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Step 1
Pick a company that is Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed. UL lists any monitoring company that has passed certain inspections. Make sure that the monitoring station itself is UL certified, as well as the equipment used at the monitoring center.
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Step 2
Find a company that does not require a long-term contract. If you are not satisfied with the service, you can change to another provider without being locked into a certain company. Be careful to read the fine print in the contract and the cancellation policy.
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Step 3
Choose a company that offers 24-hour customer service, and is located in your state. If the monitoring company has limited hours, you could have problems if your alarm sounds in the middle of the night. By having the service located in your own state, the company will be familiar with procedures of the local fire and police departments.
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Step 4
Look at the standards for employees. Employees should go through a rigorous screening process. Employees should be trained to trouble shoot, to install alarm systems properly, to make the appropriate phone calls during an emergency and how to operate the monitoring equipment.
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Step 5
Check out the level of customer care and service. The company should have quick response times for handling all emergencies. If you need to change your personal information, they should be able to verify your identity before making changes to your account.
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Step 6
Consider the backups that the company has for their service and equipment. If they lose power, they need a redundancy system for power lines, as well as for phone lines and computer access.
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Step 7
Listen to the advice of friends and family. The company should come highly recommended. Visit the web to find reviews about the company and whether anyone has experienced problems.
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Step 8
Pick a few different companies that meet your needs, and make appointments with representatives from each one to come visit your home and give you more information. Ask all of your questions, and make sure you feel comfortable with the answers given.
