association. AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205 for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org (205) 933-9000

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Scanned Contract / Fine Print Contracts - October 20, 2014