"My alarm is making a noise"

[[email protected]]

It never fails! 3:00AM is when the customer decides to call because
they can not sleep due to an intermittent loud high frequency beep
allegedly from the alarm system.

And its "in my bedroom. And it must be the smoke detector."

Awakened by the CO operator I shuffle down my bedroom hall in the dark
to my home office, bring up the account on my desktop computer, and
dial her number.

After patiently walking her through a variety of tests to zoom in on
the exact location of the sound (unfortunately this woman is elderly
and hard of hearing), and pumping her with a lot of questions about
all of the known devices she could have purchased and brought into the
bedroom, etc., including tape recorders, battery operated smoke
detectors and CO detectors, clock radios -- as well as asking her to
describe the frequency with which the sound repeats and whether it is
in unison with the flashing of the red led of the smoke detector.

Fortunately she is very cooperative, pleasant, and appreciative. We
have a very good relationship.

After ten of more minutes of detective work I told her I will call her
again about 8:00AM, and if the beeps are still present I will come to
the house. She told me to call at 9:00AM.

I called. Good news! It was her cell phone on her night table.

And wouldn't you know it, the cell phone was the one device I forgot
to mention at 3:00AM.

Here then is the beginning of a checklist that we should all keep as a
reminder of the devices we should have the customer check before
sending a serviceman:

Things that make noises that customers think are caused by the Alarm
System:

1. Cell phones.
2. Battery operated smoke detectors.
3. Battery operated tape recorders whose tape is at end of
line and motor still running.
4. Stuck doorbells.
5. Battery operated/plug-in carbon monoxide detectors.
6. Alarm clock radios.
7. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens.
8. Recently purchased smoke detectors or smoke detectors
recently removed from service, and placed in closets, bags, etc. —
with batteries still inside the units.
9. Computer standby power supplies warning of low battery.

Anything else?

 

[Matt Ion]

It never fails! 3:00AM is when the customer decides to call because
they can not sleep due to an intermittent loud high frequency beep
allegedly from the alarm system.

And its "in my bedroom. And it must be the smoke detector."

Awakened by the CO operator I shuffle down my bedroom hall in the dark
to my home office, bring up the account on my desktop computer, and
dial her number.

After patiently walking her through a variety of tests to zoom in on
the exact location of the sound (unfortunately this woman is elderly
and hard of hearing), and pumping her with a lot of questions about
all of the known devices she could have purchased and brought into the
bedroom, etc., including tape recorders, battery operated smoke
detectors and CO detectors, clock radios -- as well as asking her to
describe the frequency with which the sound repeats and whether it is
in unison with the flashing of the red led of the smoke detector.

Fortunately she is very cooperative, pleasant, and appreciative. We
have a very good relationship.

After ten of more minutes of detective work I told her I will call her
again about 8:00AM, and if the beeps are still present I will come to
the house. She told me to call at 9:00AM.

I called. Good news! It was her cell phone on her night table.

And wouldn't you know it, the cell phone was the one device I forgot
to mention at 3:00AM.

Here then is the beginning of a checklist that we should all keep as a
reminder of the devices we should have the customer check before
sending a serviceman:

Things that make noises that customers think are caused by the Alarm
System:

1. Cell phones.
2. Battery operated smoke detectors.
3. Battery operated tape recorders whose tape is at end of
line and motor still running.
4. Stuck doorbells.
5. Battery operated/plug-in carbon monoxide detectors.
6. Alarm clock radios.
7. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens.
8. Recently purchased smoke detectors or smoke detectors
recently removed from service, and placed in closets, bags, etc. —
with batteries still inside the units.
9. Computer standby power supplies warning of low battery.

Anything else?

List cordless-phone handsets and pagers right beside cell phones.

Also check for PDAs with alarms or alerts of some kind (for example, you
may have someone's birthday set as a "day event" and have an alarm set
for it, which in most cases would start it beeping at midnight).

Same goes for digital wristwatches, electronic organizers, etc.

Of course, if you're more of an asshole when you're sleepy, the obvious
response is, "Yes, that's what it's supposed to do." <click>

 

[Robert L Bass]

It never fails! 3:00AM is when the customer

decides to call because they can not sleep due
to an intermittent loud high frequency beep
allegedly from the alarm system.

My favorites are the people who move into a new (to them) home or apartment
with an existing alarm and no instructions. For some reason they decide to
try out the keypad panic button at 3:00 am. With the siren ringing and the
baby crying, instead of looking in the YP for the local alarm company that
installed it they go online, find our DIY store and call for help.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
941-866-1100 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Bob Worthy]

Add dishwasher to #7

Pagers if anyone still uses one

Kids toys with batteries can make all sorts of different noises

Neighbors sirens that are within hearing distance

Some thermostats or any other control device for the home that have low
battery audible indication

Note: Even had one elderly lady that said everytime the garbage man came,
the alarm would start sounding. You probably figured it out. It was the
reverse signaling indicator on the truck. If it beeps, it is always "your"
alarm.

 

[Bob Worthy]

Of course, if you're more of an asshole when you're sleepy, the obvious
response is, "Yes, that's what it's supposed to do." <click>

I think Crash posted something similar once before and I totally can relate,
"Service department returning your call sir". Customer, "Your alarm is
constantly going off and keeping me awake". Alarm co., "My alarm is not
going off, so therefore, I don't understand how it could be keeping you
awake. I was sleeping just fine until you called, but, since I am now awake,
how can I help you with your alarm." At that point, regardless of how many
notices, newletter articles, etc. they have received, you find out they
haven't changed their battery in 9 years. Don't ya luv it!

 

[Steve Foley]

My favorites are the people who move into a new (to them) home or apartment
with an existing alarm and no instructions. For some reason they decide to
try out the keypad panic button at 3:00 am. With the siren ringing and the
baby crying, instead of looking in the YP for the local alarm company that
installed it they go online, find our DIY store and call for help.

What would ever possess you to answer the phone for a DIY store at 3:00am?

 

[mikey]

My favorites are the people who move into a new (to them) home or apartment
with an existing alarm and no instructions. For some reason they decide to
try out the keypad panic button at 3:00 am. With the siren ringing and the
baby crying, instead of looking in the YP for the local alarm company that
installed it they go online, find our DIY store and call for help.

What would ever possess you to answer the phone for a DIY store at 3:00am?

RLB likes to ah, embellish. It never happened.

 

[Tommy]

--



Bob Worthy wrote:



"Kids toys with batteries can make all sorts of different noises"

SO TRUE! I remember when my kids were small, any number of their toys
would invaribly develop a low battery in the middle of the night and do
strange things. Kinda weird to wake up in the middle of the night to a
toy piano playing itself.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Some of the new fancy refrigerators have door ajar alarms now.

 

[J Barnes]

ADD:
Stop Watches, and Digital Timers

James

Some of the new fancy refrigerators have door ajar alarms now.

 

[shady]

Things that make noises that customers think are caused by the Alarm
System:

1. Cell phones.
2. Battery operated smoke detectors.
3. Battery operated tape recorders whose tape is at end of
line and motor still running.
4. Stuck doorbells.
5. Battery operated/plug-in carbon monoxide detectors.
6. Alarm clock radios.
7. Kitchen stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens.
8. Recently purchased smoke detectors or smoke detectors
recently removed from service, and placed in closets, bags, etc. -
with batteries still inside the units.
9. Computer standby power supplies warning of low battery.

Anything else?

TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, etc, etc, etc remote controls.

Had one last week where the motion detector in the living room was beeping.
Told them motions don't beep. They tell me it does. So I go down there and
find the TV is under the motion, and one of its many remotes (replaced by a
universal remote) is next to the TV and is beeping for (i assume) a low
battery.

 

[Robert L Bass]

What would ever possess you to answer

the phone for a DIY store at 3:00am?

If the phone rings and I'm awake I answer it. I frequently work on the
store late at night because that's the only time the phones aren't keeping
me busy.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
941-866-1100 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Frank Olson]

If the phone rings and I'm awake I answer it. I frequently work on the
store late at night because that's the only time the phones aren't keeping
me busy.

Uh-huh... sure... You still haven't changed the contact information
(old addy's still showing). You have a blank image place holder on your
front page (it's been there for over a year.

I am glad you finally got rid of that annoying Winfixer/WinDoctor Popup
though. What took you so long?

 

[Robert L Bass]

I had one once that the customer swore

blind was the lounge PIR causing the beeping...

I had one client call once to complain that the light on the smoke detector
was "locked on". The account was monitored and there had been no fire alarm
signal. I checked the panel by modem and everything was normal -- no fire
alarm or trouble condition. I asked her which smoke detector it was. She
said "the one at the top of the cellar stairs." Well, we didn't install
smokes at the *top* of the basement stairs. The system smoke was at the
bottom of the stairs.

I explained that the detector she was looking at was one of the 110VAC
detectors that the electrician installed -- not one of ours -- and that the
constant red LED was normal for that type. She insisted it was ours and
demanded that I come out and service it at once. When I got there I went to
the basement, showed her our detector and showed her the difference between
the two types.

No apology. No thank you. She said something about how I should have
explained all of that on the phone. I handed her an invoice which she of
course never paid. That's one more reason I prefer servicing DIYers. They
don't expect you to come out and fix things that aren't broken. :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
941-866-1100 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Norm Mugford]

I had one client call once to complain that the light on the smoke
detector was "locked on". The account was monitored and there had been no
fire alarm signal. I checked the panel by modem and everything was
normal -- no fire alarm or trouble condition. I asked her which smoke
detector it was. She said "the one at the top of the cellar stairs."
Well, we didn't install smokes at the *top* of the basement stairs. The
system smoke was at the bottom of the stairs.

I explained that the detector she was looking at was one of the 110VAC
detectors that the electrician installed -- not one of ours -- and that
the constant red LED was normal for that type. She insisted it was ours
and demanded that I come out and service it at once. When I got there I
went to the basement, showed her our detector and showed her the
difference between the two types.

No apology. No thank you. She said something about how I should have
explained all of that on the phone. I handed her an invoice which she of
course never paid. That's one more reason I prefer servicing DIYers.
They don't expect you to come out and fix things that aren't broken. :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
941-866-1100 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

Mr. BAss:

If you communicated with that customer the same way you
communicate on this newsgroup...I can see why you
never got paid for the service call.

Norm Mugford



I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html

 

[Nomen Nescio]

Bass said:

Well, we didn't install smokes at the *top* of the basement stairs. The
system smoke was
at the bottom of the stairs.

Underneath the first step? Smoke rises. Duh.

- badenov

 

[Bob Worthy]

What would ever possess you to answer the phone for a DIY store at 3:00am?

RLB likes to ah, embellish. It never happened.

Something like heart problems last year and possible cancer problems this
year. Was he lacking attention as a child?

 

[mikey]

What would ever possess you to answer the phone for a DIY store at 3:00am?

RLB likes to ah, embellish. It never happened.

Something like heart problems last year and possible cancer problems this
year. Was he lacking attention as a child?

It didn't mean to imply that. It never occured to me. Are you suggested that
he'd stoop so low as to feign lung cancer? Perhaps the heart problems were
actually lung problems misdiagnosed. I think we are crossing a line here.

 

[alarman]

Nope. The line was crossed long ago, and not by us.
js