Brinks: Electrical Permit

[vk11]

Hi

I just won a Premium Keypad installation with Brinks through a scratch-and-win at a home show - its a 0$ installation with a premium keypad and 16 contact points (my home is prewired).
The Brinks guy came over and is charging us around $52 + tax for applying and obtaining an government electrical permit (I am based in Vancouver, BC) for installing the security system. Has anybody had to pay this amount. Does the consumer need to pay up for the electrical permit?

Thanks

[Acid_]

Hi

I just won a Premium Keypad installation with Brinks through a scratch-and-win at a home show - its a 0$ installation with a premium keypad and 16 contact points (my home is prewired).
The Brinks guy came over and is charging us around $52 + tax for applying and obtaining an government electrical permit (I am based in Vancouver, BC) for installing the security system. Has anybody had to pay this amount. Does the consumer need to pay up for the electrical permit?

Thanks

I'm in Vancouver too and haven't heard of this. You could ask which government (probably municipal) and ask for a receipt. I'd definitely call Brinks to verify that they guy wasn't pocketing this "permit" fee.

[vk11]

Thanks - I did call up Brinks and they verified this fee. It is weird that we as consumers need to pay this fee...Do you know if other alarm companies liek ADT charge the same?

Thanks

[Frankie3s]

Are you sure that you had won anything? I mean a lot of alarm companies will do a free install and then charge you a reoccurring monthly fee. Is this what you had won? The scratch card reminds me of a gym that used to send them out and of course, everyone won a free gym bag redeemable upon signing up.

Just my two cents!

[vk11]

yes its a free install + electrical permit cost + monthly fee of 33 bucks...

but they do say its FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[woof]

Yeah, sounds like one of those scratch-and-wins where everbody "wins". Eventually the winners figure out that they really lost. LOL!

[Maymybonneliveforever]

As Frankie3s alot of Alarm companies will install there system for free, you don't have to win anything as long as you sign and pay for there monthly montoring fees.

As for the electrical permit, some years ago homeowners and many (non electrical) trades aren't allowed to do there own home electrical therefore there is a need for this permit. Most don't apply nor charge for this service since it can allow them not to be competative. Since they weren't giving you a quote then the permit and charge was easy to implement.