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Vivint Agrees to Pay Deceptive Sales Settlement to 50 Missouri Customers

Missouri AG office says Vivint sales reps “misrepresented the company they worked for and exaggerated the length of the rescission (cancellation) period as well as the local crime rates.”

 

By SSI Staff · September 8, 2015

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Vivint will pay $15,000 in civil penalties plus $50,000 in restitution to 50 Missouri customers who were victims of the company’s deceptive practices, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced.

A Springfield woman, Edra Banks, complained about the company to the News-Leader in July 2014. Banks, 88, said a Vivint sales representative claimed to be updating her system for her previous provider, Atlas Security of Springfield, according to the newspaper. She didn’t realize until later that he had installed inferior equipment and signed her up for a different security service at a higher rate, according to the article. 

Banks was able to secure a refund and have her previous security system quickly restored. But dozens of other complaints against the company prompted the Attorney General’s Office to take action.

In a press release, the office said consumers complained that Vivint’s door-to-door salespeople “misrepresented the company they worked for and exaggerated the length of the rescission (cancellation) period as well as the local crime rates.”

Some consumers also complained that they were misled about what would happen if they canceled their previous contracts. Vivint also automatically renewed some contracts without customer consent.

In addition to canceling contracts for dozens of consumers, Vivint agreed as part of the settlement to reform its business practices. Required changes include:

• “(A)greeing to take swift disciplinary action against any sales person who makes untruthful or inaccurate statements in their sales presentations”

• “(G)iving costumers ages 70 years and older a 30-day right of rescission after signing a contract”

• Modifying written contracts so that customers’ service is extended on a month-to-month basis once the initial contract term ends.

“Companies who want to do business in Missouri have to make it clear to consumers what they’re buying,” Koster said in the release. “This agreement protects Missouri residents on an ongoing basis and returns money to consumers who were misled.”

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Benefits of Installing Security in your Business

Small businesses are started on almost every corner, as well as in small rental areas in malls, on a daily basis. All business owners want to make sure that their investments are protected against losses from the public and their own employees. Security systems, security cameras, and burglar alarms are one of the first things that business owners invest in while starting up a business.

 

Below are some of the benefits that you can get in using a Security system for your small business.

 

 A properly installed security camera can become a huge deterrent to employees to decrease employee theft. This can easily be caught with the use of strategic placement of security cameras in the business. Additionally, the camera system can increase employee productivity and help with customer service. Remember, employees will think they are always being watched so their performance will improve. The system must be used pro-actively so the employees feel that the business owner is always watching or reviewing the video.

 

 

Professionally installing a camera system in your business can also deter shoplifting. Placing a Spot Monitor showing customers as they enter your business will go a long way in reducing the amount of shoplifting that goes on in your business. When customers enter your business and see themselves on a spot monitor at the front of the store, they will be less likely to shoplift.

 

 

Another obvious purpose of using a security system for your business is to prevent unauthorized entry in your facility. Burglars are always looking to get their hands into your assets. Some burglars simply look for cash left in your register, while others look to steal your inventory, depending on the nature of your business. In rare cases, there are some people who may break in to your business for no added reason at all, other than feeling the thrill. A good burglar alarm, installed by a reputable security company like Brown Security can protect you from this activity.

 

 

Installing a security system by a licensed installer such as Browns Security, can possibly reduce the cost of your insurance premium. Most insurance companies require that businesses install some form of security in their facility. They may provide great discounts on monthly insurance payments to those who have security systems installed.

 

 

Additionally, there are also many people who make fraudulent claims against businesses. These claims can be made by both customers and by your own employees. With a visible CCTV security camera system there is less likelihood that such a false claim will be made. By using surveillance cameras correctly, you will be able to check the validity of any claim made against you.

 

 

Small business security systems improve the overall business operations, efficiencies and profitability of a business. It will also give you, the business owner, Less Stress and Peace of Mind!
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Benefits of CCTV Security System
By Rohan Shah

CCTV, close circuit television, is now the popular choice of the people to monitor and secure their homes and business. It is installed at all places that have the danger of theft or wrong-doing. Be it to prevent theft and robbery at home or business, or to monitor the behavior of employees and students, CCTV could give a total guarantee for security level. People have absolute faith in CCTV security.CCTV is becoming omnipresent in modern society. A CCTV for security system purposes in your premise has many advantages:

Affordability:
Home security systems these days are becoming increasingly affordable owing to the advancements in camera technology and manufacturing systems. Instead of hiring multiple security guards to monitor various areas of your business or establishment, you can simply hire a few security personnel to monitor the CCTV system that scrutinizes the whole premise. This heavily reduces the cost of manpower. Also, the system just needs a one-time installation cost making your entire security system very cost efficient.

Effectiveness:
CCTV systems are highly effective, be it in the area of public surveillance or private security. In various cities, CCTV cameras and security systems have helped in reducing the crime rate in the monitored areas. A study commissioned by UK’s Home office revealed that the areas where CCTV security systems are installed, crime rates have come down owing to the surveillance. Burglary in houses with CCTV system is far less than in houses with not. Also, employee cheating in offices and student misbehavior at schools and colleges has reduced because of the monitoring system. People tend to behave properly when they know they are being monitored. Thus, security systems have proved to be very effective for whatever purposes they are used.

Flexibility:
With the advancement in technology, security footage monitored through closed-circuit system can be accessed in many formats. The most basic form is the delivery of footage to a traditional desk with monitors, watched by security personnel. However, that is not the only form; the security system can also be monitored online via internet, allowing the supervisors to monitor their homes and business from anywhere in the world. Also, technology has given rise to the need of mobile supervision, and thus, some CCTV systems can also be monitored via internet on mobile devices. That’s real flexibility!

Security:
The security system of CCTV is more secure than any internet-based camera monitoring. True CCTV cameras send output to only a few recording systems and monitors. These thus, cannot be hacked by any hackers. There is no compromise on your privacy as could be a case by breaches in online security. You have complete control over your system and thus you can ensure the safety and security of your family and business

CCTV security system technology and CCTV equipment can be used in both internal and external environments to watch over and protect people, property, vehicles and valuables. CCTV security system is considered to be the most effective method of reducing crime.CCTV equipment can provide instant alerts when problematic trouble occurs, ensuring that crime against people, theft and vandalism are all substantially reduced and covered. And when crime does occur, CCTV security system incident recording can provide valuable evidence, improving the likelihood of a conviction.

CCTV security systems and CCTV security cameras can be bought in in an endless variety of configurations, sizes, and functions, you can choose your system based on your needs. In addition, as your business grows, it's easy to expand your system for more coverage as you need it. And because this technology is so inexpensive, you can grow your system as you need to, without the worries about expense, flexibility, or storage space traditional systems might give you.

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Operation Save a Life

Operation Save A Life

“Operation Save-A-Life” was created to combat the rise in fire related injuries and deaths due to home fires in our great state. The goal of this statewide initiative is to dramatically reduce these fire related injuries and deaths across the State of Louisiana by providing smoke alarms to vulnerable citizens and at risk communities  with the help of your local fire department.

The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal is proud to present “Operation Save A Life”, a public service campaign designed to increase awareness and educate consumers about the dangers of fire, its related hazards and how to prevent them.

Chief H. "Butch" Browning Fire Marshal

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Cooking:

  • Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries
  • 40% of home fires start in the kitchen
  • Unattended cooking accounts for 1/3 of such fires.
  • More than half of all cooking fire injuries occurred when people tried to fight the fire themselves
  • Electric ranges/stoves have a higher risk of fires, deaths, injuries and property damage compared to gas/ranges/stoves.

 

Electrical:

  • Lamps, light fixtures and light bulbs account for the largest share of non-confined fires among major types of electrical distribution equipment, while cords and plugs accounted for the largest share of electrical civilian fire deaths
  • Extension cord fires outnumbered fires beginning with attached or unattached power cords by more than two-to-one

 

Smoking Materials:

  • Smoking materials (i.e. cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.) are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. In years 2002-2005, roughly one of every four fire deaths was attributed to smoking materials.
  • Older adults are at the highest risk of death or injury from smoking material fires even though they are less likely to smoke than younger adults.
  • Most common material first ignited in home smoking-material fire deaths were mattresses, bedding, and upholstered furniture.

 

Candles:

  • Candle fires accounted for an estimated 4% of all reported home fires in 2005.
  • The top five days for home candle fires are Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve and Halloween