Getting a burglar alarm installed on your home is one of the best possible ways to deter criminals from targeting your property, ensure a professional response to intrusions, and give you and your family peace of mind.
Choosing the right security company to complete the installation and provide your alarm monitoring services is a very important decision, however, as the last thing you want is to end up using an unverified cowboy installer.
What does a professional alarm installation look like?
In order to notice the danger signs of a non-verified installer, it is important to understand what the installation process will look like when you use a highly accredited security company such as Central FS for your burglar alarm services.
A standard installation of burglar alarms from a respected installer will follow these key steps:
- You will check that the company you are using is SSAIB or NSI accredited.
- The security company will send out a security expert to conduct a survey of your home to determine your security needs.
- You will receive a free quote for the installation of a comprehensive burglar alarm system on your property.
- You will agree with an experienced engineer on an installation date.
- You will agree to a maintenance contract with the security firm, confirming their alarm monitoring responsibilities and ongoing maintenance obligations.
- You will be given a genuine certification of compliance that you can show to your insurance company and may receive a lower premium as a result.
Your chosen security company should conduct annual checks on your alarm system to ensure all is well and false alarms are not common.
If there are too many false alarms on your property, neighbours and the emergency services will stop taking them seriously after a time, compromising the effectiveness of your emergency response should a genuine incident occur.
How to Avoid Fraudsters
If you have approached a company in regard to having a burglar alarm installed, and the process does not follow this pattern, you should be very wary of proceeding as there is a possibility that you are dealing with a fraudster.
The best way to make sure that you never fall foul of a cowboy installer is to make sure that you only ever use an NSI nor SSAIB installer, and you should NEVER simply take their word for it.
Both the SSAIB and NSI websites have a search area where you can check the status of security companies up and down the UK.
If a company is neither NSI or SSAIB accredited, their services will not be recognised by your insurers, will more than likely be involved in fraud or shady activity, and you should instantly move on to another installer.
Some of the instances of fraud that UK residents have fallen victim to in the past include the issuing of false certification, and trading under a false name of a company that does have the correct accreditation.
If you are ever unsure about the validity of a company use should simply end your communications with them and contact a respected local security firm such as Central FS instead.
SSAIB advice
The SSAIB is one of the two leading certification bodies in the UK for companies that provide security systems and services across the UK.
According to their expert advice, you should take the following steps to ensure that you are using a reliable burglar alarm Glasgow installer.
- Avoid being convinced to purchase a system by a cold call, either at the door or via a phone call.
- Always check for SSAIB accreditation.
- If you are in any doubt over the accreditation that you are given, then clarify with the accreditation company directly.
- Listen to the advice of your selected company, but DO NOT accept what they say as gospel due to the technical nature of the terms used. Your installer should be able to explain how your alarm system will operate using layman’s terms.
- Always agree to a written specification and ask for a written set price with the installer.
- Ask for details on the follow up services and alarm response services provided by the security company.
- Contact several installers for quotes to ensure you are not being overcharged and to check for discrepancies in the paperwork provided.
- Make sure that you are given a certification of conformity confirming the quality of installation.
- Confirm how long the system is covered for.
Contact Central FS
If you are looking for an SSAIB approved contractor to install your high quality burglar alarm system and protect your home against burglars and other criminals, control Central FS today.
We cover the whole of Scotland and always go the extra mile to ensure that our customer’s security requirements are met.
For more information, contact our expert team today by phone on 0141 530 1244, or by email at info@centralfs.co.uk.