Landlord Installing Phone Intercom System
I recently received a notice from our landlord informing us that they’re replacing our building’s buzzer system, which is in desperate need of replacement. However, they’re replacing it with a “state of the art” system with electronic scrolling that dials a telephone number. My girlfriend and I both use cellphones and we have no need…
I recently received a notice from our landlord informing us that they’re replacing our building’s buzzer system, which is in desperate need of replacement. However, they’re replacing it with a “state of the art” system with electronic scrolling that dials a telephone number. My girlfriend and I both use cellphones and we have no need for a landline. As such, this “state of the art” system forces us into either having our cellphones called every time somebody rings our apartment, or forcing us into spend a few hundred bucks a year on a landline.
So, two question. First, can my landlord legally install this system and/or do I have any legal grounds for opposing its installation? Second, does anybody live in a building with this system, and is it common? Is it something you like or not?
Thanks in advance for the input.
I like it when Brooklyn Fire Alarm Guy talks dirty like that.
I have a similar issue—my landlord has offered to replace my refrigerator with a state-of-the-art one. I do not cook. Hardly ever eat at home. And, have no use for this new refrigerator. How dare they insist I take this new refrigerator!
Some of the more popular systems don’t actually need an active line. You almost certainly have a verizon demarc in the basement where all the landlines for the building are terminated. The system will almost certainly have a connection here. The easiest install is to replace the demarc with one that has a 25 pair port (assuming it isn’t already there. The intercom has it’s own ring generator and can ring straight up, all you would need is a handset. Try to find out the make and model of the system being installed.
Oh, and your notion of legal opposition is retarded.
I actually am a cheating wife in Park Slope. Could you watch my spoiled children for me while I get balled by my neighbor?
Thanks for the google voice suggestion bklynite, I’ll look into it.
Sounds like it should be fine; thanks for the responses.
get magic jack – only 19.95 a year!
yes, this is a great system: and it sounds like you have some confusion over how it works…
the intercom has a permanent phone number which you can add to your contacts and whenever someone rings the buzzer for your apartment, it will call the cellphone number which is linked to your apt number, that is your number.
When you answer the phone call from your intercom, it will patch you through to the person standing in front of the door and you can speak to them and if you like, you can buzz them in. I had this system when I lived in Bushwick and it was great… because you could never forget your keys that way, just buzz your apartment number and buzz yourself in.
it sounds confusing written down but it works great 😉
Are you a cheating wife in Park Slope a la the Brooklyn Paper article???? The only way I see this as a problem is if your spouse is not home and you’re inviting someone over for a quickie and both of you get the call on your cellphones when some tart shows up (male or female, no judgements here).
You could …
– get a landline
– not get a landline, and just tell everyone who comes to visit that the buzzer doesn’t work and to call your cell phone
– set up a google voice number and have the system call it. Then you could have the google voice number ring on your cell phone and/or your girlfriend’s cell phone (or a landline if you change your mind). And you can do stuff like automatically send calls to voice mail between midnight and 7am.
I don’t see how you’d have any legal grounds for opposing its installation.
babs, you make no sense whatsoever.