HKC SecureComm yearly subscription fee

Nicolas_Bandon

Hi,

I have a Sentinel HKC wireless alarm system. I pay my installer €147.6 a year for the HKC SecureComm Service.
But the SecureComm Service is only €66.96 a year for the standard level and €91.08 a year for the premium level.
So what can I do to pay the correct amount? Can I contact HKC?

Maybe KoolKid or altor could help me.

Putt it there

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

Hi,

I have a Sentinel HKC wireless alarm system. I pay my installer €147.6 a year for the HKC SecureComm Service.
But the SecureComm Service is only €66.96 a year for the standard level and €91.08 a year for the premium level.
So what can I do to pay the correct amount? Can I contact HKC?



Maybe KoolKid or altor could help me.

A lot of installers will bill you directly well over securecomm prices and pay hkc/securecomm themselves. Your problem will be that the gsm unit in your alarm will be registered to sentinel and not yourself. Best bet is ring around and see will another installer reset it for you and set you up directly with securecomm . The cost for domestic is €5.50 a month i believe. Its a scam for sure and people need to wake up a tad.

altor

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

Hi,

I have a Sentinel HKC wireless alarm system. I pay my installer €147.6 a year for the HKC SecureComm Service.
But the SecureComm Service is only €66.96 a year for the standard level and €91.08 a year for the premium level.
So what can I do to pay the correct amount? Can I contact HKC?

Maybe KoolKid or altor could help me.

You would need the engineer code to set up an account on the system yourself.
With this you can delete the ID they have used and enter your own.

altor

Putt it there wrote: »

Its a scam for sure and people need to wake up a tad.

I wouldn't call it a scam.

Most will charge extra to cover costs of servicing the alarm system be that for software upgrades, remote service.

Putt it there

altor wrote: »

I wouldn't call it a scam.

Most will charge extra to cover costs of servicing the alarm system be that for software upgrades, remote service.

I have come across people paying €200 a year simply for use of app and self monitoring - no maintenance included. Its a scam in my eyes to be skimming so much off the top in a contract that does not need a middle man . But its an opinion is all

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

I have come across people paying €200 a year simply for use of app and self monitoring - no maintenance included. Its a scam in my eyes to be skimming so much off the top in a contract that does not need a middle man . But its an opinion is all

Well there is that saying about fools and their money.

altor

Putt it there wrote: »

I have come across people paying €200 a year simply for use of app and self monitoring - no maintenance included. Its a scam in my eyes to be skimming so much off the top in a contract that does not need a middle man . But its an opinion is all

I still wouldn't call it a scam.
They are paying for the use of the app, like everything shopping around always throws up different prices so that is what I would recommend.

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

I have come across people paying €200 a year simply for use of app and self monitoring - no maintenance included. Its a scam in my eyes to be skimming so much off the top in a contract that does not need a middle man . But its an opinion is all

As Altor said, consumers have a choice, always best to shop around.


How many people have you come across paying 200 E per year ? Were there hundreds of them? Were they all customers of the same company ?


Look up the meaning of the word scam, I do not think that your use of the word scam is appropriate.

hatchman

kub wrote:

How many people have you come across paying 200 E per year ? Were there hundreds of them? Were they all customers of the same company ?

So the quantity of people getting scammed is what's important ? Even one is too many !

kub

hatchman wrote: »

So the quantity of people getting scammed is what's important ? Even one is too many !

Again as I said previous, it would be no harm at all if some here would look up the word scam to see what it actually means .


A fool and their money are easily parted, no matter how many of which I am very interested in finding out.

Drifter50

Putt it there wrote: »

A lot of installers will bill you directly well over securecomm prices and pay hkc/securecomm themselves. Your problem will be that the gsm unit in your alarm will be registered to sentinel and not yourself. Best bet is ring around and see will another installer reset it for you and set you up directly with securecomm . The cost for domestic is €5.50 a month i believe. Its a scam for sure and people need to wake up a tad.

It is not a scam. Most installers will charge you a fee for setting it up , managing it and providing remote service. Why would we do that for nothing.

kub

Drifter50 wrote: »

It is not a scam. Most installers will charge you a fee for setting it up , managing it and providing remote service. Why would we do that for nothing.

With the amount of free help that people get on these threads, I suppose many feel we should not make a living and do everything for charity.

Putt it there

It’s a scam - there is no work for installers in it - its a direct connection from the clients to securecomm. I notice a few installers in here trying to divert attention and deflect but the truth of the matter is that anything over the €5.50 per month that securecomm charge for a domestic connection is skimming .

kub

I have already mentioned that perhaps your use of the word scam was inappropriate, so just to help you I have the meaning of it here ;

Definition of scam

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operationan insurance scam

scam

 verb

scammed; scamming

Definition of scam (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1: DECEIVE, DEFRAUD

So you are suggesting Fraud here, which is slanderous.

I am not sure how boards feel about such comments so I am going now to report your post and let one of the mods take it up.

Putt it there

Don’t be facetious.

I will let you look that up yourself. Why do you defend so vigorously this practice ?

Do you think those who partake in such practice fully explain to their customers the breakdown of all funds collected in such practice ?

Certainly not one that I came across knew their installation company was dipping monthly into their pocket from afar.

There is a reason my company is thriving after almost 40 years - it’s simple honesty.

kub wrote: »

I have already mentioned that perhaps your use of the word scam was inappropriate, so just to help you I have the meaning of it here ;

Definition of scam

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operationan insurance scam

scam

 verb

scammed; scamming

Definition of scam (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1: DECEIVE, DEFRAUD

So you are suggesting Fraud here, which is slanderous.

I am not sure how boards feel about such comments so I am going now to report your post and let one of the mods take it up.

Putt it there

Ahh the reported post - the last plead of those who have no leg to stand on and want a voice of clarity quietened. Feel free my good man but it says more about you than me.

Drifter50

Putt it there wrote: »

It’s a scam - there is no work for installers in it - its a direct connection from the clients to securecomm. I notice a few installers in here trying to divert attention and deflect but the truth of the matter is that anything over the €5.50 per month that securecomm charge for a domestic connection is skimming .

What is your problem. Clients with the HKC APP have the option of going with the installers branded option of their own non branded alternative. If they do that they won`t get support from the installer on the APP included as part of the service. Why on earth would we ( the installers ) take phone calls from customers, provide on line support etc etc etc for nothing. We are not running a charity, we are trying to run a business and perfectly entitled to be paid for the support we provide to our customers.

Putt it there

Drifter50 wrote: »

What is your problem. Clients with the HKC APP have the option of going with the installers branded option of their own non branded alternative. If they do that they won`t get support from the installer on the APP included as part of the service. Why on earth would we ( the installers ) take phone calls from customers, provide on line support etc etc etc for nothing. We are not running a charity, we are trying to run a business and perfectly entitled to be paid for the support we provide to our customers.

Did you tell them you were taking all but €5.50 of what they pay per month ?

Drifter50

Putt it there wrote: »

Did you tell them you were taking all but €5.50 of what they pay per month ?

Oh yes, I tell all my customers my margins.

FGS, perhaps one should dismount one`s high horse

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

Ahh the reported post - the last plead of those who have no leg to stand on and want a voice of clarity quietened. Feel free my good man but it says more about you than me.

I have reported your post and it is now in the hands of the mods.

Are you suggesting that I am a scam artist and that I am committing a fraudulent act on my customers?

Putt it there

kub wrote: »

I have reported your post and it is now in the hands of the mods.

Are you suggesting that I am a scam artist and that I am committing a fraudulent act on my customers?

You are a pity my friend.

Putt it there

kub wrote: »

I have reported your post and it is now in the hands of the mods.

Are you suggesting that I am a scam artist and that I am committing a fraudulent act on my customers?

Well then I’m pretty sure you have nothing to hide so good luck to you.

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

Well then I’m pretty sure you have nothing to hide so good luck to you.

Do you understand the question?

Putt it there

kub wrote: »

Do you understand the question?

Don’t feel like you have to justify yourself to me kid , i don’t know you . However i dont like your attitude and have bored of you quicker than usual . Bye bye now .

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

Don’t feel like you have to justify yourself to me kid , i don’t know you . However i dont like your attitude and have bored of you quicker than usual . Bye bye now .

So you come on here and you accuse each and every installer of fraud, then admit there that you have no idea who I am.
Immaterial of knowing who I am, you still think that you have the right to call me some sort of an underhand business person and that I am committing fraud on my own customers .

Then you walk away.

That says a lot.

Putt it there

kub wrote: »

So you come on here and you accuse each and every installer of fraud, then admit there that you have no idea who I am.
Immaterial of knowing who I am, you still think that you have the right to call me some sort of an underhand business person and that I am committing fraud on my own customers .

Then you walk away.

That says a lot.

Not walking away - have a 5am appointment . But ok i’ll answer you .
No i have no idea who you are - nor do i care.
I have never used the word fraud. That is all your doing.
I have never used the word underhand.
You are surely an adult ? Time you start acting like one .
Maybe report this post so you can feel you won an internet debate against an obvious superior ? I’ll leave your next move to you obviously but i personally feel you have taken up more than enough of my time with your overly strenuous denials of things i never accused you of. Can’t fathom why a person would act so ....

Again . Bye bye .

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

Not walking away - have a 5am appointment . But ok i’ll answer you .
No i have no idea who you are - nor do i care.
I have never used the word fraud. That is all your doing.
I have never used the word underhand.
You are surely an adult ? Time you start acting like one .
Maybe report this post so you can feel you won an internet debate against an obvious superior ? I’ll leave your next move to you obviously but i personally feel you have taken up more than enough of my time with your overly strenuous denials of things i never accused you of. Can’t fathom why a person would act so ....

Again . Bye bye .

You used the word scam.

I suggest in future that you use words which you actually understand the meaning of.

I do not care who you are either, but I will challenge anyone who labels anyone in my profession a scam artist.
You have no idea of what each and every installer who connects their customers to the secure comm service, charge them and neither have you any idea of the service they receive.
So your point is invalid
I agree you are superior alright, however I feel my thinking of what you are superior at and mine are probably at either end of the spectrum.

Putt it there

kub wrote: »

You used the word scam.

I suggest in future that you use words which you actually understand the meaning of.

I do not care who you are either, but I will challenge anyone who labels anyone in my profession a scam artist.
You have no idea of what each and every installer who connects their customers to the secure comm service, charge them and neither have you any idea of the service they receive.
So your point is invalid
I agree you are superior alright, however I feel my thinking of what you are superior at and mine are probably at either end of the spectrum.

Do you feel the need the “win” a faceless debate ? You have already been put in your place . Just move on .

kub

Putt it there wrote: »

Do you feel the need the “win” a faceless debate ? You have already been put in your place . Just move on .

I have already made my points.
I have no idea what you are on about with reference to " place " and " win ".

Stoner

Ok guys this has run its course.

IMO there is a discussion point here.

It's not a pleasant set of posts, but I can't see why it's not ok to discuss the issue.

There are two or three offerings in this space that get their costs pulled apart regularly.

If I was to be fair here, i could read into the phone watch type posts and ban half the installers that pull their offering apart regularly.

There have been some good points here, it is a simple connection to a third party and people should be paid for setting these things up too, it's a discussion point that general users might want information on.

There should be me need to make accusations while making a well informed point

That said, it would be best to keep this civil please.

redeye101

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

Hi,

I have a Sentinel HKC wireless alarm system. I pay my installer €147.6 a year for the HKC SecureComm Service.
But the SecureComm Service is only €66.96 a year for the standard level and €91.08 a year for the premium level.
So what can I do to pay the correct amount? Can I contact HKC?

Maybe KoolKid or altor could help me.

Just wondering wondering what the difference between the standard and premium services?

Thanks

vurstflavor

For any alarm you can replace the phone dialer yourself try ebay
Then buy monitoring
I would not use monitoring and use alarm as deterant
Most pros can bypass alarm I have seen others just kick door in and get in and out in 10 minutes you better off buying some cameras that send you videos the call garda

kub

redeye101 wrote: »

Just wondering wondering what the difference between the standard and premium services?

Thanks

Your system polls more with the premium service and in most cases your installer will provide remote diagnostics, programming etc.

kub

vurstflavor wrote: »

For any alarm you can replace the phone dialer yourself try ebay
Then buy monitoring
I would not use monitoring and use alarm as deterant
Most pros can bypass alarm I have seen others just kick door in and get in and out in 10 minutes you better off buying some cameras that send you videos the call garda

" Most Pro's can bypass an alarm "


Really ?


Well with 30 years in this business under my belt I find that you pay for what you get and if your solution here is to recommend diallers to be connected to phone lines which are gradually being phased out I can see alright how anyone let alone a " Pro " can bypass such systems.


If you have witnessed people kicking in doors and breaking into premises, I hope you have reported these incidents to Gardai.

Hello, as mentioned I’m being billed yearly for the above. A security firm installed an alarm system for me a year ago and is now looking for yearly payments of €100 euro to maintain access to the app for me. They do not provide any monitoring but, using the app, they can periodically update the software on the alarm system.

The 100 euro does not include the annual servicing of the system.

I’m wondering if there’s any way I can manage the app myself and free myself from this expense. I paid for the hardware and installation and suspect the security company is just an unnecessary middle man at this point.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Rogy

Deleted User wrote: »

Hello, as mentioned I’m being billed yearly for the above. A security firm installed an alarm system for me a year ago and is now looking for yearly payments of €100 euro to maintain access to the app for me. They do not provide any monitoring but, using the app, they can periodically update the software on the alarm system.

The 100 euro does not include the annual servicing of the system.

I’m wondering if there’s any way I can manage the app myself and free myself from this expense. I paid for the hardware and installation and suspect the security company is just an unnecessary middle man at this point.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi,

Have you found a solution?


I'm in a similar situation, I paid for a HKC system to be installed and I just want to be able to turn on and off my alarm from my phone but they are looking for a yearly subscription just so I can monitor the alarm through their app. Surely there has to be something out there that you can buy to turn your alarm system into a smart system to monitor it yourself through an app like smart life or tuya.

I came across a site where someone used an adrunio to mimic a HKC keypad so you could enter codes from a web browser ("Internet Enable a HKC Home Alarm"). There has to be something out there to be able to do this yourself without having to pay the subscription fees.

Rogy

Rogy wrote: »

Hi,

I'm in a similar situation, I paid for a HKC system to be installed and I just want to be able to turn on and off my alarm from my phone

You could buy the GSM dialer off adverts/dondeal for around 50e and use that.
You need the engineers code to set it up so make sure you have it before buying one .

altor

Rogy wrote: »

Hi,

Have you found a solution?


I'm in a similar situation, I paid for a HKC system to be installed and I just want to be able to turn on and off my alarm from my phone but they are looking for a yearly subscription just so I can monitor the alarm through their app. Surely there has to be something out there that you can buy to turn your alarm system into a smart system to monitor it yourself through an app like smart life or tuya.

I came across a site where someone used an adrunio to mimic a HKC keypad so you could enter codes from a web browser ("Internet Enable a HKC Home Alarm"). There has to be something out there to be able to do this yourself without having to pay the subscription fees.

If you had a smart switch with a dry contact relay you could set up a zone for arm/disarm and do it that way.

Declan1

Sorry to drag up an old thread… Our alarm provider is putting up the monthly fee for the app to €20 per month. Is this about the going rate?

kub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120094509#Comment_120094509

If I were you I would enquire as to what is included in that € 20.

Declan1

All that’s included is “Connection of alarm via gsm network to the alarm company hub” and use of the app.

Is there a better option to maintain app access?

KoolKid

That's pretty steep for a service that costs €5.50 PM . Shop around would be my advice.

kub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120105206#Comment_120105206

And that is an assumption that it is set up on the lowest option.

fuse

I've been paying the SecureComm subscription myself directly (5.58x12 = 67eur per year)

Realising my installer is trying to charge 90eur per year for "maintenance".

I've had no dealings with them in the last 2+ years and have paid them for any work they carried out in my home.

I don't think this is reasonable. Especially the fact that it doesn't even cover the monthly app charge.

I would expect to pay this fee if I needed a callout or remote assistance but I haven't. I change the batteries myself when needed to avoid a callout charge. Or should I expect them to come and change a battery under annual maintenance?

Can I just opt-out of this "annual maintenance"?

Tom Mann Centuria

I want to renew my securecomm subscription, anyone have a steer for who to contact? I wouldn't mind paying a small excess over the HKC price but I've change the batteries etc. Myself so wouldn't really need a full service package.

I did try contacting the company who fitted my alarm (or at least the company who subcontracted out to fit my alarm) but they haven't got back to me as yet after several days.

mark23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120528020#Comment_120528020

How do you pay this direct? I don't see any option on the website or app. I have the engineers code so I guess it is easy enough to set up?

altor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120794486#Comment_120794486

If you are not an installer select unbranded.

Then it should ask for payment details at the end.

Cond0r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803342#Comment_120803342

Hey, is this to sign up for remote monitoring and pay HKC directly? If so, could you point me to where it's possible to do that? The only signup page I can find on HKC's site is where you can apply for an account, and they want a PSA number for that. Thank you!

altor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861910#Comment_120861910

https://portal.securecomm.cloud/

Cond0r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861929#Comment_120861929

Amazing. Thanks so much!

altor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861969#Comment_120861969

You're welcome