Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no such thing as a stupid question!

Can I have an alarm that is pet friendly?

It amazes me that people still think that they can’t have an alarm because they have cats and dogs running free.

Using a modern system like the Lightsys 2 from Risco Group we can allow for any eventuality. In fact most of our systems are pet friendly anyway because perimeter alarms using shock sensors on doors and windows allow free movement around the property. Motion detectors are a little old fashioned in a modern system because if this triggers somebody is already in your house. With a perimeter system the alarm sounds whilst the intruder is OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY trying to gain access.

The other major benefit of such a system is that you can set the system and have free movement around the property yourself. This is particularly useful for customers with young children. Getting up and going downstairs doesn’t require the alarm to be switched off. You can have a cup of tea and watch television if you like safe in the knowledge that if a prowler tries to gain entry the alarm will sound.

This isn’t to say that motion detectors don’t play a part in a modern security system. We still specify motion detectors and even these can be pet friendly if you use good quality equipment but they only need to be armed when you leave the house empty. A perimeter system is also excellent for the elderly, particularly if they live in a bungalow. Free movement around the house is critical when specifying a user friendly system.
Let me come and use my experience to specify the perfect system for your particular property and lifestyle.

Can I get a discount on my home insurance with your alarm system?

This is a very common question which deserves an honest and in depth answer.
People often ask if they can get a discount on their home insurance if they have one of our Lightsys Systems fitted. The short answer is ‘Yes you can’ but I would like to offer some further advice on this subject.

The Lightsys control panel can be fitted as a grade 3 alarm system with full police response monitoring if required. This means it can be fitted in banks and any high end retail establishments so it is more than adequate for a typical domestic installation.

When you purchase a home insurance policy they ask various questions about your home security. This is usually about the type of locks on doors and windows and whether they are British Standard etc. Another question is always ‘Do you have a burglar alarm?’ If the answer is yes then they want to know if you have the system regularly maintained and also if the maintenance company is a member of SSAIB or NSI.

It is human nature to want to say yes to all of these things to feel as adequately protected as possible. But who benefits from this exactly? The best offer I have seen from an insurance company is a 5% discount applied to your policy if you answer yes to all of their questions. It is also true that in most cases they offer no discount whatsoever. The insurance companies just know that you really want to adhere to all of their stringent requirements related to your home insurance to ensure that you are adequately covered.

It might interest you to know that when I buy my home insurance and they ask if I have a burglar alarm I always say no despite my house being like Fort Knox. Lots of other people say no to this question too even though they have a burglar alarm. The reasons vary. Maybe they have an alarm that no longer works or perhaps they have acquired some pets so they never use their alarm system. Millions of people have burglar alarms who rarely switch them on. The truth is that you don’t have to have (or admit to having) a burglar alarm in order to buy an insurance policy.

The other important thing to bear in mind is how much this is worth to you. My buildings and contents policy this year cost me £157 (for my typical 4 bed semi-detached) and if I tried to get a 5% discount I would have saved £7.85

So what exactly is this huge international conglomerate trying to buy from me for less than the price of a pizza?

They are buying the right to question me about my burglar alarm system in the event of a claim.

They will want to know if the alarm was set at the time of the break in. They will want to know when it was last serviced and by whom and if it functioned correctly. They may want to view the alarm event history to make sure we are telling the truth about the system being switched on at the time of a break in.

In my opinion I actually feel better protected by their policy if I don’t tell them I have an alarm system and I therefore can’t be questioned about it. If I have nipped out for a pint of milk without setting my alarm it isn’t something that I need to worry about for the sake of a few slices of pizza. When I make my claim and the loss adjuster starts to fire his or her questions at me there will be no questions about my alarm because as far as they are concerned I don’t have one.

I have been in business for nearly 30 years installing alarm systems to extremely high standards. If any of my customers have a problem with their alarm we attend for free (If you have our maintenance contract) and fix it. I have looked at the merits of membership of the SSAIB or NSI and I will join them when it becomes mandatory for my business to do so. Until then I see no reason to be a member and more importantly I see no benefits for my thousands of customers.

Membership seems highly weighted in favour of insurance companies and alarm companies and offers very little to the alarm customers who ultimately suffer the costs of these institutions. In my opinion you can buy a better insurance policy that offers increased peace of mind without the interference of these expensive third parties.

That said the answer to the original question, “Can I get a discount on my home insurance with your alarm system?” Is still yes.

You need to shop around a bit to find a company that shows a discount applied but they do exist. Most companies just quote a price dependent on your answers so you would be unaware if they had reduced your premiums anyway.

My point is that any discounts available are not worth having.

Will there be any mess involved in the installation? Will it damage my decorating?

The short answer to this is NO. The vast majority of a new installation is wireless anyway and if you have an old system being upgraded we can utilise wiring that is already in place if it passes our wiring test.

We do need to install some wiring however. We need to run a cable to the outside sounder and strobe light and a cable to the keypad where you operate the system. We have had years of practice at running cables and it is highly unlikely that you will see a cable anywhere. A word of warning here for people getting several quotes however. The external sounder uses too much energy to be wireless. There are wireless sounders available for most systems these days, including our Lightsys system, but they should only be used as a very last resort. Many companies use them because it saves them the problem of wiring……but we always install the wired version of the sounders available. It’s a thousand times better.

We never install anything without discussing the wiring routes and options with you the customer. I can assure you it is easier than you might think to do a perfect job.

Can you quote my job over the phone?

I get asked this a lot and I do understand why. There is nothing worse than having a pushy salesman in your house making up stories about special one time offers etc…

We are different. We don’t do special offers or bank holiday sales. We advertise our prices on this website publicly so you can see what it costs. So don’t worry. You won’t be visited by a silver tongued salesman in a shiny suit telling terrifying stories of violent burglaries. Such incidents are extremely rare and this is not why we prefer to visit the property.

You will be visited by a fat, bald electrician (me usually) for the simple purpose of specifying the correct system and discussing how it is installed. You will receive an emailed quotation and then it’s up to you. There will be no contract thrust in front of you to place the order. In our experience customers need a conversation with each other about all the things that have been discussed and then they place the order.

How can I leave a review for your services?