Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing A Home Security Company

Is your company large or small? How long have you been in business? What is your credit rating?

Many security companies are small and may lack expertise and professionalism. Other security companies are branches of large conglomerates and may lack a customer friendly attitude.

Standard Security Systems is a division of Standard Oil of Connecticut, one of Connecticut's oldest and largest home service companies. With thousands of satisfied residential and commercial customers throughout the state, we're small enough so that you can speak to our president, but big enough to have the systems and personnel to deliver great service. We employ 250 people, have been in business since 1913, and have a 2AA credit rating with Dunn & Bradstreet.

Will I own the system or will it be leased?

With many security companies you never own the equipment in your house - you lease it. If you drop the service, the company will remove the equipment. Some companies will allow you to buy the equipment, but if the equipment is proprietary, it can only be monitored by the company who provided it.

With Standard Security Systems you own the equipment that is installed in your home. And, Standard Security installs only non-proprietary equipment that can be monitored by most other central stations.

How much equipment will I need?

Alarm systems vary according to need, but some companies will try to sell you "the works" - things you don't need - in order to increase the sale.

Prior to any sale, Standard Security Systems carefully analyzes any potential risks and how specific equipment will solve the need. You decide what solutions work best for you and your budget, so you get the security you need at a cost that is reasonable.

How much insurance does your company carry?

There are no legal requirements in the state of Connecticut for security companies to carry workman's compensation or other insurance. That means you could be liable if an employee gets hurt on your property.

Standard Security Systems carries $7 million of insurance including general aggregate, workers compensation, and automobile liability.

Who answers your telephone after hours?

After 5pm virtually all security companies forward their telephone to an answering service.

Standard Security Systems offers around-the-clock emergency customer service. There is always a trained, Standard Security Systems representative who answers the telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our technicians are also on-call 24/7.

How good is your central station, is it UL certified, what is your response time?

Many security companies monitor their customers from central stations that are not certified to meet professional standards. Average response times can vary widely depending on the incident.

Standard Security Systems' monitoring facilities and operating procedures meet or exceed the highest standards in the alarm monitoring industry. They are certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), meet UL's fireproof standard, have double or triple back-up for electrical, telephone, and recording systems, and have six remote sites running simultaneously in the event of a catastrophe. Standard Security Systems boasts an excellent response time, with over 93% of our high priority calls (burglar, fire, medical and panic) processed in under one minute.

How fast does your company respond if my alarm is broken?

Many security companies provide service on a "when-available" basis at a per hour charge.

Standard Security Systems offers in-home repair and replacement service, with technicians on call 24/7. With our remote diagnostic capabilities, however, we can run a full analysis of your system, and in many cases, have your security system back online without a home visit. We respond to emergency service calls in less than 2 hours on average.

Is your company a member of the Better Business Bureau?

To be a member of the Better Business Bureau, a company must maintain a high level of customer service. Fewer than 20% of security companies belong to the Better Business Bureau.

Standard Security Systems is a member of the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut. In addition, Standard Security also holds membership in the nation's premier security and alarm associations including the Connecticut Alarm and Systems Integrators Association, the Electronic Security Association, the National Fire Protection Association, and ASIS International.

How long is your installation under warranty and what does it cover?

Most security companies offer no or limited warranties on their installations.

Standard Security Systems warranties all installations for 90 days for both parts and labor.

What if my lifestyle changes or my family grows?

Most security companies offer old technology with limitations on scale and expansion.

Standard Security Systems uses the most modern, technologically advanced systems available today. Our systems are customizable and expandable, even years after the installation. And, because our technology is wireless, moving our systems is a breeze.

Privacy Policy

Privacy has always been an important part of how we do business. We would like to make our policy concerning information collection and use absolutely clear. This notice explains our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way information is collected and used.

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

At Standard Security Systems we respect and are committed to protecting your privacy. We do not collect personally identifiable information about you through our website unless you voluntarily provide it. However, we automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser, including your IP address, cookie information and the page(s) you visited. Standard Security Systems will not sell your personally identifiable information to anyone. At any time, you may opt out of providing such personally identifiable information by simply not providing it or by discontinuing your use of the Standard Security Systems website.

Examples of personally identifiable information that you may provide to us while using our site include:

E-mail addresses
Home address
Name
Phone number
Account number (If you are a current customer)

If you want to customize some areas within our site, ask detailed questions or request information that meets your specific needs, you will need to supply some personally identifiable information. This may include identifying topics of interest, supplying your title and function for business users, providing a home/office address, or filling out account information for billing questions.

To improve our website, we collect information on the number of visits to our site, the time visitors spend on the website, the number of pages viewed and the domains from which visitors visit our website. This information is only analyzed by us in the aggregate; it is not associated with any specific individuals.

Parts of our website use cookies. A cookie is a piece of data stored on your hard drive or in your computer's memory containing information about your visit and preferences. You may receive a cookie that compiles site usage information (number of visitors, most popular pages, etc.) and enhances your experience on our website. Many popular browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies.

HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We use the information you voluntarily provide to:

Fulfill your request.
Help you quickly find and/or receive information from us.
Alert you to updated information and services.
Provide more complete service.
Improve the content of our website for your reference.
Answer your questions.

INFORMATION SHARING

Standard Security Systems does not sell the personally identifiable information you provide for financial gain nor does Standard Security Systems share such information with third parties for the purpose of sending you advertisements for products or services unaffiliated with Standard Security Systems or with its affiliates or business partners. Standard Security Systems may, however, share personally identifiable information that you provide to us for legitimate business purposes, including without limitation the following:

Transferring such information to Standard Security Syst's affiliates and subsidiaries, unless such transfer is prohibited by law. Transferring such information as part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition, divestiture or other corporate restructuring (including bankruptcy). Making such information available to third parties who are providing the product, service or information that you have requested (but never your password).

Making such information available to third parties who are providing services to Standard or its subsidiaries or affiliates (e.g., providing such information to third parties performing computer-related services for Standard Security Systems or its affiliates (but never your password)). Disclosing such information is allowed by law or our legal counsel forms a good-faith belief that such disclosure is required by federal or state law, subpoena or court order.

By providing personally identifiable information, you expressly consent to these privacy practices. Also, Standard Security Systems reserves the right to share any aggregated information (i.e., non-personally identifiable information) with any third parties for any reason, unless prohibited by law.

SECURITY POLICY

Standard Security Systems uses the highest available industry-standard practices to protect your personally identifiable information from loss, misuse, alteration and destruction. Your payment and personal information is always safe. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure, commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the Internet. However, no security system is completely fail safe, and Standard Security Systems cannot guarantee the information you provide will never be obtained by unauthorized persons. In some areas of our website, we require a user ID and password for you to access certain information. Standard Security Systems will not disclose such password to third parties; however, you are responsible for maintaining the privacy and security of your password.

OBTAINING AND CORRECTING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION

If you wish to obtain a copy of the personally identifiable information that we have obtained from you through your use of this site, or you believe that we have personally identifiable information about you that is in error or you wish to delete any personally identifiable information that we have obtained from you through your use of our site, please contact us

Standard Security Systems
20 East Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06610