When you are entrapped in an elevator in California and need medical help, the last thing you want to hear from the person answering your emergency call is, “I’m in Connecticut and we don’t call 911.” Wait. What?
This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about things to consider when choosing an elevator monitoring company here at Kings III. Yes, you can choose who monitors your elevator phone and there are many reasons why using the elevator company call center or answering the calls in-house isn’t your best option. The reality is, the scenario described happens more often than you realize. In fact, this is exactly what happened in San Diego when we met with a couple of property managers who work for a large and well-known California-based realty corporation recently.
Elevator Emergency Response Put to the Test
One of these property managers was familiar with and had recommended Kings III but since the other one was not; they decided to survey their property to “push buttons” and see what happened when they tried to call for help. It was not a comforting experience.
Initially, they were appalled at how long it took to actually get someone to answer the call, (an average of three to five minutes, Kings III answers within seconds and code requires within 45 seconds), and from there, things went from bad to worse. Once they were connected they had to respond to a series of recorded prompts before being transferred to a live human. Unfortunately, once the operator answered she was not able to identify their location (also code required) and had no contact information for the building. When pressed as to what the operator would do if an entrapped passenger was having a heart attack and needed medical attention, they received the following response, “I’m in Connecticut and we don’t call 911.” Oh, and did we mention this was one of the major elevator company’s call center answering? That was enough to reinforce the need for a change.
Paying More for Inadequate Response
After testing a few more elevators and receiving similar responses, they were now concerned about what would happen if someone were actually entrapped. Next, we sat down to review just how much this disappointment was costing them, and that proved enlightening as well. We discovered each month they were paying just under $5,000 for all 12 buildings (29 phone lines) under their management and determined that with our cellular elevator phone technology, Kings III could save them nearly $3,000/month.
Through the encouragement of a simple evaluation of the emergency phone system this California realty company already had in place, we were able to reveal not only the improvements to service/response but also the cost savings that Kings III could provide them. We had made a customer out of the once-skeptic corporation.
Important to note: using Kings III does not negate your current elevator contract as elevator phones are not usually covered. This exercise also highlighted that two-way communication alone is inadequate and just because you have a working phone in your elevator doesn’t mean you’ll get the help you need. In addition to the potential reduction in your monthly expenses, Kings III can also help:
BENEFITS
- Closed gaps in inadequate emergency response
- Mitigated risk and liability by replacing a system with a more compliant solution
- Savings: $3000 per month’s worth!
Increase safety and reliability with calls being answered 24/7/365 in 175+ languages by our AEMD certified emergency dispatchers in our ETL Listed Central Station.
Mitigate risk & liability exposure as all calls are digitally recorded with a date and time stamp, and made available to customers upon request.
Manage tenant experience with dispatchers responding to callers with the utmost care, staying on the line until help arrives when requested, and keeping you in the loop so that you have the opportunity to follow up after an incident
Regrettably, we hear similar stories from new customers across California as well as nationwide. Get in touch to learn more about how to improve tenant experience while eliminating your landlines and potentially saving money.
Find out how to improve safety and reduce costs at your property
Our best-in-class emergency phone + monitoring solutions provide peace of mind and are backed by decades of expertise
Learn More
2022 ELLIES WINNER
Best Supplier -
Communication System
Don’t Just Take it From Us…
We received a call from a help phone at our customer’s property from a 15-year-old youth who ran away from a home he had been placed in. He just jumped on a bus and took it to a location he didn’t know. He arrived in Wichita, KS on a bus at 3:10 PM and wandered around until midnight, until he felt the need to call for help.[read more] We were able to send help his way by dispatching the police to his location and notify the appropriate personnel at the property so they were aware of the situation. [/read]
We received a call from an apartment complex. A resident who had just had surgery had collapsed in their apartment and her husband called the front office for help. The site manager called 911 but the line was busy. They then used our pool phone to call us for help and we were able to contact emergency services and get help on the way.
We received a call from a senior living center where a caller was using a pool phone while having a mental health emergency. When our Emergency Dispatch Center called the property, the property replied that this was an elderly person who was off their medicine, and the staff was unable to help her due to another emergency. Our operator team went above and beyond and called police and EMS services, who also said[read more] they couldn’t help since the caller was declining emergency services. The EMS team suggested calling the Austin mental health crisis line. While it’s not part of our protocols, the EDC team did the right thing and took the initiative by following the EMS recommendation. They conferenced in the mental health line and kept the line open so that the caller could speak with them and get this woman some help.[/read]
Two callers, one male and one female placed a call from a pool phone in Connecticut, advising our operator that they had been walking down the street when a lady came to her front door and asked them to call 911 for her because she doesn’t have a working phone inside her residence and she wasn’t feeling well. This lady lives next to a community pool, so the couple[read more] walked down to the clubhouse and used the pool phone to call us. Another great example showing that our phones are not just used for emergencies related to pools and elevators. [/read]
A caller from Wichita Falls went to her friend’s house, Debbie, for a visit. When the caller approached the home, she found that the door was open. Inside she found Debbie with her head and knees in the tub, stiff and cold to the touch. The caller went to the office pool phone to call us for help. The caller stated that Debbie was an alcoholic and she wasn’t sure if she had[read more] been washing her hair in the tub or if she had passed out due to alcohol consumption. EMS was dispatched immediately and EDC supervisor Emily stayed on the line with the caller and gathered information. The caller refused to check for a pulse, advising that Debbie was beyond her help and needed EMS. We helped her to remain calm and know that help was on the way. [/read]
Our emergency dispatch center supervisor received an emergency phone activation from an elevator in Lauderhill, Florida. The caller told Emily he had been shot and needed police and emergency medical services. The only information Emily could get was that he was on the 1st floor and he wasn’t sure if anyone else had been hurt. He stopped responding after providing[read more] this information. He was conscious and breathing when he first called, but his speech started to slur before he stopped responding and it was unclear if he had exited the elevator or if his condition changed. The EDC immediately dispatched and passed on his location information to emergency responders. [/read]
Kings III received a call from the pool phone behind the clubhouse from a gentleman advising that there was another male in his 60’s had fallen in the parking lot out front and hit his head on a parking block. The male was bleeding from his head and the only way that he was able to call for help is through the pool phone. The wife stayed up front with the male and the gentleman[read more] that found him ran to the back of the complex and used the pool phone to call us. [/read]
A Kings III operator received an activation from an Office Pool at 3:20am and connected with a female that was clearly under the influence. It was evident by her speech and the lack of her being able to answer our questions or tell us what was going on that she needed assistance, so the operator continued to ask probing questions to ensure he did what he could. The female declined[read more] our offer to call her children or her husband and said that she would call her husband herself. The operator disconnected the call and within a few minutes, we received another activation. This time another Kings III operator received the call from the same female. This operator provided suggestions and offered assistance to which the female advised that she had tried all those ways to get out, but the gates were all locked and her key fob wasn’t working. The operator again offered to call her husband for her because she was unable to contact anyone from the property. The female gave the same numbers, but in many different sequences, so Kim had to clarify many times in order to get a working #. Our operator exhausted all management contacts and the female’s husband, ultimately ending with a Fire dispatch to assist her out of the gated pool area. This call was very early in the morning, and it ended up that the female did not have her cell phone with her. Had the property not had a Kings III phone, there is no telling how long she would have had to stay locked in the pool area before someone discovered her. [/read]
A Kings III operator received a call from a pool phone. The male and female on the other end of the line advised that they had been walking down the street and a lady that lives at 14 Swan Lake Trail came to her front door and asked them to call 911 for her because she doesn’t have a working phone inside her residence and she wasn’t feeling well. The couple walked down[read more] to the Clubhouse and used the pool phone to call us. [/read]
To me, trust with vendors is so important. I need to be able to take care of my customers without any concern. With Kings III, I don’t have to think about my elevator phones. This gives me so much peace of mind. I can walk away and know that my tenants are going to be okay just knowing they will be on the other end of the line, and that they can do more than just contact someone to respond to an issue, including help with medical issues. I’m always blown away at the capabilities of Kings III’s call center.
My experience with Kings III was a positive one from start to finish. A Kings III account rep answered my initial phone call without me having to leave a voicemail (a definite plus). From there, the service department was great at identifying my emergency phone needs and creating an appointment, making sure everything was set. The technician showed up and clearly knew his job. He was polite, efficient, and got the job done quickly without problem. He was even polite to a customer who needed the elevator! Couldn't be more satisfied with the service.
Initially working with Kings III was more about the cost savings. Then one month into my contract, an emergency occurred. A car accident took out a local transformer, turning my building dark for 8 hours. Three ladies got stuck in an elevator (in 106 degree-weather) and used the elevator phone. Kings III dispatched 911 & called me with a status update. Calmly, the operator explained what happened and steps being taken. Our tenants were out of the elevator in 6 minutes. My sales rep even reached out to make sure I was ok. That’s service you don’t see anymore.
One of our tenants recently got stuck in the elevator during a full building electrical shut down and was able to use the emergency phone to call the dispatcher, who then called our security guard, who then notified our engineer to restore power so we could bring the elevator to the ground floor. All in less than 15 minutes! If we didn't have Kings III in place, she could have been stuck in the elevator for several hours (if she had her cell, she may have had to call 911 which would have wasted valuable first responder resources to make a trip to the building.)
Executive Elevator, Inc. has been a partner with Kings III for several years. With exceptional customer service, reliability and expertise in their field, they've proven their professional capabilities many times. We've referred several customers to Kings III for emergency phone monitoring with outstanding results every time. The security of knowing every emergency call is being handled by a specialized emergency dispatch center with seamless efficiency, gives us and our customers the peace of mind that's rare in the world of elevators. We highly recommend a Kings III partnership.
I’ve always had such a seamless and reliable experience with Kings III that if we acquire a property that doesn’t already utilize them for their emergency phones, I really just don’t get it. To me, it seems like the most obvious solution. In fact, in the past, I have been worried about having some trouble with our elevators, and even my staff told me, “Believe me, we have Kings III. We’ll get it up.” It’s clear that Kings III’s reliability is well-known.
For suppliers, if I'm not thinking about you, you're doing your job. And I don't think about Kings III. There are 3 vendors I don't hesitate at all to refer to industry colleagues and Kings III is one of those.
With Kings III, I'm no longer left wondering if my communities will be able to get someone on the phone if there is elevator trouble. How do I know? I test it, and it works! They have provided me with peace of mind at my communities.
When choosing Kings III, the real sale for me was their reporting and conversation recording ability. This is definitely a system I recommend for our properties throughout for cost savings and liability concerns.
I am happy to recommend the high-quality services of Kings III Emergency Communications. I personally have been using Kings III for over ten years to manage the emergency lines of over 15+ multifamily assets with RAM Partners, LLC. I have always been completely satisfied with their performance and appreciate our working relationship. They do an excellent job, from initial install all the way to the account reps we work with. They are always very responsive with 24-hour services, and offer competitive rates in the market.
The largest takeaway from using Kings III elevator phone service is the language proficiency. In Orlando, we have a diverse melting pot of culture. Our office park houses numerous governmental agencies and businesses that service our culturally rich city. In the event of emergency, we need a quick response and efficient communication. The technicians who service our property are also great! They are very professional, courteous and great communicators.
Jones & Jones Communities put our residents safety as a priority at all our properties. Kings III has played a major role in assisting us in the reduction of risk and liability. We also saw a significant cost savings through telephone line reduction. From corporate staff to their field technicians, they are professional with top notch service.
We are grateful to have Kings III’s service! It is nice to know that Kings III can assist us in a timely manner. We have peace of mind that Kings III service includes multilanguage assistance. My Kings III rep is always on top of things, assisting me and my team providing us with great service.
The Kings III technician who installed our device was wonderful! He arrived on time and was very thorough, friendly, and completed the job with perfection. He explained everything to me at the end and made sure I understood what to do moving forward.
I am so appreciative that Kings III was able to install emergency phones on my property on such short notice. Their operation runs like a well-oiled machine from start to finish!
We've had excellent experience with Kings III's onsite technicians. They are very responsive, quick to inform us of what is going on, and super friendly.
Before we started with Kings III I tested our elevator phones and was horrified with the responses I received. I feel much more at ease knowing our residents will be well taken care of when they are in need of help. So far everything has been great and the transition was seamless.
I should let Kings III sell you their products and pricing, but the services they provide have proven to be an excellent value for our company. They have come through for us in tight situations and I have the utmost confidence in them.
It has been a pleasure working with Kings III. In my 5 year relationship with Kings III the service has been consistent and efficient, with great follow through. I would recommend Kings III to anyone reviewing their services.
It means the world to me that I can always count on Kings III to watch over my property, help ensure its safety, and to provide a quick response. For that, I thank each and every single one of you.
I have been so happy with my experience with Kings III. I honestly wish Kings III could handle all of my phones. Every employee has been so easy to work with and understanding. I have to give a shout out to Kings III tech Robby. He has gone above and beyond, helping me identify lines and save a lot of money. I would recommend Kings III to all of my friends and colleagues.
When I first transferred to Houston, one of my properties used Kings III. At that time, the technician that serviced our site was Martin. Though I haven’t worked with him in years, he made such an impression on me for the years I had this property. He was responsive, amazing at helping us troubleshoot, and just so pleasant. This is the reason why King’s III is the only service I consider for my emergency phone needs. It’s great to know that he's still with your company, and you're fortunate to have him. I can’t think of another contractor whose employee left such an impression on me after all these years.
I've always had much respect for Kings III largely because of the people that make up the company. Bob is no exception. He always responds to every email and phone call and takes the time to follow up on every request or inquiry. He fully understands the long standing partnership between Midwest Elevator and Kings III and delivers every time. He treats our potential clients with respect. We're passionate about taking care of our existing clients and shield them from high pressure sales people but I never hesitate to put Bob directly in touch with our customers to get a deal done.
We're a current customer of Kings III, using them for our pool phones at approximately 43 locations. We're very comfortable recommending them as a primary choice for emergency communications. Kings III has proven to be an extremely reliable vendor. The response times are quick and customer service is outstanding. Using Kings III, we have realized a substantial saving over previous vendors. Each of our locations is charged one low monthly fee for maintenance, warranty, and equipment service. When you consider value, liability protections and service, Kings III is an excellent choice.
I would like to express how pleased I am to work with Kings III. Kings III services our elevator communication needs for Lanidex Plaza, and we are extremely satisfied. Their state of the art system and 24-hour monitoring provides our team as well as our tenants with the comfort, safety and reliability necessary in the event of an elevator entrapment. Their total service package meets all our standards, including equipment testing and voice recordings of every call. It's comforting to know that if any question ever arises, the Kings III team is always available and ready to help.
Their services are unmatched. Kings III’s attention to detail, industry leading equipment,and top of the line services gives me the assurance that our tenants and owners will receive the best care possible, if ever necessary. Recently I had an insurance inspection and the inspector gave us ‘two thumbs up’ and said that is the most missed and neglected item in a building. He commended us on having Kings III and their professional staff literally at our fingertips.
On Monday, I got stuck in an elevator in my school’s building in Miami, Florida. I suffer from anxiety/panic attacks and claustrophobia and when I pressed the emergency button I got the most helpful person, Operator Steven. Steven stayed on the phone with me the whole time I was stuck and reassured me I was completely safe, help was on the way and that everything was going to be okay. He truly went above and beyond his job and for that I am very thankful.
Kings III is our primary choice for emergency communications for our elevators & pool sites. They provide full maintenance, warranty, and service of our equipment therefore, there are no surprise repair or replacement costs so I find it easy to budget for. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I am meeting all my emergency phone requirements in the most professional, productive, and economical manner.
As a property manager, the safety of our tenants in the event of an elevator entrapment coupled with the reliability of the emergency communication system, is a top priority. We recently took over a property that needed a new system immediately. I contacted Kings III and explained the necessity of having the system installed as soon as possible. They understood the issues, the need to move quickly and had the job complete the following morning. Their line seizing capabilities also provides a significant monthly savings.
Since signing up with Kings III, I have been shown that attention to detail and customer service are their top priority. I have always received immediate attention when something has gone wrong, which is very rare, but things happen. They are great at helping me troubleshoot situations before having to send a technician out which saves us all time and, I'm sure, money. When a technician does have to come out they are always professional and courteous. I value my relationship with this company and believe it will last well into the future.
Kings III has been an absolute pleasure to work with. From sales to service to billing, everyone involved is very professional and caring with any requests we have made. I appreciate the service Kings III provides and will continue to be a customer for the foreseeable future.
Kings III has been a longstanding trusted partner with each of my new communities. They provide peace of mind, operational expertise and a wealth of experience to ensure my emergency systems are top notch. I value and depend on their extensive knowledge and innovative approach to their clients.
Our Kings III technician fixed both problems in our elevators. He is informative about the issues, able to address and repair them and communicates well with the business office. He is an asset to the Kings III team!
I would like to take the time to thank one of your customer service representatives, Tina. A visitor for one of the residents was trapped in the elevator and she stayed on the phone with her until help arrived. She should be commended for her outstanding customer service.
Kings III is always very prompt, fast, and efficient, and its staff very knowledgeable!
Kings III went out of their way to push scheduling up to meet our deadlines. Their service was invaluable to both us and our residents!
Our Kings III representative made it very easy to order the equipment and service. The rate is very reasonable and the technician who completed the installation was phenomenal!
When dealing with a modern installation in a 46-year-old building, the challenges are endless. Our Kings III technicians got the install completed by their combined knowledge and pure persistence.
Excellent customer service! Oscar was just fantastic and customer service at its best! Keep up the excellent work Kings III.
Our technician would not leave until he figured out the problem. He was awesome and definitely committed to his job and exhuming customer service!
Our Kings III technician at Canyon Grove was absolutely amazing. He did everything he could to figure out our issue, and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. So much that I recommended him to two of our other properties. 100% from me.
Partnering with Kings III couldn't have been an easier decision for us. Their elevator phone monitoring provides a great value for our customers who love the additional features like call recording and auto-testing. Working with Kings III helps to free up our technician's time to focus on what we do best- providing expert and reliable elevator maintenance to our customers. It has been a mutually beneficial relationship and one that we plan to keep building on.
Kings III has never once failed to exceed our expectations with their wonderful technicians and great customer service.
Kings III had such a fast turnaround time and the part I needed was under warranty so no charge to me. Thanks!