I'm sure we all have come across one or two in our past, I've been working on a countdown timer that would shut the remote down permanently or (wipe out the memory) at a preset date. Well the concept is great but my programmer and I still haven't been successful. Has anyone seen or know of a utility that can guaranty all of us full payment for our knowledge and dedication to controls?
Remotes: TSU2000 - TSU3000 - Pro

Payment on completion. Accounts receiveable SUCK! People think we are a lending institution!

Am I strange? I cannot understand the concept of completing a Remote, Leaving it with the Client, and Not getting paid for it.

Perhaps its not a "Self Destruct" you need for the prontos, but a look at who handles your Sales & Payments.

Sometimes accidents happens - somebody of folks swith plasma to unused input, untuns any device or unplugs some cables. Who can restore functionality, except YOU? The only you need - is to keep normal relations with those customers...

Accounts receivable or sales is not the issue, we have come across clients that hold the last payment beyond a reasonable time. The general business practice is solely on trust with any client, that being a fact. Our only course for security would be timing out the system through the remote. It's a practice that we use on AMX and Crestron systems given the thousands of dollars at risk.

Without a doubt we can always use the judicial or collection system, which in turn is a timely/costly choice.

I just want them to feel the pain...of not being able to enjoy a system due to their bad payment habits.

I feel the same way you do. I've been trying to figure if there is a way you can do something like this for awhile. here's a great story for you all. We were doing work for a client installing cameras throughout the property. He had a horrible buzz on two of his phones (We did not install the phone system). He asked us if we could check out the buzz while we were there and even though I thought it was a bad idea my boss agreed for us to. We spent 32 man hours running new wires, and trying to shield a neon light system he had in the basement to eliminate the sound. we got the sound reduced in a big way, but it was still faintly there. My boss decided not to charge him for all the time, because he should've known better than to spend that much time on it. When he recieved the final bill he paid all of it except $4,000 and stated "I have a $4,000 buzz in my phones". People pull this crap all the time. I have never seen so many people hold up payment or wait 3 months after a job is complete to pay up until I came into this field of work. Not to make this longer, but we once did go into a clients house while he thought we were installing more equipment, and took every piece we installed out. There was 3 TV's 14 PBX phones, the contrlloer, DVD's Niles systems, ect. He came home as we were loading the last phone and FREAKED OUT! He threatened to call the police for "stealing" what was not his yet because he didn't pay for it. And chased my boss around his truck while waving a piece of firewood at him. Needless to say, after he calmed down (about 2hrs) he paid the bill in full and we put all the equipment back.

Good way! I envy you with pleasure!
Most of my niggardly clients have their own guards with pistols near the residence, and the departmental ones with tommy-guns after the swing gate :((
However, some of them deliver the new clients, not so VIPs :))

U.S. courts have frequently ruled against companies that put self-destruct or similar mechansims into software, even when activated because of non-payments.

The most you are allowed to do is to go into some sort of reduced functionality mode.

The theory is that a business could go broke if the software it used suddenly stopped working, and the supplier of the software has no right to take such drastic action.

Not a self destruct but maybe another route to think
of. Consider making a menu that goes nowhere and is
virtually unable to get out of by a un-informed
customer.

Non-payment? phone them up tell them your checking
thier software version for correct billing and
somehow "guide" them into this menu. If they are dumb they won't know how to get out of the screen.

Screen could say "Sorry! Pay your bill!"

Just a thought, won't stop the diehards but will stump
the "basic" people out there!

Lumpy

What the hell are you saying? Do you program remotes and how does it work. Do you have a link?

Easily done with a Crestron system with an e-card and forwarded ports.

But I will quote a nameless individual when he said, "Don't get caught!"

But if you do your homework, if the client signs an agreement like they have when you use trial software, you CAN legally disable the software of the control system.

JJP

Or through C+, this is exactly what I do with our controls.

The client signs an agreement that expires the software of the control system within 30 days of delivery date. At time we also keep all the remotes, till paid in full.

This insures that we get paid in full.

Do you know of any utility that will do the same with a pronto 2000/3000?

Not that I'm aware of. As far as I know, there's not enough flexibility with the firmware or the software to be able to do this. Sounds like you'd have to get into the OS of the 2000/3000 remotes to be able to do this.

JJP

You could always try a little C4 and a timer in the battery compartment. Power's right there, and it would definitely get the client's attention. You might even be able to blame the whole thing on Philips.

Jim L

so that's what happened to my Pronto and I was told it was Philips fault :-)