If I try to change my maintenance contract to another company, and the original company happens to have locked the engineer code (unlikely but possible), when the new company attempts to default the codes (and fails) - will the panel continue to be usable as normal from the user menus (until the first company can be got out, at a fee, and in an enormous huff probably , to unlock the eng. code).

Reason for asking - I don't want to risk having a non-functioning alarm overnight if I try to change company.

I presume there is no way for the user to discover whether or not the eng. code is locked (via the user menus).

If you don't wish to post the answer in public, perhaps someone would be so kind as to PM the answer to me .

Allso

Hi also, get the existing company to change their engineer code to something you are informed of, then the new company can take over, costs a little more but worth the hassle in the long run. If they refuse report them to their inspectorate.

Sounds like a good plan!

Thanks, Allso

Hi also, get the existing company to change their engineer code to something you are informed of, then the new company can take over, costs a little more but worth the hassle in the long run. If they refuse report them to their inspectorate.

Norman. You will probably be correct on this occasion as the panel is Guardtec (we find alarm companies offering this level of product normally do outright sale). It would be better that the client checks his/her maintenance contract for things like ownership of system, length of contract and termination. We retain ownership of all our equipment. We had a client on yesterday who had compared her monitoring charges with a friend who had a bells only system that rings a mobile phone, what she forgot to compare was our installation charge was just £60 yes

If I try to change my maintenance contract to another company, and the original company happens to have locked the engineer code (unlikely but possible), when the new company attempts to default the codes (and fails) - will the panel continue to be usable as normal from the user menus (until the first company can be got out, at a fee, and in an enormous huff probably , to unlock the eng. code).

Reason for asking - I don't want to risk having a non-functioning alarm overnight if I try to change company.

I presume there is no way for the user to discover whether or not the eng. code is locked (via the user menus).

If you don't wish to post the answer in public, perhaps someone would be so kind as to PM the answer to me .

Allso

Find out if the company you are changing to knows Gardtec panels and see what they say about it being locked, they might be able to work around it.

I don't need to do any squirming - contract has expired, no mention of alarm co. having ownership of equipment at any stage. Installation was not cheap, so I guess I paid for it!

If you give an up-front discount on installation, its reasonable to expect the customer to stay for the contracted period, but not to be bound to your company forever.

I'm not sure about the practicalities of such a business model, though. If a client stops paying before the contract ends, what can you actually do? - are you really going to take the time to sue them so that they will pay up, or so bailiffs can go in and take the equipment out!!

Anyone who runs a small business soon learns that the time and effort spent pursuing a debt has to be balanced carefully against the size of the debt, otherwise you end up worse off.

Allso

The answer to your main question is that the panel will still be able to be used if deaulting the codes does not reset the engineer code. Although you say it is unlikley that the code is locked in, it is very likley that it is locked.

Does your system have a modem fitted? If so, your old company may do you a favour and log in and change the code for you for free or for a nominal fee.

There are 4 ways to reset the engineering code if it is locked:

1. send panel back to manufacturer (not practical)

2. pay old company to change code for you

3. if there is a modem on board it is possible (and not in every situation) that the new company, if they know the panel and peripherals, can default it

4. As Nova says, depending on the panel, some engineers, although unlikley, know how to default the code without sending the panel back to the manufacturer (and do what the tech-help people would do but without removing the panel).

Edited October 15, 200520 yr by Zak

Thanks v. much for the info Zak. No modem connected, so it'll be one of the other options. Sounds like its fairly common practice to lock the code in.

Allso

Edited October 15, 200520 yr by Allso

I don't need to do any squirming - contract has expired, no mention of alarm co. having ownership of equipment at any stage. Installation was not cheap, so I guess I paid for it!

Guess? Just read the contract-Ours is auto renewable after initial period and yours will possibly require 3-months notice.

If you give an up-front discount on installation, its reasonable to expect the customer to stay for the contracted period, but not to be bound to your company forever.

I agree

I'm not sure about the practicalities of such a business model, though. If a client stops paying before the contract ends, what can you actually do? - are you really going to take the time to sue them so that they will pay up, or so bailiffs can go in and take the equipment out!!

I have even been paid for jobs I

All good points Jef .

So good that I've now actually fished the old contract out of the filing cabinet and have read all of the small print again . The contract is definitely over and there is nothing about the company retaining ownership of any equipment.

Allso