Hi, Just moved house and the existing alarm system is Eircom Phone watch. The reconnection fee is €110 plus c€25m mainteance. In the current enviroment this seems high but it is what it is. My quesion is if I dont go with Eircom for the alarm system do I have to get the house rewired by anohter alarm comapny or can the exisiting box / wiring be used by some one else... . If No can anyone recommend a good alram system besides Eircom.
"Welcome to PhoneWatch™, Ireland’s leading monitored home security experts."
I'm surprised that Eircom haven't been pulled up over their use of the word "monitored" for these alarms. They are not monitored.
Monitor: To check, observe, watch, to keep close watch over, supervise, to watch or check on (a person or thing).
These alarms do none of these things. What they do, when triggered, is send an automatic (auto-dialer) signal to Eircom which is then responded to with a phone call to you.
You are contractually tied in to paying fees for the person in Eircom to telephone you.
Good for Eircom, but not so good for you!
Alarm Auto-dialers can be programmed to contact your mobile and your key-holder's.
No need for Eircom, - Go with an Auto-dialer. You will save a fortune on the servicing and battery costs too!
Another thing is there €25 maintenance and monitoring for the first year. The alarm is under 12 month warranty in the first year. They say you are entitled too two free system tests per year.
So why do they charge maintenance in the first year
The OP did not buy the alarm system...it was already in the house. Original owner of the house probably got that deal. We pay €19 a month for our monitoring with Phonewatch. We are not covered for a new battery with that payment. We need the monitoring to comply with our contents insurance so just went for the basic.
The OP did not buy the alarm system...it was already in the house. Original owner of the house probably got that deal. We pay €19 a month for our monitoring with Phonewatch. We are not covered for a new battery with that payment. We need the monitoring to comply with our contents insurance so just went for the basic.
I've been told that HKC alarms systesm are better than Astec systems. Has anyone good/bad experiences of either?
Quick question, do Eircom service your alarm twice per year ?
ODT's description is perfect. What more would you want from an alarm system? Certainly not a third party on a hefty annual subscription to do what a simple auto-dialer does.
It does confirm for me how cynical Eircom's service is. Remember their scare-mongering radio and TV ads?
Even their recent ones have attempted to put the fear of God into you about being burgled while at home. Think of your children: what kind of parent would you be if you didn't have Eircom Phonewatch monitoring their safety while you slept??
Good old post here on the system:
http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=2903
(I did find myself wondering were the batteries put in half-charged. Wouldn't surprise me.)
Yes, they do mine, and I have it installed in two premises. I must say that I have had good service from Phonewatch especially with the system installed in my business premises.
To me it is worth the monthly fees, but to each his own...
We need the monitoring to comply with our contents insurance so just went for the basic.
No it just covers monitoring. Also checked the monthly payment again and it's actually €16 not €19 as I stated in my first post.Quick question, do Eircom service your alarm twice per year ?
It costs €192 a year. I don't think we get a discount on our home/contents insurance for having it but I will check that out in the next few days. We need it to comply with our contents insurance. In fact we would not have installed an alarm at all only that our insurer said we had to have one.How much does this service cost per year, and how much discount does your insurer give you for having it? My guess is the former is a much larger figure than the latter.
Leo
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