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ALARM MONITORING SERVICE
How does the monitoring service work?
The Security Center monitors all U.S.A. Fire & Burglar Alarm, LLC security systems. Your security system is connected to our monitoring facility through your telephone or cellular back-up unit. If the alarm is triggered, the alarm panel sends a signal to our monitoring facility. The monitoring facility would then call your premise number to ask for the correct password. If they do not receive the correct password for any reason (no answer, voicemail, busy signal, wrong password), then they will immediately dispatch the authorities to your address. Once the authorities have been dispatched, they will then call your emergency contact list and provide notification of the alarm.
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How does the monitoring facility know what phone numbers to call when they receive an alarm signal?
The monitoring facility calls the phone numbers that are provided to them on the subscriber sheet that you fill out at the time of your monitoring activation. When the monitoring facility receives a signal, they first call the premise number. The premise number is the first number that you provide on the subscriber sheet. (An important note: the operators will not automatically call your home number first unless you provided it as your premise number). If they do not receive the correct password for any reason when they call the premise number (no answer, voicemail, busy signal, wrong password), then they will immediately dispatch the authorities to your address. Once the authorities have been dispatched, they will then call your emergency contact list and provide notification of the alarm. The emergency contact list is the list of phone numbers that you provided on the subscriber sheet.
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How do I change my contact phone numbers on my subscriber sheet?
Please call our office at (504) 733-8040 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm. We do have security measures in place to ensure the integrity of your subscriber sheet.
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What is my password used for?
The password is a verbal word or set of numbers that you will give to our monitoring facility whenever there is an alarm at your home. When the alarm is triggered, they call to ask for the correct password before they dispatch the authorities to find out if the alarm was accidentally triggered by someone authorized to be in the house. When you give us the correct password and inform them that it is a false alarm, the incident is over and no authorities are dispatched to the house. If they call for the password and do not get the correct password for any reason, they immediately dispatch the police and call your emergency contact numbers.
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How do I change my password?
You can change your password by contacting us at (504) 733-8040 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm. We do have security measures in place to ensure the integrity of your password. Please contact us if you wish to change your current password.
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Does the security system work if the power goes out?
The alarm system has a backup battery built into it and will continue working in a non-alarm state up to 7 hours depending on the battery amp size and the size of the alarm system. When power is restored, the alarm system will automatically recharge the backup battery so it is fully charged and ready for the next power outage. Recharging the battery to full strength may take 24 - 48 hours during which your alarm system may beep occasionally. If you have any questions, please contact us at (504) 733-8040 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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Do I need a telephone line for my security system?
Yes. The standard alarm system will require that you have a regular landline telephone. The system uses an alarm cord that resembles a phone cord and can be plugged into your telephone service. If you do not have a regular landline phone, you have the option of using an alarm system cellular device. The cellular device is a bit more expensive than a regular landline telephone. In addition, there is a separate monthly monitoring charge for the cellular device. We recommend that if you have local telephone service in your area that you get a regular landline telephone.
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Will my Voiceover IP phone line work with my security system?
No. Your VOIP phone service was not designed to work with any security system.
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Will my security system work if I have DSL in my house?
Your security system should work if you have DSL in your house. The customer is required to notify us if they have DSL in the house. Alarm systems require a DSL filter specifically for the alarm in order for it to work properly. The DSL filter is $50.00. If you have any questions regarding DSL, please contact our office at (504) 733-8040 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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Why do I have to test my system every month?
When protecting your home and family, it is very important to make sure that every component of your security system is working properly. Most systems will let you know anytime there is something wrong with the system. However, we still require that you test your system once per month to make sure that everything is working properly. If you have any questions or any problems with your system, please contact us at (504) 733-8040 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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Will I get charged any extra fees for false alarms?
U.S.A. Fire & Burglar Alarm, LLC does not charge any additional fees for false alarms. However, some jurisdictions do charge a fee or a fine for exceeding a reasonable number of false alarms. If it is a real emergency, your police or local government does not count that as a false alarm. If you ever accidentally trigger your alarm, you have two opportunities to cancel the alarm before the police are ever dispatched. The monitoring facility will call your home and ask for the correct password. If you give the correct password at that point and inform them that is was a false alarm, the police will not be dispatched. You can also call the monitoring facility, The Security Center, at (504) 522-1254 to cancel the police dispatch. When calling the monitoring facility you will also have to provide the correct password. If the police are not dispatched to your home, you will never have to worry about being charged any fees or fines by your police or local government for that type of false alarm.
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Who do I contact for service, installation or maintenance of my alarm system?
With all alarm system service, maintenance, and installation issues, you can contact our office at (504) 733-8040, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.
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Who do I contact when my alarm goes off?
Customers can contact the monitoring facility, The Security Center, any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (504) 522-1254.
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What happens when I press a manual panic button?
If you press a panic button on your alarm system, the monitoring facility immediately dispatches the authorities to your home. The operators do not call and ask for a password when a panic button is pressed.
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Will my monthly monitoring charges ever increase?
No. Unlike other companies that do small increases from time to time, we pride ourselves on providing you with a low monthly monitoring rate and a high level of customer service. Your monthly monitoring rate will not increase for as long as you remain a customer.
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EQUIPMENT
Can I add more equipment to my system?
Of course. If you decide to add additional equipment to your security system after you have signed the initial work order but before we install the system, you can simply call the office at (504) 733-8040. Our Service Coordinator can help you add the equipment to your existing work order and you can pay for the additions along with your balance for the security system at the time of installation. If we have already installed your security system and you wish to add equipment, please call the office at (504) 733-8040 and your sales representative will be happy to assist you.
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What do I do if I have pets?
There are many different ways that you can provide excellent security for your home and family even when you have pets in the home. There are a variety of motion detectors for different size animals. Our sales representative will be happy to assist you. You can contact a sales representative at (504) 733-8040.
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How do the keychain remote controls work?
The keychain remote controls (key fobs) offer you more wireless flexibility. They are very much the same as the keychain remote you use to lock and unlock your car. The keychain remote for your alarm system allows you to arm and disarm your system and send a panic signal from anywhere inside your home. It also works outside your home at a range of about 100 feet, which may vary. You can arm the system after you leave the house and disarm it before you open the front door with the push of a button. They are not included with any of the packages but are available for an extra fee.
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How loud is the interior siren?
The interior siren is approximately 110 dB. It is designed to alert you and any potential intruder that the alarm has detected a problem in the house. If you have questions, you can contact us at (504) 733-8040.
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How loud is the outside siren?
The outside siren is approximately 118 dB. It is designed to alert you, any potential intruder, and the immediate surrounding outside area that the alarm has detected a problem in the house. If you have questions, you can contact us at (504) 733-8040.
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BILLING
How will I be charged for my security system?
When you and our sales representative sign the work agreement, we require 50% of the total price as a down payment. The remaining balance is due when we install the security system. If you have any questions, please contact us at (504) 733-8040.
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When will my monitoring services begin?
Your monitoring services will begin when your monitoring is activated. If we install your alarm system but you do not have your telephone number yet, we will install the alarm as a local alarm that is not monitored. When you get your telephone number, we will come back at no charge to activate your monitoring. At that time your monitoring services will begin.
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What is your billing process?
We bill monitoring annually. Our monitoring fee is $150 per year for monitoring and maintenance. All monitoring invoices are mailed to customers the month prior to the due date.
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How can I pay my bill?
At this time, we only accept cash, money orders or check payments. If you have any billing questions, please contact our Accounts Receivable department at (504) 733-8040.
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