The Real Cost of "Cheap" Monitored Alarm Deals
Search for "monitored alarm system" or "home alarm system" online and you'll often see adverts for budget deals with a low upfront price. Before signing up, it's worth working out what the full contract actually costs, and what type of monitoring you're really getting for that price.
How to Calculate the True Cost of a Budget Alarm Deal
A common structure for low-cost alarm offers looks like this:
A low upfront installation fee
A minimum contract length, often 24 to 36 months
A fixed monthly monitoring and maintenance fee
To find the real cost, multiply the monthly fee by the contract length and add the installation fee. A seemingly cheap deal can add up to a significant total over a multi-year contract, so always ask for this total figure before signing.
What Type of Monitoring Are You Actually Paying For?
Price isn't the only thing that matters. Many budget contracts only include keyholder response monitoring. This means that when your alarm activates, the monitoring centre calls your property to check if it's a genuine emergency. If nobody answers, they have no way of confirming whether it's an intruder or a false alarm, and they may then need to contact you elsewhere, such as at work, while the situation is still unfolding.
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What to Ask Before Signing an Alarm Contract
Before committing to any monitored alarm deal, ask the provider:
What is the total cost across the full minimum contract term?
Is monitoring keyholder response, or does it include real-time verification?
Are there additional charges for call-outs, resets or extra sensors?
A Different Approach: AMCO's LiveTalk Monitoring
AMCO's monitored alarms include LiveTalk immediate audio-response monitoring as standard. Rather than relying on a phone call to confirm an emergency, our monitoring team can listen into the property and verify what's happening in real time, before contacting the police.