Considering Phonewatch

Ronan H

As above, they have a half price deal on their system at present.

However, I see it's only a starter pack type thing which only includes two window/door sensors. Common sense tells me that you need sensors on all windows and doors, which means buying additional sensors, which are 85 euros each.

We have 14 windows that open, I'll let you do the maths. Seems extremely expensive.

Is there anyone here who has the system on a 3 bed semi D who has had the system installed and can share a bit about how the sensor issue was addressed?

The chat lady I spoke to said that the engineer would make it work as best he can and that they have discounts for buying a number of sensors.

I'm still a bit skeptical though.

Thanks for the thoughts.

_John C

Stay away from phone watch. Did they tell you that they charge a monthly fee on each extra sensor even after you pay the €85 for each one to be installed?

Would you be happy knowing that total strangers have access to the built in cameras in the pirs?

_John C

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=101485486&postcount=51

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057593414&page=1

kub

OP, a Swedish company called Sector own that company having bought it from Eircom 3 years ago.

If you consider they paid over €20 million for it, consider what they pay on marketing and advertising.

Now work out who has to pay for all that.

Yes the customer.

Also consider the technical things for example.

Would you buy a car from a garage, that only that garage supplies, that only that garage can service and repair it and only that garage can fuel it.

Forget about your cousin's business down the road from it, he cannot repair that car as it had been made specifically for that other garage.
That other filling station that has cheaper fuel, nope that will not work on your car.

Which you are now paying more than 3 times more per year than those who did a bit of research.

Oh and of course the clanger is, you don't actually own the car that you got in that famous garage above.
Just happens that you payed the guy in the garage a few hundred quid to drive it out of the showroom, show you the controls and handed you over the keys.

Ronan H

I see a trend emerging here. I'm sold, or, unsold?!

Looks like I'll be looking elsewhere.

Thanks for the replies folks.

I'll have a trawl through here for some recommendations.

Merry New Year!

fred funk }{

There's a lot of threads here about PW that will enlighten you.

rolion

Hi lads,

And despite all these negative feedback and replies...how do the PhoneWatch is still in business today and these days ?
I seen a lots of PW external panels...

Must be people out there that loves the simplicity,trusts the name behind the system and not lasly, a pretty simple system ?!

fred funk }{

rolion wrote: »

Hi lads,

And despite all these negative feedback and replies...how do the PhoneWatch is still in business today and these days ?
I seen a lots of PW external panels...

Must be people out there that loves the simplicity,trusts the name behind the system and not lasly, a pretty simple system ?!

They spend big bucks on advertising. Most systems are easy to use these days. I genuinely believe that people don't know what makes a good system and what makes a terrible system so they just go with the well known brand.

Spend a few minutes in this forum looking through the Phonewatch threads and you'll be enlightened.

kub

rolion wrote: »

Hi lads,

And despite all these negative feedback and replies...how do the PhoneWatch is still in business today and these days ?
I seen a lots of PW external panels...

Must be people out there that loves the simplicity,trusts the name behind the system and not lasly, a pretty simple system ?!

Because people are too lazy or bothered to do some research. Of course the people who have their latest offering installed do not know they are stuck with them now. The repeat revenue which they are getting from their customers is keeping them ticking over nicely, easy for them sur they are the most expensive monitoring company in Ireland

Ronan H

So do people recommend other companies offering a alarm systems, or to source and install yourself, DIY style?

kub

Ronan H wrote: »

So do people recommend other companies offering a alarm systems, or to source and install yourself, DIY style?

We recommend that you get at least 3 quotations from PSA licensed installers.

The full list is here: https://www.psa.gov.ie/en/PSA/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf/Files/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf

Also there are dozens of monitoring stations up and down this Island that are in direct competition to PW but a lot more reasonable for monitoring. Your chosen installer will sort this for you.

Those quotations should be a result of a site survey and a risk assessment as per EN50131 standards.

You can, if you feel up to it, do a self install, we have been known to help people with whatever option they go with. But you cannot connect your self installed system to a monitoring station as you cannot certify it to the standard.

Ronan H

kub wrote: »

We recommend that you get at least 3 quotations from PSA licensed installers.

The full list is here: https://www.psa.gov.ie/en/PSA/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf/Files/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf

Also there are dozens of monitoring stations up and down this Island that are in direct competition to PW but a lot more reasonable for monitoring. Your chosen installer will sort this for you.

Those quotations should be a result of a site survey and a risk assessment as per EN50131 standards.

You can, if you feel up to it, do a self install, we have been known to help people with whatever option they go with. But you cannot connect your self installed system to a monitoring station as you cannot certify it to the standard.

That's brilliant kub, thanks a million. Much appreciated.

cuculainn

kub wrote: »

We recommend that you get at least 3 quotations from PSA licensed installers.

The full list is here: https://www.psa.gov.ie/en/PSA/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf/Files/1A.-Register-of-Contractor-Licensees-(AllSectors).pdf

Also there are dozens of monitoring stations up and down this Island that are in direct competition to PW but a lot more reasonable for monitoring. Your chosen installer will sort this for you.

Those quotations should be a result of a site survey and a risk assessment as per EN50131 standards.

You can, if you feel up to it, do a self install, we have been known to help people with whatever option they go with. But you cannot connect your self installed system to a monitoring station as you cannot certify it to the standard.

Do you know why I think people go with PhoneWatch?

Because it's the easy option.
They will actually install a system

I must have tried to get quotes from about 6-8 companies (Galway area) on that PSA list and have never got anyone to actually get back to me.

So I am going to go the route of self install.

Ronan H

cuculainn wrote: »

Do you know why I think people go with PhoneWatch?

Because it's the easy option.

Agreed, and I was nearly one of those people. Convenience wins sometimes. I'm glad I asked a few questions though. I thought my system was goosed (and was told same by someone who gave me a quote) but I've gone from that to finding the manual, code and someone who specialises in repairing the system that I have, so PW is not even on the cards now.

Ro

KoolKid

Amazing that one single question can lead you to so much valuable information.

Ronan H

KoolKid wrote:

Amazing that one single question can lead you to so much valuable information.

Indeed! That's what the community is all about.

caycro

I was speaking with Phonewatch last week about a new installation which I had a price quoted for from last year. They never mentioned the extra monitoring costs with extra window sensors until I asked (thanks to boards for knowing to ask!) When I questioned the additional cost they said 'well we are Phonewatch' !!  
Has anyone used Action24? Similar price installation to Phonewatch but they have the contract for a couple of the major bookies so I'm thinking thats a great recommendation? Their monitoring fees are slightly less (30pm vs 42.50pm) and their app seems pretty simple to use. Would love to hear feedback from a user before I bite the bullet.

KoolKid

I'd beware of their new alarm.com system. You could be similarly tying yourself into a system no one else can touch.
My recommendation would be stick to the generic brands like UTC Aritech, Siemens Vanderbilt, GSD, HKC.
These will ensure you always have the bargaining power to shop around for better offers etc.

kub

Agreed,would you buy a car from a garage that is the only place that can fix it, service it and fuel it?

caycro

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it as I've never done an alarm installation before. Do you have any company in the Dublin region that you'd recommend? Needs to be a garda monitored not self monitored option.

Parchment

Spin off from this thread - i went for a walk at lunchtime today through a residential area and by far the most prevalent alarm box on houses was.....Phone Watch!

KoolKid

caycro wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it as I've never done an alarm installation before. Do you have any company in the Dublin region that you'd recommend? Needs to be a garda monitored not self monitored option.

Most licenced companies can provide you with central station monitoring. Plenty of of us here in Dublin to choose from.
Best advice, as always, is to shop around.

KoolKid

Parchment wrote: »

Spin off from this thread - i went for a walk at lunchtime today through a residential area and by far the most prevalent alarm box on houses was.....Phone Watch!

As the saying goes.....
Fools and their money are easily parted.

kub

Parchment wrote:

Spin off from this thread - i went for a walk at lunchtime today through a residential area and by far the most prevalent alarm box on houses was.....Phone Watch!

While we will all wonder after the next election how did FF get back in Government after what they did to the country.
People in general are taken by rubbish they hear from advertisements.
I wonder what percentage of those Systems you saw are still being monitored after the misfortunate householders realised what they signed up for and what it costs.
For example just today I spoke with a lady, I will be calling to her soon, I will be moving her monitoring from Phonewatch/ Sector to another professional monitoring station and saving her at least 50% in monitoring fees per year.
So as KoolKid said fools and their money are easily parted.

Gmol

Used to be with Phonewatch then switched to phonelink same monitoring service for 1/2 the price(not linked to that company!!)

kub

Gmol wrote: »

Used to be with Phonewatch then switched to phonelink same monitoring service for 1/2 the price(not linked to that company!!)

That is the average saving.

kub

caycro wrote: »

I was speaking with Phonewatch last week about a new installation which I had a price quoted for from last year. They never mentioned the extra monitoring costs with extra window sensors until I asked (thanks to boards for knowing to ask!) When I questioned the additional cost they said 'well we are Phonewatch' !!
Has anyone used Action24? Similar price installation to Phonewatch but they have the contract for a couple of the major bookies so I'm thinking thats a great recommendation? Their monitoring fees are slightly less (30pm vs 42.50pm) and their app seems pretty simple to use. Would love to hear feedback from a user before I bite the bullet.

And people will still blindly flock to them without doing some research. I have to wonder does their advertising spend prohibit the media discussing them.

listermint

caycro wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it as I've never done an alarm installation before. Do you have any company in the Dublin region that you'd recommend? Needs to be a garda monitored not self monitored option.

Whats a garda monitored system ? i thought phonewatch just ring the guards. Just like you would do if you got an SMS message.

Surely best system is an independent system installed with replaceable parts and in addition some IP CCTV on it you can view on a mobile device.

These are all easily accesible things in todays market.

fred funk }{

Parchment wrote: »

Spin off from this thread - i went for a walk at lunchtime today through a residential area and by far the most prevalent alarm box on houses was.....Phone Watch!

There's loads of them and each time I see them I'm amazed at the power of advertising. I truly didn't know that a few million spent on some ads with some quaint music would sucker in so many people.

I have to say though, any jobs I'm quoting for against PW I tent to get as once the customer is made aware of how basic and expensive their systems/monitoring is they come around.

kub

listermint wrote: »

Whats a garda monitored system ? i thought phonewatch just ring the guards. Just like you would do if you got an SMS message.

Surely best system is an independent system installed with replaceable parts and in addition some IP CCTV on it you can view on a mobile device.

These are all easily accesible things in todays market.

Gardai do not monitor systems, this was discontinued back in around 1987, back in those days alarm systems used to auto dial 999 and ask for Gardai, then repeat the 'alarm activated at..........' 3 times.
This used to clog up phone lines in the mornings and evenings when business premises especially were being opened and closed.

We are a long way from that now thankfully.

It might not be any harm either to let people know that PW were actually late arrivals to the monitoring scene in Ireland, most of the bigger monitoring stations were a long time in operation before they came along and most of those monitoring stations also had Security Guarding business's, Cash in Transit services and Alarm Response crews so from a security perspective they ticked all the boxes.

But as above the ' WE ARE PHONEWATCH' arrogance is seen as more popular, when marketing companies do their thing.

You would be doing very well to get Gardai to respond to your alarm if you rang them to tell them you got a text or whatever, perhaps if they are quite but with the limitations and pressure they are under you could be waiting a while.
Monitoring stations, alarm installers and Gardai have to abide by various standards, paper work and form filling before Gardai will respond to an alarm system that is being professionally monitored.

caycro

listermint wrote: »

Whats a garda monitored system ? i thought phonewatch just ring the guards. Just like you would do if you got an SMS message.

My apologies, I meant a monitored system who links you to the gardai ... as the other poster said, I can't imagine the local gardai responding as promptly to my urgent phonecall as they would to an independent monitoring station who has reported a break in at my house or a personal alarm alert.

On another point, my house insurance has a discount for a monitored alarm ... does anybody know does that include self monitored? I can't imagine it does and could lead to headaches if making a claim.