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26
Aug 2010
Posted by Jason
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Monitronics honors dealers: Lisa Thomas

Beginning this month, Monitronics will honor an authorized dealer employee whose work exemplifies quality, flexibility, and excellence. Our first honoree is Lisa Thomas, Office Manager at Lifeline Security and Automation in California. She was nominated by Jason Maxwell, Funding Supervisor in Dealer Support at Moni.

Jason nominated Lisa for this honor and noted that she is very efficient and proactive, always staying up-to-date with the latest news in the Monitronics Dealer Program.

“Her work ethic is strong and Lifeline carries with them a weekly purchasing percentage of over 90%. She cares greatly about the quality of customers that Lifeline brings to Monitronics and ensures that they are completely satisfied before being brought on station.”

Lisa joined Lifeline in 2005 and has been with the company during a period of tremendous growth. As Lifeline President Gordon Johnson notes, she cares deeply about her quality of work. “Lisa treats the business as if it was her own and has taken on more and more responsibility as we have grown,” he said. “She is well-liked among employees.”

Congratulations, Lisa! Monitronics appreciates you!

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Posted in: Business Security, Industry Happenings

20
Aug 2010
Posted by Leah
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Dealer spotlight: Safe and Sound

Monitronics Authorized Dealers are the engine behind our business. They are the ones who sell and service our monitored alarm systems across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As part of this blog, we will start spotlighting certain dealers that catch our eye. The first is Safe and Sound Security in Pleasant Hill, California.

Why Safe and Sound? Because excellence is the cornerstone of their business, and it shows. They are currently ranked #1, among all dealers, for the quality of the accounts they bring to Monitronics. Owners Patrick Chown and Jason Wagner say this is because of their business strategy: focus on high-quality accounts and bring in good customers who will stick around for years.

Safe and Sound became Authorized Monitronics Dealers in March 2009 and have a company of about 40 people. They picked our program because of the business processes and their experience with Monitronics dealers in the field.

“We were with another monitoring company before and never felt completely confident in them. We knew the process at Monitronics and wanted to be a part of the team,” said Patrick.

As they look to the future, Patrick and Jason say they are focused on “organic growth.”

“There are a ton of dealers in California and we are dealing with a lot of competition, so we have found a way to do things a little differently than the other guys,” Patrick said. “This ‘organic growth’ is about creating an environment that manifests growth, but does not outgrow itself. Because we have a balance of quality and quantity, we can continue to grow at a steady pace.”

“We’re looking for people who have an inherent interest in protecting their homes and families,” said Patrick.

You can learn more about Safe and Sound at their website, www.getsafeandsound.com, or by calling 925-234-4483.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings

26
Jul 2010
Posted by Leah
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Storm season can mean false alarms

Summer storm season is here and so are our efforts to prevent false alarms based on those storms.

Every summer, we field numerous preventable false alarm calls during storms. Be sure to check all batteries in your system to keep your alarm from tripping during a thunderstorm. Another tip: make sure all doors and windows close and lock securely so that they don’t blow open in high winds. Finally, pick up tarps and trash if you have outside motion detectors.

Help us meet our goal of lowering false alarms this summer. If you have questions, call Monitronics at 800-447-9239.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings

03
May 2010
Posted by Leah
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Dealers’ code of conduct exceeds expectations

door knockerMonitronics operates through a network of authorized dealers. In a nutshell, that means that they sell and install alarm systems and we monitor them with our award-winning  Central Station.

“Just who are these dealers and what can I expect?” you may ask yourself? Well, we snagged a few minutes of an expert’s time to find out. Bruce Mungiguerra, our VP of Field Services, is the man who oversees the quality of Monitronics dealers and he knows the process inside-out.

“When one of our authorized dealers knocks on your door, they are not only the face of their individual company name and brand, but also the face of Monitronics and you can expect certain things from them, like courtesy, honesty, and integrity,” he said. “They have been through some of the best training in the industry–I’ve got full confidence that they provide a great experience for our customers.”

Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Professional in-home security analysis, including an evaluation of the interior and exterior of the home.
  • Thorough sales presentation with a product demo and specifics of what each component will do to help protect the home.
  • Complete overview of the items included in your security package and what will take place when the technician arrives.
  • Explanation of the alarm monitoring agreement, terms, monthly monitoring rate, and any installation fees.
  • Professional installation, equipment training, and an overview of the system manual.
  • A home that is as clean as when the dealer arrived.
  • A dealer who is available to answer your questions after the sale and installation

If you don’t have a monitored alarm system from Monitronics, you can give us a call at 800-447-9239. We’ll get an authorized dealer out to your home to talk security, systems, and your peace of mind.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings

29
Apr 2010
Posted by Leah
1 comment

Prevent summer scams from happening to you

Consumer Reports issues “Scam Alert: Don’t Get Ripped Off.”

This summer, beware of door-to-door home security scams. These guys are swindlers and they will lie to get you to switch your account. Their offer will sound great, but it’s not legitimate. You might end up with some unpleasant consequences: double bills, a non-working security system, and a real headache trying to get the situation fixed. Never change your security provider without calling Monitronics first at 800-396-9815.

Look for the signs of a scam:

    1. Offering free upgrades or equipment
    They might claim that your system is analog and will quit working. This is not true.

    2. Claiming that Monitronics is out of business.
     We’re here to provide you with reliable, 24/7 protection.

    3. Using high pressure sales talk, trying to make you switch security companies.
    The pressure should be a red flag: honest and legitimate sales people don’t need to be pushy.

Report these scam artists right away to Monitronics and don’t be fooled. These people are often friendly, neatly dressed, and college-aged. They are usually unassuming and can be perceived as very helpful and informative. The sales pitch varies, but often they will deceive you by saying that your Monitronics home security alarm system is inadequate or faulty and needs to be replaced. They might claim that we are out of business. None of it is true.

They will likely pressure you to sign a contract immediately and install the same day. They’ll even offer to help you cancel your Monitronics service.

If you take advantage of their offer, you immediately risk your home security. The equipment is often installed improperly, which can cause your Monitronics alarm to stop working. Plus, you risk signing multiple long-term service contracts that will force you to pay two monthly bills.

Make sure you know the facts and whom you are dealing with when a door-to-door security sales person shows up. Get the name of the sales person and his or her company and call Monitronics at 800-396-9815. We care about your safety.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings

06
Apr 2010
Posted by Jason
1 comment

Tuesday tips: What to do when the alarm sounds

iStock_000011064387XSmallIt’s jarring, to say the least, when an alarm system goes off. The sirens, the panicky feeling, the sense of urgency. So what DO you do?

First, is it a false alarm? Did you set it off by opening a window or walking past a motion sensor? If that’s the case, walk to your panel and disarm the system. Anytime your alarm sounds, you have 30 seconds to do this–if you cancel the alarm in that time, it is not considered an emergency and you may not receive a call from the Monitronics monitoring center.  Do not disarm if there is a genuine emergency.

Here’s what to do in other situations:

Fire: Get out of your house as quickly as possible. We are going to dispatch the fire department when we get the alarm.

Medical emergency: When you receive a call from the Monitronics monitoring center, we will dispatch the emergency services and stay on the line with you until an ambulance arrives. Our average response time in 2009 was 22.1 seconds, so we’ll be calling or coming over your two-way voice panel quickly.

Burglary: Assess the situation. If you can leave the house, get out and call 911. You can also press the panic button on the alarm and we will dispatch the police immediately.

Carbon monoxide alarm: Leave the premise immediately we will dispatch the fire department.

Home invasion: Press the silent panic button on the alarm panel if you are able. Otherwise, cooperate with the intruder until the responding authorities arrive.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

16
Mar 2010
Posted by Leah
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Tuesday Tips: Prevent graffiti tagging vandalism

Is grafitti art or vandalism? It can be as simple as a few words or images sprayed or scrawled on a surface, like a fence or a wall (or a building, which makes people quite unhappy). It can be complex as full color, elaborate murals. The debate rages on the art versus vandalism question, but one form of graffiti is generally agreed to be more dangerous than the rest: gang tagging or gang graffiti.

iStock_000006400881XSmallGang tagging is when someone marks a place with some sort of image or word that indicates gang territory, fights between rivals or collaborations, or as a way of marketing street drugs. It can mean that you’re in the cross hairs of danger. Plus it’s ugly and makes a neighborhood look trashy.

Many police departments offer graffiti control programs–check with your city to see if they can provide you with more information on how to prevent graffiti vandalism. Here are our tips.

How can you keep graffiti out of your neighborhood?
* Call your local police or sheriff and report all vandalism.
* Remove or paint over any graffiti on your property right away after taking a pictures of it.
* Educate your child about this crime.
* Help neighbors in graffiti removal.

For Business Owners
* Protect spray paint from theft–consider locking the up. And remember not to sell them to minors.
* Place signs in the spray paint area about the penalties for graffiti vandalism.
* Keep spray paint displays in an area that is easily seen by employees.

How to Remove Graffiti
* Keep matching paint on hand so you can cover it right away.
* For glass or previously painted metal surfaces, use MEK (methylethyl ketone) to remove graffiti.
* Ask your local hardware store for other graffiti removal products for glass, unpainted metal surfaces, brick, and cinder block.

What if You See a Tagger in Action?
* DO NOT speak to or attempt to stop the person.
* Get a good description of the person and get a license plate number if possible for police.
* Call 911 to report a vandalism-in-process.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

16
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
1 comment

Tuesday Tips: Sign up for safety

Most folks don’t realize it, but one of the most effective crime deterrents is a little piece of metal. A Monitronics yard sign let’s criminals know that your home or business is protected 24/7 by our award-winning central station.

Some people buy fake signs on the Internet, hoping for some protection that way, but bad guys visit the same sites you do and know which signs are real and which ones are pseudo. Monitronics has been around for 15 years and is a known player in the industry. Our signs mean business.

Monitronics-1801 copy

Criminals look for easy marks and your monitored alarm system let’s them know your place is off limits. You’re a harder target. To get the most out of your yard sign, remember these things:

    1. Replace old signs with new, highly visible ones.2.The effectiveness of the security yard sign depends on its placement: put it next to your front door, the curb next to the driveway, a flower bed, or by the garage door.

    3. Get some Moni security stickers and place them on windows and other doors around the premises.

If you need a new yard sign, call customer service at 800-447-9239 and we’ll send you one right away.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

09
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Picking a security company

There are loads of security companies out there clamoring for your business. How do you cut through the clutter and find the best fit and price? Obviously, we’re a little biased when we say this, but we think Monitronics is the way to go for residential or business security systems. Here’s a checklist for how to pick a security company and a bit about how Moni measures up.

    Security
    You want to know that your company is watching your premises at all times. Is the monitoring central station 24/7? Are they Five-Diamond Certified? We are both.

    Response
    How fast can the company respond to your alarm? Every second matters in an emergency. In 2009, our average response time was 22.1 seconds.

    Trust
    Who are you letting in your door? Are they well-trained and vetted? Our Monitronics authorized dealers go through background checks and are experts at security assessments and installations. They know how to customize a security system to fit your needs.

    Guarantee
    What happens if you have a problem with your system down the road? What’s the policy on fixing it? Monitronics’ lifetime service guarantee is great insurance. Generally speaking, it covers the parts and labor on your system with a reasonable deductible for any service request.

    Convenience
    With an online MyMonitronics account, you can pay your bill, update emergency contacts, test your system, and more.

    Portability
    Will your company relocate your home alarm system for free? We will!

Since 1994, we’ve been earning the trust of our customers through our proven performance and customer service. Let us prove ourselves to you.  Visit us online and we’ll connect you with a Monitronics authorized dealer in your area. If you prefer to call, you can reach us by phone at 800-290-0709.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

02
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Reduce false alarms

False alarms are a waste of time and resources for everyone: you, emergency responders, and your alarm monitoring company. And in municipalities with false alarm ordinances and permit requirements, it can earn you a hefty fine if police or fire respond and there’s nothing wrong.

Perhaps worst of all, when you have many false alarms with your monitored alarm system, people will start to ignore them, which means in the event of a real emergency, you are up a creek, so to speak. So what to do to reduce them? Read on.

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Reducing False Alarms: A How To Guide

* Test your system once a month to ensure that it is working properly. Let more about doing that with your MyMonitronics account here.

* Keep your emergency contact up to date so that if your system goes off and we can’t reach you, one of them can either turn off the system or let you know about it. You can also do this with your MyMonitronics account.

* Train all expected visitors, like babysitters, housekeepers, or friends, on how to operate you system.

* Make sure your system is configured for your pets. Monitronics offers pet-immune motion detectors that “recognize” pets up to about 45 pounds.

* If you remodel your home and make interior changes, like adding drapes, moving large furniture, or adding ceiling fans, review your security system design with your authorized Monitronics dealer to ensure continued comprehensive protection.

* Secure all doors and windows so that they won’t trigger an alarm if blown open.

* Do not intentionally set off your monitored alarm for any reason other than a crime, fire, or medical emergency.

* False alarms are often triggered by circuit breakers that are not powered–keep on top of that.

* Clean the sensor lens on your smoke detectors and motion sensors regularly. Bugs, gunk or dust
 can trigger an alarm.

* Keep batteries fresh and within their expiration date.

* Adjust your system so that an alarm signal will sound for no longer than 10 minutes after being activated.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

29
Jan 2010
Posted by Jason
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Two-way voice saves lives

During an emergency, every second seems like an eternity. And every one counts. With two-way voice, you can communicate directly with the Monitronics central station without even picking up the phone.

Two-way voice is an audio device that is a part of your alarm system. It has a speaker and microphone so that when an alarm goes off in your home or business, central station can tune in, hear what’s going on, and speak directly with the resident or intruder.

Our five-diamond certified central station responded to calls in an average of 22.1 seconds in 2009. That kind of fast action is crucial when it comes to your well-being.

Two-way voice works when you use a security system that incorporates it as a standard feature. Monitronics has many panels, like the GE Simon XT pictured, where this feature is built-in. Check your owner’s manual with your MyMonitronics account (under “system summary”) to see if your alarm is two-way compatible and how it works.

Other benefits can include:
* Increased sense of security and confidence in alarm system
* Priority response from the police–they know it’s not a false alarm
* Intruders chased from the building
* Reduced false alarms and potential fines for those alarms
* Effective communication for a person not able to get to the phone (like a medical emergency)
* People focused on getting out during a fire, knowing that help is on the way

Generally speaking, a system consists of one speaker and one microphone in the center of the house, which can provide coverage of about 2,500 square feet. If your coverage area needs to be bigger, your authorized Monitronics dealer can add additional speakers and microphones.

If you are interested in learning more about two-way voice and how it can enhance your security, please call 800-447-9239 or visit www.monitronics.com.

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19
Jan 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday tips: Get the correct alarm permits

Many municipalities in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico require an alarm user to obtain a permit in order to operate a monitored alarm system.That means some paperwork that you need to complete and a possible fee to pay in order for you to legally operate your security system. Without current and up-to-date permits, some law enforcement agencies may not dispatch police, fire, or ambulance to your home or business.  That’s a scary proposition.

Round stamp with text: Approved

The way it works is that, if your alarm goes off in a municipality that requires a permit, the alarm monitoring company must give the permit number to dispatch responding authorities. Although not all cities require a permit, it is your responsibility to check with the area authorities and inquire as to the local requirement, to obtain a permit if one is necessary, and to ensure the permit is always kept up-to-date. Contact your local authorities for more information on permits in your city.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

08
Jan 2010
Posted by Leah
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Wired vs. wireless: Which security system is for you?

When you’re buying a home security system, you’re bound to ask yourself, which is right for me: wired or wireless? Both systems have a lot of popular features in common, however, your individual home and needs may determine your best fit.  Here is a little guide with the advantages of each type and few items to consider.  Read on to see the differences.

network

Hardwire
•    No large transmitters exposed for customers concerned about aesthetics
•    Keypad has a smaller footprint on the customer’s wall
•    More user codes available
•    Only one battery to change
•    Most new homes have pre-wiring in place for hard-wire systems
•    Less cost on parts to add additional devices to a basic system

Wireless
•    Two-way is included and does not require additional cost
•    Keyfobs and medical pendants are easily added
•    Fewer/no exposed wires for customers concerned about aesthetics
•    Shorter installation time means less interruption of the customer’s day
•    Easier placement of equipment in desired locations
•    Some parts can be sent directly to the customer, eliminating a service call
•    Slightly higher installation investment due to cost of equipment

Installing either a wired or wireless monitored alarm system is one of the best things you can do to protect your home and your family from crime, fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and help with response to a medical emergency. Plus, a monitored alarm system can lower your homeowners insurance rates up to 20% annually. You can’t go wrong, no matter which style system you choose. If you would like to discuss further any of these differences, please call one of our customer support specialists at 800-447-9239.

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21
Dec 2009
Posted by Leah
4 comments

MyMonitronics account simplifies, streamlines

Lately, we’ve gotten several questions about MyMonitroncs, so we thought we’d explain this great feature on our website and show you the benefits.

MyMonitronics allows Monitronics customers to manage their security account online.  Pay your bill? Yep. Change your password? Check. All without calling and at anytime.  With your MyMonitronics account, you can:

* Print out an monitored alarm insurance discount certificate

* Download your user manual

* Manage your emergency contacts.  You can even send an e-mail to your contacts informing them they’ve been added to your contact list.

* Update your billing address

* Test your alarm system

* Change your passcode

* Pay your bill

To start, go to the MyMonitronics account creation page and enter your customer number–it’s found on your monthly statement or any Monitronics correspondence you’ve received. Then enter your codeword. This is the verbal word (not your alarm keypad code) you provided Monitronics to use in the event of an emergency. Then create your MyMonitronics username and password.

Presto, you’ve got a MyMonitronics account.  Save time. No waiting. Manage your account now.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security

15
Dec 2009
Posted by Jason
0 comments

Monitronics Tuesday tip: Prevent Lock Bumping

In recent years, “lock bumping” has received a lot of publicity in the media. It’s a method by which criminals with specially made keys can open a large portion of the deadbolt locks that are on most American homes, today.
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If you have any question about how easy it is to get your hands on one of these specially made keys, or how easy it is to open a locked door by this method, simply Google the term “lock bumping,” and you’ll find a variety of online sources for bumping keys as well as instructional videos that show the technique in action.

Fortunately, several companies now make “bump proof” locks or retro-fit cylinders that are immune to this type of manipulation and will help guarantee that your door is truly locked. Of course, if you really want to insure your home’s and family’s safety, we recommend a monitored home security system from Monitronics. Call us today at 800-290-0709 to schedule an appointment with a Monitronics security expert.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip