“Choosing a new security company? Do your research before signing on the dotted line”
January is a time when a lot of people make decisions about current and potentially new service providers. If you are thinking of choosing a new security company protect your home or your business, it is important to do your research and ask the right questions.“It is important to interrogate any new service provider so that you have absolute confidence that you are appointing the best possible company. You don’t want to leave it to an emergency situation to discover that this new company was not properly prepared or equipped,” says Charnel Hattingh, National Marketing and Communications Manager at Fidelity ADT.
The first question to ask, she says, is about the company’s registration credentials.
“The South African private security industry is very well regulated and all providers need to be registered with the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), among other bodies. By selecting a properly registered provider, you get extra peace of mind knowing that you are dealing with an ethical company that meets the high standards set for this industry,” says Hattingh.
Training and equipment is the next area you should focus on, especially if you start looking at the different fees charged by companies.
“Home and business security should never become a decision you make purely based on price. Have you asked for details about the kind of on-going on the job training that your company provides, and have they explained the tools of the trade (such as armour plated vehicles and Kevlar vests) that they supply to their officers,” says Hattingh.
In the same vein, she recommends also asking what kind of physical presence a company has in your area. Do they, for example, have dedicated vehicles and officers patrolling your suburb?
“Personal and business security has become a high-tech business. It means that you have to ask questions about technological value-adds too,” says Hattingh. This includes the use and deployment of measures such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras, home security automation options, and auto-dispatch systems to alert officers to any emergencies.
Hattingh lastly adds that no decision should be rushed, and that you should only put pen to paper once you have carefully studied the terms and conditions and you are satisfied with the answers you have been given.
“If you ask the right questions and do your homework properly, you should be able to sleep assured tonight knowing that you have appointed the best company to come to your aid when an emergency happens,” concludes Hattingh.
