Beware of Latest Home Security Alarm Scams

For homeowners with a security system, there are multiple scams going on across the country that could open your house up to burglaries and other criminal activities.

Criminals, posing as security alarm company representatives, are calling homeowners trying to get security system passcodes to disarm systems so they can break in at a later time.

There are also those companies that initiate an automated call going out to random residences advising of a free security system installed and monitored by the local police department OR claiming to be a well-known local security company giving away a certain number of free systems.

If you get a call from any one of these sources, here’s what you need to know.

1. Your security company will NEVER ask you for the passcode that you use to arm and disarm your security system.
2. When security companies call, they will usually ask you for a personal identification number or a secret word to establish your identity.
3. If you believe the person on the phone is a scam artist, hang up and immediately call your alarm company to explain the situation.
4. Also ask the person on the phone for their alarm license number. You can check the number with your security company to confirm they are an employee.

Following these tips will help to protect your home and your family. Remember to never share your security alarm passcode with anyone outside of your family.

If you have any questions about how to protect yourself from these types of scams, we’re here to help. At Hue & Cry, Inc., we’ve been keeping thousands of families in Northern California and Southern Oregon safe for more than 30 years. Call us at 1-800-762-3196.

How a Security System Can Assist With Business Emergencies

Find out how security systems can help businesses deal with all sorts of emergencies including thefts, fires and even acts of terrorism.

The video below shows you how a business security system can protect your company and employees from all sorts of emergencies and catastrophes.

Check out the discovery points after watching this video.

In this video, you will discover the importance of…

• Emergency notification buttons
• Advanced fire and smoke detection systems
• Security camera surveillance systems

We hope that you enjoyed this video. To watch other security related videos, be sure to subscribe to the Hue & Cry, Inc. YouTube Channel.

How to Know That You Are Working With the Right Home Security Company

Many security companies make great promises such as low prices and excellent service. However, in reality, very few can actually keep their word.

That’s what makes shopping for a home security system a difficult process. It’s hard to judge if you’re working with the right home security company. To help you separate the good from the bad, here are a few qualities that stand out among the top companies.

No subcontractors for installations, service and monitoring

Some of the big national security companies like to outsource installation, monitoring and customer service to subcontractors. This can cause a lot of potential headaches because no one can really be held accountable.

If you don’t believe us, take a look at some of the online social media reviews. You’ll see numerous complaints. Here’s a Facebook complaint about one of the largest security companies in the country – “Does anyone have a line on a different alarm company that will provide prompt & effective service when I call them…because for the past 3 months (it) has been the exact opposite of that!”

Memberships to trade associations

Memberships to trade associations and business groups show the company’s commitment to quality service and ethical business practices. Some of the top trade associations and business groups include:

• Better Business Bureau
• Electronic Security Association (ESA)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Additionally, check to see if their monitoring station is U.L. certified. This ensures that highest quality of connection between your security system and the central monitoring station.

Keeps up on new technologies

You would be amazed how many security companies peddle old and outdated technology. Good companies train their employees on the latest technologies. They offer custom-designed home security systems that offer options such as:

• Fire detection systems
• Keyless entry systems
• Security camera systems
• Home automation
• Computer/smartphone control

A good security company realizes that no two homes are alike. People have different wants and needs.

Examining these qualities will help you determine if you’re working with the right security company. For even more home security tips, like the Hue & Cry, Inc. Facebook Page.

The Home Security System Shopping Checklist

Use this handy checklist to help you shop for a home security system.

Determine your needs – What are you looking for in a home security system? Before you start examining security companies, think about what you really want and how much you’re willing to spend. Do you need security cameras or a keyless entry system? What about home automation? Sit down and think about your wants and needs.

Research several security companies in your community – Would you interview a job applicant without looking at their résumé? Too often homeowners start calling security companies before doing any background research. Look at their websites. Examine their offerings. Read reviews. After you’ve done your homework, identify several companies that meet your needs.

Talk to some security companies – Once you’ve narrowed down the list, make some phone calls. Hear what the different security companies have to offer. Check to make sure they monitor their security systems from a U.L. certified monitoring center. Also explore all of their different offerings such as security cameras and home automation.

Think about it – This is the point where people start getting tired and just want to make a decision already. Stay patient. Don’t be in a rush to sign a contact. Think about the offers and the prices. Do a second round of research into the security companies that seem like the right fit. Read testimonials and reviews. Ask family and friends on social media if they have experience with the company. Also look at their social media profiles. Are the comments generally positive?

Make a Decision – Once you’ve got all of the relevant information, it’s time to make a decision. Use all of the information that you’ve accumulated to make the right choice. Make a decision that is right for you. Don’t let anyone pressure you into a decision that you’re not comfortable making.

How to Select the Right Home Security Company

Most homeowners are looking for some peace of mind when shopping for a home security system. Unfortunately, the buying process can be filled with potential headaches.

Between harassing sales calls and misleading promises, it can be frustrating to find a home security system. We feel your pain. As one of the leading home security companies in California and Oregon, we know how other so-called security companies treat homeowners. It’s not good.

To help you find an honest and reliable security company, here are a few things that you should ask those security salespeople.

Question No. 1: Do you outsource?

A lot of times, those big national security companies will hire independent contractors to sell their systems. They install the system, take your money and you never hear from them again. You’re then stuck dealing with some customer service center on the other side of the country when the security system doesn’t work.  Look for a security company that does things locally.

Question No. 2: Is it really free?

When a security salesperson tells you that something is free, take a look at the big picture. As an example, some security companies will offer a “free system” or “free installation.” That sounds nice doesn’t it? However, they then hammer you with start-up fees and other hidden monthly costs that can snowball out of control.

Question No. 3: Where is the central monitoring station located?

When something goes wrong, would you prefer to talk to someone in New York City or in your home state? Some security companies will claim to be “local business” only to outsource monitoring to some center thousands of miles away. Good security companies will keep monitoring nearby. When an emergency happens, you want the monitoring center nearby because every second matters in an emergency.

Get Help Now

Asking these three questions will help you find the right home security company. As you’re shopping, read online reviews and check with the Better Business Bureau.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we’re dedicated to serving homeowners in Northern California and Southern Oregon. We’re a family company that cares about our customers as well as our employees. We serve thousands of homeowners and have gotten excellent reviews. To see how we can help you, please visit our page on home security systems.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Business Security System

Discover how to get the most out of your business security system by watching this video blog post.

This video shows how your business security system can help you track employees as well as manage business entry points. You’ll also find out about the important money saving benefits of security system testing and maintenance agreements.

Be sure to check out the discovery points after watching this video.

In this video, you will find out:

• Key security system features that will improve productivity
• How security system maintenance agreements can save you time and money
• About important business security system upgrades

We hope you enjoy this video! For more great security tips for businesses, be sure to follow us on Facebook.

How Often Should I Test My Business Security System?

What would happen if you never took your car to a mechanic for service? It probably wouldn’t last very long. Your car needs to be tested and serviced in order to run properly. The same applies with your business security system.

Whether it’s your car or your business security system, testing and service are essential. Many businesses fail to test their security systems enough. This is a costly mistake.

Testing your business security system helps to quickly identify system failures and broken hardware to keep your system running smoothly.

So how often should you get your businesses security system tested?

Most security experts recommend that you test the system at least once a month. However, you can do it more often. It all depends on your available resources.

To test your system, you typically call your central monitoring station. Provide them with your security system information and confirm it’s in test mode. You can then go about testing sensors, motion detectors and other security system features.

If something is wrong with the system, it’s important to get it repaired as soon as possible. Having a security system maintenance agreement with your security company can help to speed up the repair process because you’ll most likely get priority service.

It’s best to go with a local business security company because they can be there when you need them. You can rest assured that the monitoring center and repair technicians will be near your business to help you.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we help businesses in California and Oregon with their security needs. We can help you test as well as fix your security systems. Find out more by visiting our page on security system repair services or call us at 1-800-762-3196.

Ways Business Owners Can Lower Insurance Costs

Are you looking for ways to save money at your business in 2013? One easy way to cut costs is to look at your business insurance.

There are several things that you can do to lower business insurance costs. Business insurance expert Mark Davidson, a Principal at Walsh Carter & Associates shares some of the top ways that you can save on insurance costs below. Walsh Carter Associates is a full-service insurance brokerage firm in San Francisco.

Hue & Cry: What’s the most important thing businesses can do to lower insurance costs?

Mark Davidson: I think it’s two prong. First would be to get in front of an independent agent where they’ll have access to multiple carriers, and sit down with that agent and go through the operations of what they do. At that point, the agent can identify the available types of credits that could come their way. It’s the best way to cut down that premium.

There are different things that you could look for from a business standpoint. One of the things is to look at packaging multiple lines like maybe property, auto and worker’s comp. You usually get multiple policy discounts.

The second thing you can do is get a burglar alarm. A burglar alarm can give you a savings of 5 to 10 percent. A sprinkler system can give you even more savings. You typically get a savings of 10 to 20 percent.

Hue & Cry: What kinds of penalties are there if your fire alarm system isn’t up to code?

Mark Davidson: There are some major implications, and I see this often. Sometimes, people will find out that they get a discount on their insurance if you say you’ve got an alarm. Often times, I’ll go out to review and take a look at their insurance portfolio and see they’re getting credit for a burglar and fire alarm yet they don’t have one.

A lot of the times the carrier will completely not cover any kind of a loss when there’s deception. That’s a huge negative impact for someone that tries to take the credit but doesn’t have the actual alarm installed.

Hue & Cry: What’s the biggest mistake that you constantly see when buying business insurance?

Mark Davidson: If you’re increasing your payroll or increasing your sales and you don’t tell anyone… at the end of the year there’s going to be a huge additional premium. That’s something that pops up quite a bit. Clients get pretty angry about that because they think, “Why didn’t you tell me about this.”

Also take a look at the deductible that you currently have. A lot of people have really small deductibles. If you have tiny claims on your policy, it’s probably not going to get renewed. So you’re going to get something much higher. One strategy of an insurance policy is for catastrophic protection, total fire, so you increase the deductible to $2,500 dollars and reduces the overall insurance premium pretty significantly. That’s another strategy and cost savings. If you nickel and time the carrier, the prices are going to go way up. I try to advise people to use insurance as a last resort.

Hue & Cry: What kinds of business improvements can help lower insurance costs?

Mark Davidson: Putting in cameras, perimeter lights, no slip floors.

As business owner, your goal is to take precautions to minimize your risks. It’s important to tell your agent if you have non-slip floors, perimeter lighting, etc. These types of credits are decided on a case-by-case basis. It’s up to the individual underwriters based on the perceived risk.

We would like to thank Mark Davidson for participating in this interview. You can find out more about Walsh Carter & Associates by visiting their website at www.WalshCarter.com. Get more information about their services here.

How to Avoid False Alarm Fines

Security system false alarm fines are a growing concern for homeowners. Law enforcement agencies across California and Oregon have enacted fines that range from $500 per incident to as much as $1,000 per incident.

That’s because false alarms waste precious time and money of law enforcement and life safety agencies.

So how do you avoid false alarm fines? Follow the tips below.

• Hire Professional Home Security Experts – It all starts by hiring the right people to install your home security system. Working with a discount, fly-by-night type of company is only going to present you with problems. Find a company that has significant experience installing home security systems in your community. Ask for references to see if current customers have experienced false alarms.

• Get a Quality System – You might be tempted to go with a discount type of system. Don’t do this. You want to find a quality home security system that uses the latest sensor technology. You should get a system with motion sensors that aren’t trigged because of a single movement. Find one that is triggered based on multiple movements. This will help reduce the false alarm risk.

• Know Your Security System – Too often, a security company installs a system and then leaves you with the instruction manual to fend for yourself. Find a security company that will take the time to properly train and educate you on how to use the system.

• Always Secure Windows and Doors Before Arming System – Before turning on your system, always make sure that all windows and doors are properly closed and locked. It’s common for doors or windows that are not properly shut to pop back open triggering the alarm.

• Have Your System Annually Maintained by a Professional – Having a security company come out once a year to ensure everything is in working order will help to significantly reduce false alarms caused by old equipment.

These are some of the top ways to prevent false alarms. At Hue & Cry, Inc., we’ve been helping homeowners in California and Oregon by professionally installing quality home security systems that work when you need them. To find out how we can help you, visit us at www.HueAndCry.com or call us at 1-800-762-3196.

Crescent City Burglary Spoiled Thanks to Hue & Cry Security System

Crescent Uniforms in Crescent City, California averted a disaster thanks to their Hue & Cry business security system.

The uniform store’s security system spoiled a burglary attempt. Police were quickly notified by Hue & Cry’s U.L. Certified monitoring center of the criminal activity. Because of the quick response time, the burglars got away with almost nothing.

In the video below, Crescent Uniforms owner Melanie Barry shares her experience and her thoughts on her Hue & Cry business security system. Check out the discovery points below this video.

In this security system video review, you will…

• Learn why Hue & Cry business security systems are the best.
• See how Hue & Cry’s business security system stopped a burglary.
• Discover how Hue & Cry’s monitoring center quickly alerted police and the business owner.
• Find out what Crescent Uniforms would do differently to stop burglaries.

We would like to thank Melanie Barry for sharing her story with us.

To find out more about our business security systems and our other business security solutions, visit our website at www.HueAndCry.com or call us at 1-800-762-3196.