IRVING, Texas (February 26, 2007) – Brink’s Home Security has been recognized for its program to reduce false alarms through an award sponsored by the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) and Security Sales & Integration. In the national competition, the company won the Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) award for excellence in minimizing false dispatches in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The award cited a number of components in Brink’s Home Security’s alarm reduction program. These included: Employing new equipment standards that make keypads easier for consumers to use; two calls to customers to confirm whether a break-in has occurred before dispatching police; intense training for sales and technical personnel to ensure customers understand how best to operate their alarm system; and involvement in industry association efforts to educate consumers and other companies on best methods to reduce false alarms.
“What stood out for Brink’s Home Security was their program to train their service and installation technicians. The technicians, in turn, provide outstanding instruction to each and every customer on the appropriate use and operation of the alarm system, as well as how to avoid false dispatches,” said Norma Beaubien, FARA President, and a member of the PDQ review panel.
“We committed eight years ago to examine how we did business and find ways to cut down on false alarm calls. We looked throughout every aspect of our operations – from the sales and installation experience to customer service -- to figure out the best methods to drive down false alarms. We’re extremely pleased to receive the award, as it recognizes our company-wide effort on these priorities,” said Carole Vanyo, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at Brink’s Home Security.
In winning the 2007 PDQ award, Brink’s was cited for a very low dispatch rate. A dispatch rate signifies how frequently an alarm system requires a call for police dispatch in a year. The national average is close to 1.0, and Brink’s Home Security’s rate in Montgomery County was .17, which places it in the top one percent of lowest dispatch rates for companies with more than 50 customers in the county.
“Public safety personnel respond to less than one false alarm for Brink’s Home Security customers every five years, which is truly remarkable,” said Beaubien.
The PDQ program was launched to stem the false alarm problem by recognizing those installing and monitoring companies that follow established industry practices and partner with law enforcement to reduce police dispatch requests.
About Brink’s Home Security, Inc.
Brink's Home Security, Inc., headquartered in Irving, Texas, is one of the largest and fastest growing providers of security system monitoring services in North America. Brink’s Home Security operates in more than 250 metropolitan areas, and services more than 1.1 million customers in all 50 states and two provinces in Canada.
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