Your cart is currently empty!
Search results for: “R”
-
Customer Newsletter – August 2020
1. Boost Your Monitoring Experience
Set-up your password hint today
In today’s world, we have passwords and IDs for almost every aspect of our lives. Experts say they should all be different. So it’s not unusual to forget a password or two from time to time – including your security alarm password.
This is why EMC Security has adopted a PASSWORD HINT option for any customers concerned that they may not remember their password in the event of a false alarm.
When asked for your password by the EMC Security operator, simply request the hint you’ve provided rather than guessing at the password.
2. Review New Dispatch Procedures
Take a few minutes to review our standard dispatch procedures, particularly the procedure if you cancel an alarm at the keypad.
EMC Security does not make phone calls to the emergency contact list on Burglar Alarms that are followed by a cancellation from the keypad. For example, you forgot the system was armed, opened a door triggering an alarm signal, then entered your disarm code correctly on the keypad to cancel the alarm.
As an extra layer of protection, a text message will be sent (to the first 2 phone numbers on the account) notifying you of the signal having been received and confirming no further action will be taken due to cancellation with the proper disarm code.
This message will read as follows: “EMC has received the disarm from your keypad indicating the proper disarm code was entered. If this is an emergency, reply “911” for immediate dispatch.”
This procedure can be customized for your needs. If you’d like your dispatch procedures handled differently, please call 770-963-0305.
3. Get Our FREE EMC Text-Alert Service
If your alarm goes off, you want to know as soon as possible right?
Opt-in to EMC Text-Alert and get an instant text notification on your mobile phone, that gives you the option to chat together with your emergency contacts, and dispatch or dismiss the alarm with just one click.
If no one from the group responds to the text, the EMC Security monitoring center will follow normal phone call procedures.
Watch the video below and click here to learn more.
EMC Text-Alert is completely FREE!
4. Test Your System
EMC Security encourages all customers to test their systems monthly to ensure it’s ready in the event of an emergency.
- Call the 24-hour EMC Security central monitoring center at 1-888-745-4733 and let them know you will be testing your system. Be prepared to provide them with your name, service address and password.
- Close all doors and protected windows, arm your system and allow the delay time to expire.
- Activate your alarm like an actual emergency by opening a protected door.
- Allow the siren to sound for approximately 15 seconds to one minute and then turn off your system.
- Call the monitoring center and announce that you are calling to check test results. The central station operator will describe the signals received.
If for any reason, the system did not communicate to our central monitoring center, please call our service department at 770-963-0305, Monday through Friday between 8am and 6pm for a technician to check your system.
5. Update Your Emergency Contact List
EMC Security is your safety partner. If you change any phone numbers or email addresses, notify us at 770-963-0305 to ensure we have the most current information in the event of an emergency (you will need your password to make changes).
-
Say “No” to Auto-Renewals
Have you ever sign up for a subscription or on-going service and then get surprised by a renewal charge that shows up on your credit card bill weeks later? Have you gotten discouraged when you can’t figure out how to cancel? Or it’s too late to prevent the charges?
It’s called automatic renewal, and the practice is showing up more frequently in consumer contracts for all sorts of services and products. It’s happening everywhere from entertainment subscriptions to gym memberships to home security.
Some people even refer to auto-renewals as “zombie contracts” because they seem to never die. Despite seeing the charges and trying to cancel, you’re always too late and the fees keep repeating themselves.
So, if you’re unwittingly auto-renewed into a new contract with a home security company and want to challenge the agreement — you’re not alone.
Georgia law requires every customer to be notified between 30 and 60 days of the original expiration date of the contract. The notification must clearly state that the contract is renewing. It must also provide clear instructions on how to cancel service if they do not want the contract to automatically renew for any term more than month to month.
Most companies are following state regulations on notification of a contract term in the original agreement. However, fewer are properly following the requirement of notifying customers that their contract is automatically renewing for more than a one-month term.
If you find yourself in this situation, check to see if you’ve received this type of written notification within the required time period. If not, you can dispute the auto-renewal and get out of the renewal without penalty.
Once you’re free from the binds of the agreement, you can resecure your home protection with EMC Security’s no-contract required policy.
Click here to download a full copy of the Georgia Auto-Renewal Law.
-
What to do if your package is stolen
Many of us have felt the frustration of expecting a package delivery and it not arriving on time. Worse yet, an increasing number of people have received a notice of delivery but the package isn’t there. Below are tips on what to do if this happens to you.
Check again. Check every entrance of your home and spots the delivery driver could have left it, like the bushes around the front porch, the back porch, the garage, or between the screen door and front door. We’ve even seen packages sitting in the bushes adjacent to the mailbox.
Contact the delivery company. Have your tracking number and order details handy. If they can validate that the package was indeed delivered, ask if they can verify the location. UPS will often upload an image of the package (and location) as proof of delivery. Ask about the company policy on stolen packages. If the theft was due to their mistake, they might be able to help you.
Contact the retailer. Get in touch with customer service and have your order and tracking number ready. The customer service rep can tell you the store or company policy on stolen items.
File a report. Report your missing package to the police and the Postal Inspection Service if it was shipped via the USPS. The more agencies helping you track down your stolen package, the better.
Make it Easier:
There’s a reason why doorbell cameras are the most popular home security cameras. They work. A doorbell camera records all activity from your front door – to an optional range of your choice. Some can view road traffic and others choose to only see what happens within a few feet of the camera. The best cameras have an intercom feature that lets you talk to anyone on your doorstep. EMC Security’s doorbell camera is just $149.
For extra security, outdoor cameras can be placed around the perimeter of your home starting at $99 each.
-
Georgia School Bus Law – Reminder
Many school systems have opted for online learning this fall. But there are also many districts that have offered in-school learning – so buses will be on the roads once again.
It’s important for people to realize how dangerous it can be at bus stops, which is why drivers have a responsibility to make sure students can leave those bus stops safely.
According to law, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped on a road with its lights on and sign out. This applies to two-lane roads, four-lane roads, and roads with a turning lane. The only time you do not have to stop is if there is a median in the road, separating you and the bus. These sections of roadway are usually divided by a grassy area, a paved area, or a concrete wall.
Penalties for Breaking the Law
If you are caught passing a school bus that is stopped, you could be fined up to $1,000 and risk getting six points on your driver’s license. As such, remember, if you see a school bus stopping and the red lights are on, you need to stop unless it’s a road with a median.
According to a school official, bus drivers try to avoid bus stops where students have to cross the street, but it does still happen and sometimes students cross when they aren’t supposed to.
Sometimes, it’s possible that a child might get confused, and not having traffic stopped in all directions could be catastrophic, which is why it’s important that drivers educate themselves on the new law and the cautions that come with driving on the roadways during the school season.
Did you know that EMC Security protects more kids and staff at school in Georgia than any other company? That’s over 358,000 students and staff! Learn how we can keep you and your family safe at home too.
-
Home Burglary Prevention Checklist
The following checklist was designed to help you improve the overall security and safety of your home.
The main purpose of any home security inspection is to help you familiarize yourself with the features in your home or daily routines of your family, which might make it vulnerable to burglary.While we believe everyone should have a security system in their home, there are things you can do to deter intruders and keep your home as safe as it can be.Your security inspection should begin at your front
door, and cover all of your home’s doors, windows, locks, lightsand landscaping. If there are any questions on the checklist, to each you’ve answered “No”, you should correct the current condition to help ensure the safety and protection of your family and home.Doors
- Are the doors of the home metal or solid wood construction?
- Do your entry doors provide a wide-angle view?
- Are all door locks sturdy and in good condition?
- Are there any windows within 40 inches of the door locks?
- Can the locking mechanism be reached through a mail
slot, or pet entrance? - Are door hinges protected from removal from the outside?
- Can all your doors be securely locked?
- Are entry points unobstructed by shrubbery or
other decor for maximum visibility? - Do your sliding glass doors lift out of the track?
- Are door frames strong enough and tight enough to prevent forcing or spreading?
- Is there a screen or storm door with an adequate lock?
- Are all entrances lighted with at least a 40-watt light?
Windows
- Are all windows equipped with auxiliary key locks or are they pinned?
- Are your window locks properly and securely mounted?
- Do you keep your windows locked when shut?
- Do you use locks that will allow you to lock partially opened windows?
- Are you as careful to secure your
second floor windows, as you are to secure those on the first floor? - Do windows have screens or storm windows that lock from the inside?
- Do windows that open into hazardous areas have security screens or grills?
- Are exterior areas of windows free from concealing structure or landscaping
- Is the exterior adequately lighted at all window areas?
- Are ladders kept where they are not accessible?
Entrances from Garage and Basement
- Are all entrances to the living quarters from a garage or basement of metal or solid wood construction?
- Does the door from the garage to the living quarters have locks adequate for exterior entrances?
- Does the door from the basement to the living quarters have an adequate lock operated from the living quarter’s side?
Basement Doors and Windows
- Is there a door from the outside to the basement?
- If so, is that door adequately secure for an exterior door?
- Is the outside basement entrance lighted by an exterior light of at least 40 watts?
- Is the outside basement door concealed from the street or neighbors?
- Are all basement windows adequately secured against entrance?
Garage Doors and Windows
- Are garage doors equipped with a working locking device?
- Is the garage door closed and secured at all times?
- Are the garage windows secured adequately for ground floor windows?
- Is the entrance to the garage as secure as other entries to the house?
- Are tools and ladders stored in the garage?Are all garage doors lit on the outside by a 40-watt light or greater?
-
Tips For Outdoor Camera Placement
A home without a security system is 3 times as likely to get broken into than one with a security system.
Video cameras add even more protection because they often deter criminals before attempting to get into a home.
According to the survey, “Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender’s Perspective,” conducted by the University of North Carolina, 60% of burglars would consider the presence of security cameras when selecting a target, and more than 40% said that cameras are a factor in choosing another target.
Law abiding people don’t tend to consider the mind of a burglar. But the fact is, most thieves know more about home security than the average
home owner . So it’s important to know the best place to put a security camera so they skip your home and move on, away from your property.Where To Place Your Security Cameras
We’ve uncovered the best places to install security cameras around the outside of your home to help deter burglars.
Front Door
- Because most burglars try the front door first, installing a video doorbell or security camera here is a great way to deter them before they try to get in. You can order your online now for just $149.
Side and Back Doors
- If the front door isn’t an option, the burglar will most likely try a side or back door. Reports show that 22% of burglars enter through the back door because they know that in most homes the back door is not as secure as the front.
- If there is a window at the door, position the camera so that it covers them both.
- It’s also a good idea to position a camera to cover your entire backyard and any out-building you may have.
Windows
- Approximately 23% of burglars will break into a home from a
first floor window if they can’t get in through a door. Windows at the back or side of the house are the most vulnerable. - This is also a good place for an indoor camera placed on a table focusing on the window and anything that might crawl through.
Garage
- Approximately 9% of burglars get in the house through the garage so consider pointing a security camera at your garage doors.
Below are more stats that may help you decide where to place your outdoor security cameras:
- 81% of break-ins occur on the first floor
- 4% of burglars will enter a residence via a basement
- 12% walk in casually through unlocked entrances
Check out EMC Security’s selection of video cameras including our indoor camera priced at just $79. Security system not required.
-
Top 4 Reasons to Get a Video Doorbell
When it comes to safety, there’s nothing we depend on more than our abodes, not only do they contain most of our possessions but it’s what we rely on to keep our families safe.
And with
recent increase in crime throughout many cities in Georgia, it’s clear that we need to be taking precautions to protect ourselves and our homes at all costs.Years ago, well-known tricks like leaving lights on while you were away from home were strategies we might have depended on to deter unwanted visitors, but times have changed and homeowner are forced to start thinking bigger.
Video doorbells have quickly become a homeowner’s best option when it comes to keeping opportunistic burglars and thieves at bay. Not only will this give you peace of mind but installing these extra security measures could even lower the cost of your home insurance.
Let’s take a look at the top reasons why you should consider upgrading to a video doorbell – the latest in smart home technology to protect your house, family and valuables.
1. Record events and provide evidence
A video doorbell is comprised of a set of internet-connected security tools and equipment which can send data about movement and trespassing to your smartphone via an app. This system allows you to monitor what goes on outside your home. Video doorbells can ensure you know who is on your property without you having to go to the door and will lessen an opportunity for a thief to enter your home.
2. Check on your property from any location
Most video doorbells
link to your smartphone and make it possible for you to connect and monitor real-time footage from almost anywhere. This functionality gives you a much highersense peace of mind when you go away and can also give you an opportunity to thwart any potential attempts of burglary to your home. Additionally, many video doorbells include the option to remotely set off an alarm to scare trespassers away and draw attention to your home.3. Tower home insurance premiums
Your home insurance is usually broken down into two sections: buildings insurance and contents insurance. The first covers any damage to the structure of your home, which also includes the replacement cost of pipes, garages
and fences, whereas contents insurance covers internal possessions and furnishings.In some cases, installing a video doorbell becomes an incentive for insurers to give you a discount on your coverage. Having an added layer of protection around your home and its contents, along with the reduced opportunity for theft or damage to your property usually appeals to insurance companies because they may see your property as less of a risk, and not claiming on your insurance can lower it over time.
4. It can increase property value
When it comes to selling your home, the likelihood of getting a good deal increase if the home includes smart home security gadgets, such as video doorbells. One good suggestion is to add this extra protective layer to your home to make it more appealing to would-be buyers to help promote the assurance of a lesser chance of burglary and theft in the event that criminals are made aware the additional security measures being taken to monitor them.
Although some smart home security may seem expensive, with an increase in interest for these protective measures, there are now more affordable models coming out. So, everybody can guard their homes and families, whether they’re in or not.
-
3 Ways to Cut Insurance Costs with Security
Many homeowners assume that living in a safe neighborhood eliminates the risk for a burglary, which is not the case. In the unfortunate event that they find their valuables stolen or damaged after a home invasion, homeowners could issue a claim against their home insurance policy — and more often than not, filing a claim results in homeowners seeing a rise in their insurance premiums.
According to the market data, there were more than 3.7 million burglaries in 2003 – 2007, the equivalent of one burglary every 8 seconds, according to alarm.org, run by the Electronic Security Association. For these reasons, homeowners should consider whether installing a home security system is worth the investment, not only to protect their family and
possessions, but also to help possibly lower the cost of insurance.Here are three ways to reduce insurance costs with a security system:
1. Boost Home Safety
Insurers may provide a discount on insurance premiums for homeowners who have a home security system, which can help increase the overall safety of the home. Research performed by alarm.org stated that 90 percent of convicted burglars said they would keep away from homes with home security systems. The assumed decrease in incidents could help insurance companies perceive homeowners as less of a risk, and therefore qualify them for discounts.
2. Lower Costs on Home Policy Premiums
Homeowners could see their insurance premiums decline by up to about 20 percent with the installation of a well-rounded home security system, according to researchers. Not only can having a comprehensive security system help reduce insurance costs
, homeowners can also save money on would-be damages in the event that a burglary would occur without a security system.3. Minimize Risk of Cost Hikes
To steer clear higher insurance premiums, homeowners should carefully review their policies. Home insurance companies may opt to hike insurance policy premiums should a burglary occurs, so it’s a good idea to know what factors could bring about unwanted changes to the cost of your home insurance.
-
Outdoor Burning in Georgia.
The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resourcesrestricts open burning from May through September of each year.
Why?
During the warm weather seasons, the particulates in an open-air fire become more significant contributors to unhealthy levels of ozone. By banning open fires during those months in heavily populated Atlanta and the majority of its surrounding counties, there is a reduction in the
amount of pollutants.Once the weather has turned cooler, certain types of outdoor burning
is once again permitted in north Georgia counties. Georgia residents that want to do an open burn from October through April 2018, need to check with their county ordinances on outdoor burning.The following types of burning can be done without a permit:
- Leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation
- Fires that provide warmth
- Fires that cook food
- Recreational fires in an outdoor fireplace
Always check with your county before you do any sort of large surface, outdoor burning! If you need a permit, visit http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/online-permits/index.cfm.
General safety tips for any type of open burning:
- Gather the necessary supplies for controlling the fire—a rake, a shovel and a water hose connected to a good water source.
- Find a burn spot that can be easily controlled in a level area, away from any buildings.
- Start small.
- Make sure all the materials being burned are natural. No man-made products (such as processed lumber) that might contain chemicals that
ignites or gives off noxious fumes. - No burning within 20 feet of flammable or combustible materials.
- Never leave an outdoor fire burning unattended.
An outdoor fire burning out of control can threaten the safety of your home and family. And in Georgia, illegal outdoor burning can get you in a world of trouble. Don’t play with fire—play it safe!
Check out ourwebsite for information about fire protectioninside your home! You can add monitoring for fire, smoke, and heat at no additional monthly cost.
-
How a Social Media Status Update Can Cost You Thousands of Dollars
There’s almost nothing better than being on summer vacation.
When you’re having fun, it’s so tempting to share all the excitement on social media. However, you may want to read this before you update your Facebook status, check in on Foursquare or snap and post that beachfront selfie. Burglars that are intent on stealing your valuables will utilize your social media posts to determine if you’re at home.
78% of Burglars Use Social Media to Target Homes
Statistics show, 78% of home burglars use social media platforms to select the homes they intend to rob. Location-based platforms such as Facebook or Twitter make their information especially valuable to criminals, who are always looking for the easiest access possible to your home. And what could be easier than an unoccupied home? If the average home robbery takes 10 minutes, imagine the kind of access you’re offering a burglar when you announce you’re taking off on a 14-day cruise!
In addition to the risk of being robbed, some insurers in the United States are now denying claims for home break-ins when they discover that the policyholder posted on Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms while he or she was away on a trip.
How Can I Avoid being targeted by a Facebook-surfing Thief?
Hold off on posting while you’re away, and save all those great pics for an online photo album AFTER you return from your trip. Don’t use the check-in feature on any of your social media. If you’re traveling with family, set guidelines for posting to social media that apply to everyone.
Above all, make sure to ARM YOUR ALARM on your security system before you set off on your road trip.
EMC Security wants you to have a fun-and SAFE—vacation!
We’re home when you’re not, providing 24/7 monitoring for intrusion, fire, and smoke. If you want the alarm monitoring company with one of the fastest response times in Georgia to protect your home, give us a call at 770-963-0305 today or visit our website.
