- Do not be pressurised into purchasing a system from a cold call or from door-to-door or over the telephone sales people. In 2008, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations came into force banning unfair trading practices, such as providing alarmist information about crime rates in your area. The Regulation also covers the omission of information, false or deceptive practices and - of course - aggressive behaviour, such as refusing to leave or bullying tactics. By using an SSAIB-certificated company, you are assured that the installer has been subject to a range of relevant checks with respect to both technical competence and professional conduct.
- Always agree a written specification with the installer. Listen to advice, but do not be ‘bamboozled’ by technical details. The installer should be able to explain - in layman’s terms - what your system will be able to do. If you are in doubt about a specification, contact the certification body the installers are registered with and ask them to clarify.
- Ask for a written fixed price. If the installer cannot give a fixed price, get them to detail what contingencies might cause the price to rise and by how much.
- Ascertain what call-out cover or repair cover is provided.
- Ask for - and follow up - reference.
- Contact a range - say three, for example - of installers and compare the costs.
- Ensure that you are given a Certificate of Conformity for the installed system. This confirms that the system has been installed to the relevant standard. This information is also held by the certification body - such as SSAIB - for information.
- Confirm whether you have purchased or leased the system, what the warranty cover is and how long it lasts.
- If you take out a maintenance contract - and this may be a condition of insurance discounts - be sure you understand what is covered. Having your system maintained will reduce the potential for false alarms. A maintenance contract will be required if you opt for a monitored system to gain a Police response.
