Warning about alarm systems using premium-rate phone numbers

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser recently ran an article warning pub owners and licensees with fire and security alarm systems to check their phone bills in case they are being charged premium rates. The warning comes after a Surrey licensee discovered he had forked out more than £3000 for premium rate phone calls over the past four years.

This is sadly quite a common practice with a number of security system suppliers and, as well as pubs, many other businesses and organisations are affected too. The digital communicators within their alarm systems are programmed to dial premium rate numbers. This could involve 1 daily test call and a call every time the system is set or switched off. Assuming 3 calls per day at say 20p per call, that equates to £219 pa! This is in addition to the annual monitoring charge of typically about £100 pa. Unfortunately the call charges are not transparent and most customers are unaware of how much they are paying. This generates undisclosed additional profit to the company.

Saying that, not all systems operate in this way and it pays to shop around. We offer systems whose digital communications use Dualcom digi plus and its calls are completely free within the monitoring tariff. If you have friends or contacts who may be affected by alarm systems using premium-rate phone numbers, do encourage them to check with their supplier about all the on-going costs involved. Alternatively ask them to contact us on tel. 01483 791500 about potential cost savings they could be making.