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Frequently Asked Questions

Monitoring FAQ's

Q: Where is the central station located?
A: For security reasons we do not give the exact location of the monitoring station, however we can tell you it is located in the Baltimore Area.

Q: Is the central station UL listed?
A: Yes

Q: How is an alarm event handled?
A: First your alarm is triggered. The signal is sent to the central station where an operator receives the signal. The operator will (unless instructed otherwise in advance by you) attempt to call the premises.

If you call the central station or if they reach you at the premises you will be asked for your code number to cancel the alarm. If you give the correct code the alarm will be cancelled and the call will be noted in the central station logs. If you or someone else gives an incorrect code they will ask for confirmation, if the code is incorrect they will end the phone call and dispatch the appropriate local authorities (police, fire, etc) to respond to the alarm.

If the operator is unable to get an answer they will contact the appropriate local authorities (police, fire, etc) to respond to the alarm.

Q: If my alarm is triggered how quickly will I be called?
A: You can expect to receive a call within 1-2 minutes maximum.

Q: What happens if I call the monitoring station to cancel the alarm after the police/fire dept has been dispatched?
A: If you call in after authorities have been dispatched and give the correct cancel code then the operator will attempt to cancel the alarm with the authorities if possible to stop a response to a false alarm. If too much time has passed the alarm response may not be able to be cancelled.

Q: Will I be charged for a false alarm where the police or fire dept responded?
A: While ASMD, Inc. does not charge for false alarms, your local county or city may charge a fine for responses to false alarms. In many cases where a policy like this has been enacted you are allowed a small quota of false alarms before you are charged a fine. To find out whether or not a policy like this exists in your area, contact your local city or county for more information. There may be a false alarm reduction unit in your local police dept that can help give you the full details.

Q: How long is the term on your standard monitoring agreement?
A: Our standard monitoring agreement has a term of three years after which you may renew the contract if you wish.

Q: I rent/lease my property and I'm not sure if I'll be here for more than a year; can I get a monitoring agreement for that length of time?
A: Yes, we will consider those circumstances and will offer a reduced term. Note that a contract for a shorter term may be subject to a higher monitoring rate.

Q: Is my monitoring rate subject to increases while I'm under contract?
A: No. We lock you rates in so it will not go up while you're under contract. Additionally we do not regularly raise our rates like many other companies. As a result, it is very probable that when your monitoring agreement comes up for renewal that you'll be able to continue enjoying the same low rate once you renew.