Not happy with your current alarm monitoring company? Thinking about switching your contract to someone new? We’ve covered all you need to know when considering the switch and if it’s possible to change your alarm monitoring company, as well as how to go about it.
What is Alarm Monitoring?
Alarm monitoring is when a third party monitoring provider uses their team of highly trained monitoring operatives to keep track of and monitor a site’s alarm systems. Most commonly, these are intruder or fire alarms.
When an alarm is triggered, the monitoring team will be instantly notified and they will quickly carry out the necessary actions to confirm whether or not it is a false alarm. They will do this by checking in with the account or site keyholder or by accessing other internal systems, such as CCTV, to check if there is a fire or intruder present.
They will then carry out the necessary and most appropriate actions based on the incident, which could consist of an audio challenge to an intruder, contacting the site keyholder or calling the emergency services.
Alarm monitoring, therefore, adds an extra and reliable layer of safety and security to a site. It reduces false alarms and ensures that an alarm is always attended to, no matter the date, time of day or if the site is occupied or not.
The demand for robust, reliable monitoring is greater than ever, particularly for businesses. UK Government crime statistics for the year ending June 2025 show that robbery of business property saw a significant increase of 55% compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing threat to commercial premises. This surge, combined with the fact that police-attended false fire alarms in England have reached a record high of 254,000 incidents in the last year, underscores the critical need for professional, accredited alarm receiving centres (ARCs) that can effectively filter out false positives and ensure a rapid, appropriate response to genuine threats.
The Hidden Value of a Quality Monitoring Partner
Choosing the right alarm monitoring company goes beyond simply connecting your system. It’s about partnering with an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) that is built on reliability, advanced technology, and rigorous compliance. Reputable monitoring providers often hold key industry accreditations, such as NSI Gold, which is a major factor many insurance companies favour when assessing your policy. This accreditation assures that the company meets the highest UK standards for security and fire safety.
A modern, proactive monitoring service also extends its scope to include a wider range of services, essential for comprehensive facility management. For instance, many businesses now rely on services like remote site access control and non-security monitoring, such as fridge and freezer temperature checks for restaurants or air conditioning monitoring for data centres. Integrating all these functions with a single, trusted ARC can lead to significant operational efficiencies, a concept we explore further in our article on how 24/7 monitoring improves efficiency in facility management.
A top-tier ARC will also invest in technology to improve response accuracy. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and video analytics is now standard practice to quickly verify alarms, which is critical for reducing police call-outs and ensuring priority response. To understand the advancements in this area, you may find our post on the role of AI in enhancing video surveillance accuracy highly informative.
Can You Change Your Monitoring Company?
Yes! It is possible to change your monitoring company, but you will be restricted as to when you can do this based on your current contract. Some contracts may be year-long and require a notice period before existing or switching to a new monitoring company.
How Do You Change Your Monitoring Company?
Changing your monitoring company should be a simple process, provided you follow the correct procedures to ensure continuous protection of your assets. Follow the below steps to change your monitoring company.
- Review your current contract: Carefully examine your agreement for terms regarding contract length, termination clauses, and required notice periods. This step is crucial to avoid unexpected fees or service gaps.
- Identify a new, accredited partner: Look for a new provider that meets the high standards you require. Beyond the basic monitoring services, consider their expertise in your specific sector, whether you operate office spaces, manufacturing and recycling facilities, or require lone worker support. A good partner will also be happy to walk you through their compliance and security credentials.
- Inform your current monitoring company that you wish to end your contract with them, respecting the required notice period.
- Talk to a new supplier and choose the contract you would like to start. Ask them about their full range of services, like remote patrol capabilities, to ensure you are getting the most value.
Your contract will then enter a ‘contract takeover phase’. This is where the old and new monitoring company will communicate and work together to transfer your contract over with as little disruption to your monitoring service as possible.
Both companies will be aware that if there is disruption or downtime of your monitoring service, then your site security may be at risk, due to potentially being unmonitored for a short period of time. Each company should have processes in place to protect site safety in the event of system downtime. Make sure to check this with both, but especially your new monitoring company, before making the switch. You can read more about why backup protocols are key for remote monitoring to understand the importance of this step.
If all goes well, your monitoring contract will be transferred to the new company provider seamlessly. A crucial step often overlooked is providing the new ARC with a detailed alarm monitoring handover document to ensure they have all the necessary site and response information from day one.
Choosing the right time for this transition is also essential. For security installers and their clients, knowing what to look for in a professional ARC partner is key to a successful, long-term relationship.
Speak to Us
If you’re thinking of transferring your monitoring contract over to a new company get in touch with us today for a FREE quotation. We take care of seamless contract transfers all with a 5* service.
Call us on 0330 002 1149 today.
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