Compare alarm systems
The following charts provides a comparison between The Alarm Monitoring Company (AMCO) monitored alarm systems and prices, and those of some of our competitors.
| Installation costs*(Including VAT) | Monthly monitoring and maintenance charge | Compare others with AMCO – this is how much more it will cost you over 5 years | Our competitors lock you in!Look at the notice required to cancel (and the cost!) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMCO at £295 (£339.25 INC vat AT 15%)1 year minimum contract) | £11.90(£13.69 inc VAT at 15%) | 3 months (£41.06) |
|
| Competitor at £390 (3 year minimum contract) | £26 | £730 | 1 year (£312) |
| Competitor at £150 (5 year minimum contract) | £30 | £830 | 1 year (£300) |
Over 5 years with AMCO you save enough money to take yourself on a Luxury Cruise in the Mediterranean!
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The 5 main things to take into consideration when buying a monitored alarm system are
- Installation costs: make sure the advertised and quoted price includes ALL installation and set up costs. Some companies hide key costs in their quotes. We DON’T.
- Monitoring/maintenance costs & contract length: check the length of contract you’re signing up for. Some are longer than others and may include long notice periods if you wish to quit.
- Other on going hidden costs: check to see what other costs you might incur – for example – most companies use premium pay telephone numbers to monitor your alarms, (an ADT customer recently found that he was paying £1.15 pence per call & his system was dialling out 15 times with each fault); some companies charge when you wish to change a keyholder, they also insist that you put the change in writing – we DON’T charge and a simple telephone call suffices; some companies charge for sending letters to organise maintenance visits – we DON’T; some companies charge you for resetting alarms after false alarms or faults - we DON’T. Finally, no matter how good, the system will inevitable need attention some time, so check the cost of callouts.
- Cancellation notice period: circumstances change, so make sure the cancellation period is an acceptable length and does not incur penalty charges. It should not overly long and burdensome thus making it difficult and expensive should you ever wish to terminate the contract
- Alarm response: not all “monitored alarms” are the same. For example AMCO alarms have two way hands off communication, called “interactive monitoring”. Most other companies use “call-back monitoring”. Apart from having to telephone the property to ascertain if the alarm is genuine or not, ”Call back ” systems also require two sensors (generally 2 rooms) to be activated before the police can be called. For more information on the difference between the two systems see the section below that compares systems. The section “About Monitored Alarms” also demonstrates the difference.
If you’d like to talk to our team, Call 0845 833 8823 or Email info@alarm-monitoring.co.uk
Compare alarm & monitoring systems
As mentioned, not all monitored alarm systems are the same. The following chart provides a comparison of the different functions of our interactive monitored alarms with other systems. Remember, check the detailed specification of any alarm quote before making a decision. An alarm system is not like a TV or washing machine that one day will be removed, it is like your electricity supply system, it is a fixture within your house:
| Comparative alarm features | AMCO “interactive monitoring” | Competitor “call-back monitoring” | “Bells only alarm” |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the alarm is activated does someone take action immediately? | Yes – Controller listens in to property | Yes – Controller telephones the property | Depends on public response |
| When someone is detected in the property does the controller challenge the person(s) over a loud speaker system? | Yes | No | No |
| Do the controller’s challenges or the sirens normally frighten off intruders? | Yes (with 15 years of 100% success) | No | No |
| When an alarm is activated:-A) Can the controller call the police immediately?B) Does the controller have to telephone the property to get confirmation that it is not a false alarm before any further action can be taken? (i.e action 1 – 2 minutes after activation) | “A” Immediate Action | “B”Action only after making telephone call and/or a confirmation alarm | N/A |
| How many detectors have to be activated before the police are called? | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| In addition to monitoring break-ins, does the system monitor against personal attacks, fire, medical emergencies and power failures? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Does the system provide immediate 2 way audio back up for persons when alone in houses or business premises? | Yes | No | No |
| In an alarm emergency situation, does the system:-A) provide hands free communication from anywhere in the property?B) require an individual to pick up a telephone somewhere in the property? | “A”Hands Free | “B”Pick-up phone | N/A |
