Hear! Hear! I think that this is a very good idea.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eric van der Walt Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 9:26 AM To: The Observatory Neighbourhood watch Subject: [obsnw] Re: Vetus Schola Alarm Protection Company Taking a high-level view of the situation: How will it be possible for Premier to operate profitably in Obs with the same client base, while providing the same (or better) levels of service? Basic common sense implies that they must either: a) increase charges, or b) decrease costs (i.e. service quality; or was VS operating very "inefficiently"?), or c) significantly grow their client base, where VS failed to do so. I for one would be keen to join a more formalized "collective bargaining" structure/group, preferably facilitated by OBSID and/or ONW, which would negotiate rates, monitor service, etc., and hopefully ensure a measure of continuity over time. It also seems to make sense to integrate the private security ("armed response") as far as possible with the security efforts of the OBSID. From what I've seen over the past year or two, the OBSID is being run very well, and at least it would seem to be motivated by personal interest in addition to purely commercial imperatives. In other words, I'd rather pay my armed response fees to OBSID (or ONW?), and have them "provide" the alarm monitoring and patrolling functions along with their more community-wide security efforts... On Sep 27, 6:10 pm, Ancois Bester <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > > Below an email from Vetus Schola management. Their apologies for the > belated > reply: > --------------------------- > > Dear Observatory Armed Response Client; > > It is with regret that we note the concerns coming from Armed Response > clients in Observatory, as our intention was never to cause upset or > to appear under-handed in any way in these proceedings. It was > sincerely hoped that the official communication to all clients in > letter form would answer any questions that may have arisen, both in > terms of the practicalities of the transfer to Premier Security, as > well as the sincerity of our intentions in this matter, and that such > communication would allay any fears or concerns in this regard. > > Nevertheless, as already eloquently put by Mr James Cowley in his mail > of earlier today to the OBS Google Group, Vetus Schola has effectively > been subsidising the Armed Response unit for at least the past 12 > months, and with a client base of just over 90 clients it was simply > impossible to continue to bear the associated cost of running Response > vehicles in OBS with 3 crew members etc. Despite our best efforts to > grow in the neighbourhood it was unsuccessful - through no one's fault > and for no want of trying. It was at this point that a partner was > sought who could take over the client base, someone with the capacity > to deliver the kind of service we would be satisfied with. It was > also important to VS that we found someone willing to take over the > existing staff, or as many as possible, so that the same experienced > and dedicated crew members could remain in OBS and continue to deliver > the standard of service you have come to expect. > > Given the established nature of Premier, and their existing > infrastructure, it became clear that they were the logical choice to > take over, essentially ticking all the right boxes in terms of the > criteria mentioned above in terms of professionalism and service > delivery. As stated in the letter to all our previous clients, our > discussions with Premier also focused on ensuring that existing VS > contracts - including pricing structure etc. - would be honoured going > forward. Of course, as also stated in an earlier thread to the Group, > the CPA will still provide protection for consumer rights where > clients are not satisfied and wish to make alternative arrangements. > > Finally, we wish to assure all clients that these developments have > all occurred just recently and have moved very quickly, as they > sometimes do, and as such we can assure everyone that this is > certainly not a case of anything being hidden until the last possible > moment, but we did want to move quickly to ensure a seamless > transition of services to you as the client. > > We trust that the response above will go some way to allaying any > fears or concerns there may be, but wish to reaffirm our commitment in > OBS as we will still be very much involved in the OBSID in terms of > the patrolling and crime-prevention element, as per our commitment to > OBSID, and with a view very much centred on continuing to forge and > build on the excellent relationships we have with the OBSID and ONW, > as well as other service providers. > > With sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused, > > The VS Board of Directors > > Vetus Schola > > Protection Services (Pty) Ltd > > Tel + 27 (0) 21 914 1927 > > Fax + 27 (0) 21 914 9270 > > Cell + 27 (0) 82 672 4004 > > Fax2Email 0865740041 > > Email *[email protected] <[email protected]>* > > Web *www.VetusSchola.co.za<http://www.vetusschola.co.za/>* > > Best regards, > Ancois > *Assistant to COO, Office Manager* > > <http://goog_1464495583/> > <http://goog_1464495583/>OBSID<http://obsid.org.za/>: > Observatory Improvement District > 41 Station road, Observatory > [email protected] / [email protected] > *tel*: 021 448 7090 *fax*: 086 639 4005 OBSID website > <http://www.obs.org.za/improvement-district/> > Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/Observatory.Improvement.District> > Twitter <https://twitter.com/#%21/OBSID_Obs> ONW Google group > <https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21forum/obsnw> > iloveobs Google group > <https://groups.google.com/forum/#%21forum/iloveobs> > > On 27 September 2011 18:06, Trevor Hughes <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > I received a personal email from Richard Frost. I have invited him > > to join the group and introduce himself here and reply to the group. > > I guess he contacted others personally too. > > > Trev > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en. > > > > image003.jpg > 1KViewDownload -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
