FAQ
TOPICS
2. Why do I need PetCheck Alert?
3. Does PetCheck Alert require that I have a smart phone?
4. Do I have to install an application on my device?
7. How can I distinguish calls from PetCheck Alert from other automated calls?
8. Am I limited to the number of “Events” I can set?
10. Do I get a refund if I cancel my membership?
11. How does my Emergency Contact know what to do?
12. What if my Emergency Contact doesn’t respond to the alerts?
13. What if I don’t receive your alerts or they are late?
14. What if I change my email address or phone number(s)?
15. If I’m traveling, can I set Events in a different time zone?
16. Why do I have to login again if I leave my Contacts/Events Page?
19. What browsers can be used with PetCheck Alert?
PetCheck Alert is an automated program that alerts someone that you didn’t make it home from an event (i.e., work, a party, the movies, etc.) and have pets unattended. A person of your choice is then contacted to take care of your pets. Return to top
2. Why do I need PetCheck Alert?
PetCheck Alert is especially helpful to people who do not have relatives nearby or close friends that know your normal schedule of activities. There are many reasons why you may not make it home (car accident, unexpected illness, need to help someone else with an emergency, etc.). The important questions to ask are:
Who would know if you didn’t come home?
Who would know to take care of your pets if you didn’t come home?
PetCheck Alert is like insurance. You purchase it hoping you won’t ever need it; but in an emergency, you’re glad you have it. PetCheck Alert provides ease of mind that your pets will be taken care of in case you don't make it home. Return to top
3. Does PetCheck Alert require that I have a smart phone?
No. You can access PetCheck Alert using any Internet-capable device (computer, tablet, smart phone, etc.)
4. Do I have to install an application on my device?
No. If an application were installed on your device and that device stopped functioning (broken, battery died, etc.) the alert messages could not be sent. Instead, PetCheck Alert operates independently from your device(s) using our secure servers and methods. Return to top
Simply go to the “Purchase” link on our home page. Follow the prompts, help text, tool tips, and messages to complete the purchase of your membership. Return to top
After going through the purchase process, login to PetCheck Alert. It will take you to the Contacts and Events Page where you will be reminded to create an Emergency Contact. After creating one or more emergency contacts, you may now create an "Event." Be sure to set up your preferred contact methods in your Profile, too, or you won’t receive the alert messages.
Here is an example of how it works:
- You create an “Event” (Sally’s Party) and expect to return on 10 p.m. on a certain date.
- Select an Emergency Contact and choose the methods to use to contact you and your Emergency Contact (voice, text, and/or email).
- Click Save
- If you haven’t cancelled the Event by 11 p.m. (one hour after your Expected Return time), PetCheck starts to send you alert messages.
- If you haven’t cancelled the Event by midnight, PetCheck sends you more alerts.
- If you haven’t cancelled the Event by 1:00 a.m., PetCheck sends both you and your Emergency Contact alert messages.
- If you haven’t cancelled the Event by 2:00 a.m., PetCheck sends you and your Emergency Contact the final alert messages.
If you select all three methods of communication and your Event spans the full four hours of notifications, you, the customer, would receive a total of 12 alert messages; and your Emergency Contact would receive a total of 6 alert messages. Your name and the hours elapsed since you were supposed to be home are inserted into the Emergency Contact messages -- so they know to worry about you, to try to reach you, and to take care of your pets.
Your printed name is inserted into email and text messages. A text-to-voice version of your name is inserted into the voice messages. You may listen to your name when you are on your Profile page. If it is not phonetically correct, please relay this to your Emergency Contacts. Return to top
7. How can I distinguish calls from PetCheck Alert from other automated calls?
To capture your attention and/or that of your Emergency Contact, we have created a special lead-in sound clip of a dog, a cat and a horse. A sample sound clip is provided below. The incoming phone calls will be coming from 714-203-2689 and may display as "Placentia (714-203-2689)." You may want to create a contact for “PetCheck” to display when you receive our calls or texts from this number. Do not block this number or you will not receive the alert messages. Return to top
8. Am I limited to the number of “Events” I can set?
No. You may set as many or as few Events as you wish. However, each Event spans 4 ½ hours if you don’t cancel the Event before all alerts are sent. Also, the program will not allow overlapping Events to be scheduled. Return to top
Membership options include:
- 4-Day Trial Membership for $4.99
- 1-Year Membership for $74.99
- 2-Year Membership for $139.99 (a savings of 7%)
- 3-Year Membership for $189.99 (a savings of 16%)
The trial membership and the monthly cost of yearly memberships are for an unbelievably low price of less than the cost of just one specialty coffee drink. Return to top
10. Do I get a refund if I cancel my membership?
You may cancel your membership at any time; however, there are no refunds. The 4-Day Trial Membership gives you the opportunity to check out the great value you’ll receive. Please see the Terms and Conditions for more information. Return to top
11. How does my Emergency Contact know what to do?
You need to establish those guidelines with your Emergency Contact ahead of time. This contact should be someone that knows where you live, has a key, and knows how to take care of your pet(s). For your convenience, we have prepared a Pet Care Form that you can download, fill out, and post in your home or email it ahead of time to your Emergency Contact. Simply click on “Care Form” at the bottom of our Home Page to access this form (pdf reader required). Return to top
12. What if my Emergency Contact doesn’t respond to the alerts?
You are ultimately responsible for the Emergency Contact you select. That’s why we recommend you select a person that is conscientious and dependable. If your Emergency Contact does not respond, PetCheck Alert is not liable for any consequences. Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully. Return to top
13. What if I don’t receive your alerts or they are late?
PetCheck Alert is a sophisticated program that will make every effort to send the alerts to you and/or your Emergency Contact as promised. If we know PetCheck Alert equipment will be undergoing maintenance, a notice will be posted on the website. However, we have no control over Internet/phone service providers. If your device is turned off or if there is a lapse in service from any provider, alert messages could be interrupted or delayed. Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully. Return to top
14. What if I change my email address or phone number(s)?
On your Profile Page, you may change your event email, text/voice phone numbers as well as your login email and password at any time. Return to top
15. If I’m traveling, can I set Events in a different time zone?
Yes. PetCheck Alert allows for changing your time zone; however, the program cannot currently detect overlapping Events across time zones. For example, if you set an Event for 8 p.m. on the East Coast and set another Event for 5 p.m. on the West Coast, these events overlap; and you will receive alerts from both Events. This will be addressed in a future enhancement of PetCheck Alert. Return to top
16. Why do I have to login again if I leave my Contacts/Events Page?
You may navigate between your personal pages (Profile, Contacts and Events, My Pets) while you are logged in. However, if you navigate to any of the public pages, for security purposes the program automatically logs you out. This protects your personal information. Return to top
The last two alerts are the third and final alerts. The “half alerts” only pertain to landlines. When a phone call is sent to an Emergency Contact landline, if it busy the program automatically sends another phone call in approximately 15 minutes. These are the "1/2" alerts reflected under the Status of your Event. Return to top
Different browsers behave differently. When you refresh the page, some browsers resubmit what you just did on the page. For example, you may receive the following error message: "Warning: You cannot schedule overlapping events. The event for . . . was not added." You may ignore these messages. If you navigate to your Profile page, and then back to the Contacts and Events Page, the page will refresh without giving you any errors or warnings. Return to top
19. What browsers can be used with PetCheck Alert?
Most current desktop and mobile device browsers can be used, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Microsoft Edge. However, as stated in the previous question, different browsers display information differently. While we can’t control how browsers display information, please use the Contact Us Page to report any specific display problems.
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