Shopping around for GPS Vehicle Tracking System? – See our GoTrack Company – Rules of the Road!
Since early 2001, we have been providing families and businesses with real-time, 24/7/365, GPS vehicle tracking services. As we continue to grow and get to know our customers, we have learned that several of them have signed on with us after frustrating experiences with other well-known GPS tracking companies. To combat consumer frustrations, we have created a strict industry code of ethics, titled, “Rules of the Road.” We urge all consumers to use our road rules to help them research GPS tracking companies.
1. Does the tracking company answer the phone with a human?
Computerized customer service operating systems have become extremely popular among both large and small GPS tracking companies. The user experience is often times impersonal, frustrating and downright maddening. How many times have you caught yourself yelling, at absolutely no one while on the line with “Customer Service?” Customer service is meant to be personal and provide us with actual answers rather than creating anger and even more confusion.
Before choosing a tracking company, call in to their customer service department. Did a real-life human answer the phone? If the answer is “No,” keep looking for the right tracking company for you, your family or business.
Stella Service, a company well known for rating popular internet retailers on their quality of customer service discovered that companies using actual human beings to answer their calls have shorter wait times. Customer service should be personal, not robotic.
Also, if the company is American owned, their call center should be located in America, not elsewhere.
2. Does the tracking company send tamper alerts?
It’s not uncommon for employees to try and remove or alter a GPS tracking device once they find one installed in their vehicles. When an employee tampers with a device, the data is no longer accurate or helpful. Before signing on with a tracking company, call and ask if they send tamper alerts to their customers when tampering has occurred. It’s a red flag if they pause to answer you.
3. Does the tracking company publish their pricing online?
As a consumer, it’s important to educate yourself prior to making any and all purchases. It’s much easier to do this if a company publishes their prices online. Call the tracking company on the phone if their prices are not available online. Ask for the prices of their products as well as what services they include. If they’re not open about the cost of their products and services, what else are they hiding?
4. Does their tracker update every minute?
Families purchase GPS tracking devices to know the whereabouts of their loved ones, near and far. If you’re currently trying to locate Grandpa, it’s not very helpful to know where he was 2 hours ago.
Businesses use fleet management systems to help collect information regarding the whereabouts, maintenance statistics and other important data of their vehicles. You’ll never know how long “Car A” was at lunch if 30 minutes have passed since the device updated.
All data collected should be up-to-date and by the minute.
5. Does the tracking company allow you to have an unlimited amount of vehicles in your account?
You’ll never outgrow your tracking provider if there is no limit to the amount of vehicles in your account.
6. Does the GPS tracking company allow you to have as many users as you want log in simultaneously?
It’s important for large businesses to have the ability for multiple managers to log in simultaneously to manage their fleets.
The ability to have multiple seats for families helps to eliminate generation gaps. Kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews are able to log in and assist other family members whenever they need it.
7. Do they offer an OBD-II plug-in unit?
Before signing up with a tracking service provider, ask which make and models their products are compatible with. The size of the car or truck, as well as if it was built before or after 1996 will make an impact on how it’s installed. Most auto tracking companies require professional installation, which can be costly. Call the company and ask about the process. If they have no idea what you’re asking, you’ll want to look for another tracking company.
8. Does the company offer Mileage by State reports?
If you’re going to use a tracking system for either business or government purposes, using one that offers Mileage by State reports will increase efficiency. The IRS requires that you keep the origin (start) and destination (stop) mileage and purpose of your trip. The IFTA requires that you report your mileage by jurisdiction (the 48 contiguous U.S. states and some Canadian provinces). If you choose to use a company that offers these reports, you’ll spend less time creating reports by hand and more time on what matters.
For these and more features, please contact us here at GoTrack. We look forward to your questions. We have customer support to speak with a live support team person to assist you Monday through Friday 8 to 5 p.m. at 1-800-772-2885.