Why Do I Have to Pay for Self-Monitoring?

You have to pay for self-monitoring to cover the costs needed to maintain the servers that facilitate alarm monitoring service. The monthly monitoring fee also covers technical support and the development costs that go towards new integrations and features for the monitoring app.

Self-monitoring means that the monitoring service takes place without service from a central monitoring station. Instead the user receives texts, emails, and/or push notifications regarding any system activity. It is then up to the end user to contact any needed authorities during an emergency. Self-monitoring is good for users who can reliably and consistently check their phone and/or email for any events that warrant their attention. Remember, you will need to take action quickly to get a fast response from the local authorities.

Since all of the action takes place on the user's end, we are often asked why self-monitoring service costs money. There are several reasons why customers pay for self-monitoring service. For one, it costs money to maintain the necessary servers. Alarm Grid customers with self-monitoring service receive alerts from either Total Connect 2.0 or Alarm.com. Maintaining the servers that support TC2 and ADC costs money. Customers pay a monthly monitoring fee to cover these costs.

But there is more to this than just simply maintaining servers. The monthly monitoring fee also covers app development costs. Money goes towards improving the TC2 and ADC apps so that end users receive a better experience. This includes offering new integrations and features, as well as fixing any problems or errors. These apps are constantly improving in order to provide end users with a more pleasant experience. It's also worth mentioning that the ADC and TC2 platforms both use a minimum of 128-bit AES encryption to keep any communication completely secure at all times.

A monthly monitoring fee also covers technical support from Alarm Grid. Our company offers complimentary technical support for every monitored customer. This includes email support and phone support during our regular business hours. Our support technicians are highly trained, and we offer some of the very best support in the entire industry. If you are experiencing a problem or issue, or if you require assistance with your system, then you can be sure that we will help you every step of the way.

For self-monitored customers who have cellular monitoring service (Self-Gold or Self-Platinum), the monitoring costs also cover cellular fees. Cellular service providers like AT&T and Verizon charge us for the services they provide. It costs money to maintain their cellular networks. They charge us fees, and we receive compensation from our customers. The benefit to paying extra for cellular monitoring service is that it is extremely reliable. Unlike IP connectivity, a strong cellular connection will almost never go down or become unavailable. This is crucial for keeping your system monitored at all times.

We are aware that there are some "free self-monitoring services" out there. While you certainly have the option to go with one of those services if you wish, we can assure you that you will receive the best service with Alarm Grid. The applications we use for self-monitoring service are reliable and fast. They work more effectively and efficiently than any free alternative that is available. We also offer a greater selection of communication path options, and we provide some of the best support in the entire industry. Any text, email, or push notification regarding your system will be sent out in a very timely manner so that you can quickly request help if it is needed. You should not cut corners if you are trying to provide top-notch security and protection for your home or business. Go with Alarm Grid, and receive service that you can always count on.