You pay for the installation, the system works beautifully for a few months, and then you stop thinking about it. That is exactly when problems start. A camera lens collects dust and spiders' webs, a firmware update is missed, a sensor battery runs low, or the recorder quietly stops saving footage. You usually discover the fault on the day you need the footage.
A maintenance plan exists to catch these problems before they matter. Here is how to decide whether one is worth it for your London home or business.
What actually goes wrong with security systems
Most failures are not dramatic. They are small, gradual and easy to miss:
- Lenses get dirty or drift out of focus, so faces and number plates become unreadable.
- Software and firmware fall behind, leaving cameras and apps open to avoidable security weaknesses.
- Wi-Fi changes, a new router or a moved device can knock a camera offline without any obvious warning.
- Alarm sensors, keypads and back-up batteries wear out over time.
- Recorders and cloud settings are changed by accident, so motion alerts stop or footage is overwritten sooner than you expect.
None of these is expensive to fix when found early. All of them can leave you unprotected if they are not.
What our plans include
Ai Protech offers three annual care plans, all listed on our CCTV and security page. All prices inc. VAT.
CarePlan Home, £199 per year. One annual health-check visit covering your CCTV, alarm and smart devices, remote support, a priority 48-hour response and 10% off any additional call-outs. It suits a flat or house with a straightforward system that you simply want checked once a year.
CarePlan Home Plus, £349 per year. Two service visits a year, a camera clean and refocus, firmware and app updates, and a priority 24-hour response. This is the better fit for larger homes, or any household that relies on its cameras and alarm every day.
CarePlan Business, £649 per year. Two service visits, cover for up to eight cameras plus an alarm system, an insurer-ready working-order report and a next business-day SLA. For shops, offices and restaurants, that report can be useful evidence if your insurer asks how your security is maintained.
When a plan is worth it
A plan makes the most sense when:
- Your system has more than a handful of devices, or mixes CCTV, alarm and smart home equipment.
- You are away often, or the property is a second home that is empty for weeks.
- You run a business where downtime, or an insurer question, has a real cost.
- You have bought a premium system and want it to stay at its best for years, not months.
If you have a single video doorbell, a plan is probably more than you need. A one-off fit is cheaper, and our video doorbell fitting can be quoted separately.
What a plan does not replace
A care plan is about upkeep, not upgrades. If your cameras are outdated or your coverage has gaps, you may be better off improving the system first. A survey is the sensible starting point: our Home Survey and Design is £99 and our Commercial Survey and Spec is £199. It identifies weak spots in your cameras, alarm and network so you know what is worth fixing.
Reliable Wi-Fi also matters more than people expect, because most modern cameras depend on it. If your connection is patchy, see our Wi-Fi and networking services, where a Wi-Fi Health Check is £149.
A simple way to decide
Ask yourself three questions. Would I know if a camera stopped recording tonight? When was the system last checked by a professional? Would I be comfortable showing my insurer the maintenance record? If any answer is uncertain, a plan is probably good value, and for most households the annual health check alone pays for itself the first time it catches a fault.
Ready to protect your investment?
Tell us what you have installed and we will recommend the right level of cover, with no pressure. Request a quote and we will come back to you with clear pricing for your property anywhere in London.