security callout fee issue...

[cheez_2806]

Dear avalonians,

EDIT: I have an alarm system that needs disconnecting....

"our standard call out fee is $159.50 which includes the first half hour on site and $1.925 (per technician) per minute thereafter. This does not include parts as required. All pricing includes gst. "

This means that we will have to pay $160 or more if they stay longer than half an hour to do the disconnection...

Is this a reasonable price??? I guess its kind of like $80 call out fee and $80 half an hour on site sort of thing...

I called up and asked whether it would be an difficult job to disconnect and re-program, they said it would take around 15-20 minutes...

Not sure how the security system actually works - they can't disconnect the monitoring or signal from their side??

The only option we have is to disconnect the service with them and pay the money.

I can't disconnect myself either because I think the alarm program itself would require re-programming or esle once it detects the missing phone line it will go off crazy as well...


Confused
Si

[SomaSmith]

Hi Cheez,

Purely my opinion here... but that sounds a little high to me. If you are not under contract for services and you own the device then I would say go at it with a screwdriver and just disconnect all of the wires yourself. Pending you can Identify with certainty the difference between (little tiny) low voltage wires and standard elecrical supply wires.

Just my two cents, :)

[cheez_2806]

THank you somasmith,

I really do appreciate the comment, I do need opinions on the price as I am not sure what to make of the it because it has been a far while since I needed anything fixed by a professional...
so I don't want to quarrel over a price that is reasonable....and I am trying to negotiate with them about this issue because I think I need them to re-program the alarm which I have completely no idea how to do that...because it definitely will go into fault mode when it can't detect the phone line...

I called up the security company and they said they don't do contracts and I don't seem to find any terms and conditions on their webpage so I think I can somehow negotiate it..
or does anyone here know how to re-program an alarm...I know the master code...

[SomaSmith]

Hi Cheez,

Just trying to help. :) It should be easy to reprogram, but there are a lot of different brands and models of alarms.

Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but if you have the master code then you should be able to search online and find the manual for your device. It should be able to help you out.

Side note, It feels weird to be giving technical advice on Avalon... ;)

Sincerely,

[cheez_2806]

hang on....I just called up an phone technician there call out fee is $137.50...they all have call out fees over $100...does anyone else think that is a reasonable price?

[cheez_2806]

Hi Cheez,

Just trying to help. :) It should be easy to reprogram, but there are a lot of different brands and models of alarms.

Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but if you have the master code then you should be able to search online and find the manual for your device. It should be able to help you out.

Side note, It feels weird to be giving technical advice on Avalon... ;)

Sincerely,

Thankyou :)

Yes, I should give that try first,

It is weird to discuss this here....Sorry :( I was in a panic state to this issue when I was on the phone talking to the guy and typing this thing...because I can speak english but a bad negotiator and my parents are very well at negotiating but they speak chinese.

This was the place I could think of where I could discuss problems honestly and get sincere advices...maybe I should use PMs instead...

Thankyou once again!

[SomaSmith]

How would you know who to PM? :ranger:

I didn't mean weird in a bad way... :) Just using a different part of my brain.

Hope you have some luck! :tea:

[cheez_2806]

Oh, I miss understood~
LOL I'll guess I'll PM whom I usually PM~

anyways, thanks bro~