Stealth Alarms loses appeal, out of business for 45 days

October 7, 2004 CALGARY, Alberta - Stealth Alarms quest to appeal a suspension of its business license by the city of Calgary ended in failure last week and the company will now have to cease operations for 45 days. The suspension, which begins Oct. 30, was implemented on 50 complaints received from consumers regarding the company’s business practices since1999. After the appeal was rejected, Brad Morrison, the president of the company, said he was not surprised by the result. “We felt confident that the decision had already been made,” he said. Even so, Morrison was confused over the exact reason for the suspension. “I could understand the suspension if we had 200 to 300 complaints,” he said. Now Morrison must face the inevitable - that the company cannot sell, install or monitor any security accounts for 45 days. But anticipating the city’s move, the company has made sure its subscribers are not left without service. Wholesale monitoring company Secureacom, which according to its web site has been in business since March 2000, started shadowing Stealths’ accounts six weeks ago in the event in preparation for the suspension. “The majority of our accounts are with them at this point,” Morrison said, “and all of them will be under them by Oct. 30.” Morrison said he has worked out an agreement with Secureacom that will allow Stealth to bring its 60,000 accounts back into the company’s fold after the suspension has run its course. “We have every intention of continuing operations after the 45 days,” he said. Later this week, Stealth faces another hurdle. It has a scheduled hearing with the provincial government for operating without a direct seller’s license.