Ten Vital Questions To Ask When Choosing a Security Company
1.) Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, it is standard in the industry to execute some form of an agreement for services provided, equipment sold, and warranty terms. This contract protects you and ensures that you will receive the products and services that the security company has promised.
2.) What is the length of the contract?
Most alarm companies require contracts that lock you into monitoring services for three to five years. This practice eliminates your ability to change service providers.
Pro Technologies does not believe in annual contracts. We provide our services with no strings attached. This means that you – the client – are allowed to be in full control of all services. When you become part of the Pro Technologies family, you set the terms of your contract. It is our philosophy that clients who use our monitoring services will renew with us based on our performance – and because they want to – not because they are locked into a long-term agreement.
3.) Does this equipment belong to me?
Many alarm companies have clauses in their contracts that specifically retain ownership of the equipment installed in your property. This means that you cannot change service providers and they can remove the equipment if you no longer want their monitoring services.
Every piece of equipment we install in your home or business belongs to you. Our goal is to design, sell and install complete systems for your protection and provide monitoring services as an option. Because you own the system, you are in full control of any future services provided by Pro Technologies.
4.) Does my system have a lockout code?
A lockout code is a code used by alarm companies to prevent other alarm companies from being able to access programming to a system. However; some alarm companies use this code to prevent you from changing to another alarm company. Some companies charge you a service fee to release this code. Other companies will not release the code at all, which forces you to purchase a whole new system. This practice is very degrading to our industry, is frowned upon by Pro Technologies and is not our business practice.
At Pro Technologies, we provide each customer with a unique installation programming code for your protection. This code is provided to you and allows you full access to all features of your security system. You will never be locked out of your own system.
5.) Is the person working on my system an employee or an outside contractor?
Many alarm companies today utilize contractors for service and installation.
At Pro Technologies, our technicians are full time, fully trained employees of Pro Technologies. This ensures that you will receive the very best installation and service available in this industry.
6.) Can you guarantee the lowest price?
No. As much as Pro Technologies would like to be able to offer the lowest up front cost to you, we know very well you truly get what you pay for. Pro Technologies offers only the best design and equipment for the Safety, Security and Comfort for its clients. This means price may not always be the most important consideration. Pro Technologies always strives to provide the best value with the highest quality of any security company.
7.) Can I access my account online?
Yes! With our central monitoring services, you have 24/7 access to features such as viewing all alarm activity, editing contact information or passwords. Most alarm companies charge extra for these services, but at Pro Technologies we provide online access for our clients free of charge.
8.) How often does my system test itself?
The industry standard is for your alarm system to communicate to the central monitoring station is once a month.
The truth is that system monitoring auto-testing can be programmed any way. Pro Technologies believes you are safer if your system is auto tested at least once per week. Many of our systems auto test to the central station as frequently as daily. Some of our high-security applications are auto-testing every minute!
9.) I was offered a free system, why can’t you?
Most alarm companies do this as a hook to get a salesman in front of you. These “free” systems always consist of a small list of equipment and a binding, long-term agreement with inflated monthly monitoring fees.
There is no such thing as a free system.
At Pro Technologies, we believe small packaged systems do not provide adequate protection. Rather, a properly designed security system that provides full protection of you and your family is the best value possible.
Our guaranteed lowest monitoring rates will save our clients money and ultimately pay for their system; as opposed to entering into a long-term contract with inflated monthly rates for a “free” system that they don’t own.
10.) Is the equipment I would purchase proprietary?
Many alarm companies are now installing equipment that can only be programmed, services and monitored by them. Again, this stops your ability to change service providers without replacing your entire alarm system.
At Pro Technologies, we DO NOT install any proprietary equipment ever. As our promise to you, you will always be in control and capable of making the best decisions for your services.
NO STRINGS. NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS.
OUR CUSTOMERS STAY WITH US BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO!