On Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:43:49 -0000, "Toby Sleigh"
wrote:


A cunning plan indeed, but insurance companies are notorious for weasling
out on the slightest excuse, so my original question still remains
unanswered.
Are there any companies that will maintain a diy fitted burglar alarm.

Not that I have ever come across, and it would take a very silly
company to chose to do so.

As has already been pointed out it is usually a very bad idea to say
you have an alarm for insurance purposes unless it is a proper
monitored Redcare type, not the noddy ADT type auto diallers which are
very simple to disable.

The problem with having an alarm declared to insurers is that
insurers, in the event of a break in will often want proof the alarm
activated to prove the "break in" was not done by someone resident in
the house. In most cases it is impossible with a bells only alarm to
provide such proof.

In any event the discount they offer is far lower than the cost of any
maintenance contract.

Also bear in mind police forces do not, as a matter of policy, react
to bells only alarm as over 99% are false alarms. If a neighbour
phones the police and reports an alarm activation they will be
referred to the local council noise abetment unit. Only if they phone
and say the alarm has gone off and they can see someone loading your
belongings into a van might someone turn up, eventually.