Are amendments to the original alarm agreement allowed to be oral?

• A. Amendments can be oral.
• B. Amendments require written consent from both parties.
• C. Amendments must be in writing.
• D. Amendments are prohibited.

Answer: (C)

When a written alarm agreement exists, changes to its terms should also be put in writing and signed by both parties. This provides a clear, enforceable record of exactly what was agreed and prevents disputes over what was changed, when, and to what extent. Most alarm service contracts include a clause that modifications must be in writing, so oral amendments generally aren’t enforceable and can lead to misunderstandings about things like pricing, scope of service, or equipment coverage. Therefore, amendments must be in writing to be valid. The idea of oral amendments conflicts with the contract’s need for a durable, unambiguous record of changes, and a written amendment (with both parties’ signatures) is the proper method. Completely prohibiting amendments isn’t realistic, since contracts often need updates, but the required form is writing rather than oral.