How Do I Request a Certificate of Alarm from Alarm Grid?

You can request a Certificate of Alarm from Alarm Grid by completing a signal test where Alarm Grid has verified the incoming signals and then downloading the CoA from the Alarm Grid website. A CoA is good for one (1) calendar year. You must complete a new test to get an updated CoA.

A Certificate of Alarm provides proof that a monitoring company is protecting a home or business. Many insurance companies will provide discounts for users who present valid CoAs as proof of having alarm monitoring service. In order to qualify for a CoA from Alarm Grid, you must have central station monitoring service, and you must have completed a successful signal test within the past two (2) months. We also must have verified that the incoming alarm signals were successfully received by the monitoring station. Alarm Grid offers CoAs for intrusion, smoke/fire, temperature/freeze, water/flood, and carbon monoxide (CO) gas. The Certificate of Alarm will also indicate which type of communication path is used with the system. This may be cellular, internet, or a phone line. It is possible to have more than one communication path set up with a system.

For this FAQ, we will assume that you are already monitored with Alarm Grid. Complete the following steps to send a Certificate of Alarm to your insurance agent as proof that your system is receiving central station service:

1. Complete a verified test. In order to generate a valid CoA, you must have completed an alarm test for which Alarm Grid has verified the incoming signals. If it has been more than two (2) months since the account was activated, or since signals were last verified, then a new signal test must be completed. Once a Certificate has been issued, it will remain valid for one (1) year. After that, you will need to perform a new test and have Alarm Grid verify the signals to receive an updated CoA. Please note that completing a Walk Test will require you or another party to be on-site with the system. This is necessary for faulting the programmed sensors to trigger an alarm report.

You can complete a verified test by emailing us at support@alarmgrid.com and letting us know that you are testing your system for the purpose of receiving an updated CoA. We will respond to your email with instructions on how to properly perform the test. These instructions will include information about contacting the monitoring station and putting your system into test mode before causing any alarms. Once you have sent one test signal for each type of alarm sensor you have (Fire, Burglary, Flood, etc.), respond to the emailed instructions letting us know that you have completed signal testing. We will verify your signals and reply letting you know that your CoA is ready. Before testing, be sure you put your system on test mode with the central station. To put your system on test mode, we recommend using the MyAlarms.com feature or calling us at (888) 818-7728 and choosing option [9] to be redirected to the central station. When calling the monitoring station, they will need your name, address, and false alarm password in order to put your system on test. If you have a Verbal Duress Code, and you provide it to the monitoring station rather than your False Alarm Password, the police will be dispatched, so be sure you have the correct password!

When completing the test, you will want to trigger any type of alarm that is applicable. This can include an intrusion alarm, a fire alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm, a freeze alarm, and a flood alarm. An intrusion alarm can be triggered by faulting a Perimeter Zone while the system is armed, or by letting the Entry Delay expire after faulting an Entry/Exit Zone while the system is armed. A fire or CO alarm can be triggered by activating the test button on a smoke detector or CO detector. A freeze alarm can be triggered by placing an ice pack directly on a low-temperature sensor. A flood alarm can be triggered by following the instructions for testing on your flood sensor. We will send you an email once we have verified that the appropriate alarm signals have come through.

2. Access Alarm Grid account. Once we have verified the successful test, we will update the verification of received signals on your Alarm Grid account. You will then be able to access your account to get the updated CoA. Go to the Alarm Grid website, and sign-in if you haven't already. If you can click the My Account button in the upper-right corner of any page it means you are already signed in. If not, you will see a Login link. Click it and login to www.alarmgrid.com using the email address you signed up with, along with the password you set at the time you signed up. Then click on My Account. If you can't remember your password, follow the instructions after clicking the "Forgot Password?" link on the Alarm Grid login page.

3. Download the certificate. Under the Monitoring Locations section, click the Download Certificate button for the corresponding address. Assuming that you have a recent verified test on file, you will then proceed to Step 4. If you do not have a valid signal test on file, then an alert will be sent to our team notifying us that you are interested in a Certificate of Alarm. This will trigger our email to you with proper instructions on testing your system (mentioned in Step 1). Additionally, if you click this button and you do not have central station service set up, then you will be asked to upgrade your account. Remember, only customers with central station service qualify for a CoA.

4. Provide insurance agent information. After choosing Download Certificate, a pop-up box should appear. You will need to fill out various information relating to your insurance provider. This will allow us to send the Certificate of Alarm to your insurance agent. Click the green Send Certificate button once you have finished. An email will automatically be sent to your insurance agent, and a copy will be sent to your email address on file as well. If you do not have an email address for your insurance agent, be sure to provide a valid Fax Number so that the CoA can be sent via Fax instead.