CCTV Companies locking down network settings

[victory2012]

Hi

 

has anyone had any experience of cctv companies locking down your cctv admin access and refusing to give the password to you, i am trying to change the network ip address and they have locked it all down and want to charge us to change the ip address which is crazy as i can read the manual and change it myself if only if i had this password, at the moment im feeling we are being held to ransom unless we pay up given in mind we paid for the equipment its not loaned or anything.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions how i can persuade them or have u had a similar experience?

[networkmangler]

What make and model are the cameras?

 

You could try factory resetting the cameras if possible, that way you can set the IP and username and password yourself

[plexer]

I'd simply tell them if that's how they do business then not go bother sending a renewal and ask the. For the length of notice needed to terminate any existing agreement.

 

Without knowing more about the system involved and what cameras you have we can only give a general suggestion such as factory resets.

 

Ben

[penfold]

If you are paying them for support then I can understand their reluctance to pass on the admin password allowing you to go in and make changes. However, if you have purchased the system (and there is no support contract) I would have expected for them to provide the details as part of the purchase as without that the system is kind of limited in it's functionality. You may need to go back to the contract you had originally to see what they should have provided and if a support contract is in place. If you do not have that on site, they must have a copy and you may need to do what @plexer has suggested.

[Trapper]

I've had this with a signing in system.

 

We "rent" it. We've paid Lord knows how many thousands to "buy" the system and then have to pay several hundreds each year in "maintenance" which means if we don't pay they take the hardware and software alone.

 

They don't let me have access to it - on occasions when I've say created a user account or changed the IP they've reverted the changes and emailed my line manager about me potentially "hacking" their kit. At the beginning it didn't even have an anti-virus installed nor any Updates. They installed AV, but refuse to run updates and they've not been tested with their software. Please note that the admin software is listed under task manager as "Project 1" - it's a bloody VB knock up!

 

Best I can do is live with it, and hope I can get us out of renewal.

 

HOWEVER! In your case it's CCTV. Which means it's taking footage of the kids which = safeguarding. Get the Head to email them that you need access to ensure that the footage is being properly stored and recorded.