Another Alarm Q

There will be maintenace/service code so the system can be fiddled with and not set of "tamper" or full alarms but it shouldn't be the default and as the installer no longer exists to ask...

As the external sounder only sounded for 20 seconds about an hour after the main unit lost power I expect the batteries in the main unit and sounder are on their last legs. Remove the mains fuse, open the unit, disconnect battery, sounder will hopefully only run for 20 seconds on it's own battery before going silent. With no mains, no battery and a flat battery in the sounder the system is effectively "dead".

Yes, remove the fuse and disconnect the battery. The outside alarm may (but probably won't) sound for a time, after that the system is dead.

In message , Terry Fields writes

I hope that the alarm isn't mentioned in your insurance policy.

If it is have it removed, the tiny saving on premiums (for a normal dwelling) is swamped by the cost of having the mandatory "yearly servicing".

Not to mention that if the OP does suffer a break in and the alarm isn't set/monitored/maintained etc the insurance co have a nice strong hook to hang not paying out on...

The savings on your premium are minimal when admitting to these security measures but if you then fail to set the alarm or leave a window open the cost to you in a contested claim may be a lot higher.

Only, surely, if you'd negotiated a discount on the basis of having a working alarm?

Don't seem to remember even being asked last time I got a quote.

I've never seen a discount which comes near covering the cost of the (mandatory) service contract and annual check.

It's more likely an insurance company might insist on an alarm if you try to insure very expensive contents. Or have a record of claims for burglary?

Rather than offering a discount to an ordinary punter.

It's not so much reduced premiums as getting insurance at all in some araes.

Apologies for the tardy reply, due to a family illness, which has also prevented the final termination of the alarm system. When I get a day in which all the neighbours are out, I'll do the Dave Liquorice fuse-pulling death-blow.

However, prior to that, the house contents insurance came up for renewal, so I rang the company and told the young lady that the alarm had been decommissioned. She put the amendment into the computer, and the upshot was that my premium went down.....by 1p!

May thanks to all who replied.