System Inactivity signals report to our Central Station as trouble signals (unless alternate instructions have been given) and triggers a notification from our dispatchers directly to the Dealer.
What is a System Inactivity Signal?
A notification that the alarm system hasn’t been armed or disarmed for a specific amount of time. Depending on how it is programmed the signal reports after 24-72 hours, other times, it’s after a week.
Once the inactivity signal arrives, it causes a call or an email to the Dealer. The other option is to log the signal, notifying no one. The choice of how to handle this is yours.
But here’s the thing about those inactivities…
They can be awesome as a heads up. It may help you save yourself time, money, and maybe even a customer.
How?
While it’s true that vacations may be a reason not to have armed or disarmed an alarm in a while, it’s usually not the main reason.
Here are some basic reasons why people may not have armed/disarmed their alarm:
- They have guests/relatives staying from out of town who they worry about setting off the alarm.
- They can’t remember the correct way to arm and disarm their alarm.
- They have pets and are afraid the new animals may trigger their motion sensors.
- Their alarm has been malfunctioning and they don’t want any more false alarm fines (and are pretty frustrated).
- They don’t understand how to work their system and are too embarrassed/proud to call and ask for help.
- They have moved and didn’t notify you. (Or maybe they’re ill or have passed and their family didn’t know to notify you.)
These are all things the Dealer, can use as an opportunity.
If it’s due to malfunctions/false alarms, it’s a great chance for you to reach out and help them fix the issue via trouble shooting, a service call, or maybe even an equipment upgrade. Either way, that could mean peace of mind for both of you.
If it’s their motion sensors or their lack of understanding on how to properly set their alarms, a little education will win you and your technicians loyalty.
No matter how you look at it, System Inactivity alerts are great early warnings that something is going on with your customer that could use some follow up. This is such a better way of checking in with your customer pre-emptively rather than finding out after an emergency that their alarm hasn’t been working or that they don’t know how to use it.