Overview

If your alarm was triggered but you did not receive a verification call from the Central Monitoring Station (CMS), it does not necessarily mean your monitoring service is inactive.

In many cases, this is expected behavior and is part of the CMS's standard operating procedures for reducing unnecessary false alarm responses.

Understanding the "Closing" and "Opening" Events

When reviewing your event SMS/ Email history, you may see the following terms:

• Closing (System Armed) – Indicates the security system was armed by an authorized user.
• Opening (System Disarmed) – Indicates the security system was disarmed by an authorized user.

These events help the Central Monitoring Station determine how to handle alarm activity.

What Happens If an Alarm Occurs Shortly After Arming?

When an intrusion alarm is received within approximately one to two minutes after a Closing (System Armed) event, the CMS follows a specific verification protocol.

Rather than immediately processing the alarm for dispatch, the event is temporarily logged and evaluated.

This procedure exists because it is common for users to:

• Accidentally trigger a sensor while leaving.
• Forget an item and re-enter the premises.
• Trigger an alarm before the programmed exit delay has expired.
• Accidentally activate the system while someone is still inside.

This short observation period helps prevent unnecessary dispatches caused by accidental user activity.

What If the System Is Disarmed?

If the alarm is followed by a valid Opening (System Disarmed) event using an authorized user code, the CMS recognizes that an authorized person has accessed the system.

The event is then classified as a Verified False Alarm.

When this occurs:

• The alarm signal is successfully received by the CMS.
• The event is logged in the account history.
• No verification phone call is made.
• No emergency dispatch is initiated.

This confirms that the alarm was resolved by an authorized user.

What Happens During a Real Intrusion?

If the alarm continues beyond the initial one to two-minute observation period without a valid Opening (System Disarmed) event, the CMS treats the alarm as a genuine intrusion.

The monitoring station will then follow its normal response procedures, which may include:

• Contacting the premises.
• Contacting the emergency contact list.
• Dispatching emergency services, when appropriate and according to your monitoring plan.

Example Event Timeline

In this example:

• The alarm occurred shortly after the system was armed.
• The system was disarmed only 18 seconds later using a valid user code.
• Because an authorized user disarmed the system within the CMS observation period, the event was classified as a Verified False Alarm.
• No verification phone call or emergency dispatch was necessary.

Does This Mean My Monitoring Is Inactive?

No.

In fact, the opposite is true.

If your account history shows a Verified False Alarm, it confirms that:

• ✅ The alarm signal was successfully received by the Central Monitoring Station.
• ✅ Your monitoring service is active.
• ✅ The CMS correctly followed its standard operating procedures.

How Can I Verify My Monitoring?

If you would like additional peace of mind, you can perform a supervised alarm test.

A supervised test allows you to verify that:

1. Your alarm panel is communicating with the CMS.
2. Alarm signals are being received correctly.
3. Monitoring responses are functioning as expected.

To schedule a supervised test, please contact Customer Support before triggering your alarm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't I receive a phone call?

Because the alarm occurred shortly after a Closing (System Armed) event and was followed by a valid Opening (System Disarmed) event within the CMS observation period. The event was verified as a false alarm, so no verification call was required.

Does this mean my monitoring service isn't working?

No. The alarm signal was successfully received by the Central Monitoring Station. The event was simply handled according to standard monitoring procedures.

What is a "Verified False Alarm"?

A Verified False Alarm occurs when the CMS receives an alarm signal but can confirm that an authorized user disarmed the system shortly afterward using a valid user code.

Will emergency services always be dispatched?

No. Emergency dispatch depends on several factors, including the type of alarm, your monitoring plan, and whether the alarm is verified or cancelled according to CMS procedures.

Can I test my monitoring service?

Yes. You can request a supervised alarm test through Customer Support at any time to confirm that your system is communicating properly with the Central Monitoring Station.

Summary

If an intrusion alarm occurs shortly after a Closing (System Armed) event and is followed by a valid Opening (System Disarmed) event, the Central Monitoring Station will normally classify the event as a Verified False Alarm.

This protocol helps reduce unnecessary emergency dispatches while ensuring that genuine alarm events continue to receive the appropriate response. A Verified False Alarm is an indication that your alarm signal was received and that your monitoring service is operating correctly.