AFA Fines and Charging

Summary

The request sought details on the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service's charging policy for false Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) callouts. The authority disclosed the full 'User Pays Agreement' structure, including standard rates, public holiday surcharges, and escalating fees for properties with multiple false alarms.

Key Facts

• Properties generating 1-4 false alarms per year are charged £395 per call (£790 on Public Holidays).
• Properties generating 5-8 false alarms per year incur a 30% surcharge on calls 5 through 8.
• Properties generating 9 or more false alarms per year are charged double the standard rate for calls 9 and over.
• Actual fire situations are not subject to these charging fees.
• Additional costs may apply if the call duration extends over one hour due to delays by responsible persons.

Data Disclosed

• £395
• £790
• £513.50
• £1,027
• £1,580
• 1 to 4 false alarm calls
• 5 to 8 false alarm calls
• 9 or more false alarm calls
• 30%
• double the standard rate
• 2025-09-30
• 2025-10-20
• 4967697

Original Request

Dear Sir/Madam Please could you provide information on the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service procedure for charging for callouts originating from false alarms by an Automatic Fire Alarm System (AFA), such as is there a standard fee per callout (Eg. £500 per false AFA) and whether there is a high rate charges for sites that create multiple false AFAs. Many thanks

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4967697 20 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 30 September 2025, which states:

"Dear Sir/Madam

Please could you provide information on the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service procedure for charging for callouts originating from false alarms by an Automatic Fire Alarm System (AFA), such as is there a standard fee per callout (Eg. £500 per false AFA) and whether there is a high rate charges for sites that create multiple false AFAs.

Many thanks"

Our response to your request is as follows:
The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service(IOMFRS) provided the following information which stems from the ‘IOMFRS Income & Charging Policy’ which relates to the User Pays Agreement for attending Automatic Fire Alarm calls.

“2.2.7 Paid AFA Calls in conjunction with Service Order 505 Where property owners and or occupiers have been informed that the Service will no longer attend AFA Calls to their property, they may request our attendance on a user pays agreement. For this the following charging mechanism will apply;

Charging Mechanism

• Any property which generates between 1 and 4 false alarm calls per financial year will be charged the standard rate per call, being £395 per call and £790 per call on Public Holidays. Both charges are exclusive of VAT. There is no charge to actual fire situations.

• Any property which generates between 5 and 8 false alarm calls per financial year will be charged the standard rate per call plus 30%. This rate will apply for calls 5 through to 8 (inclusive).

• Any property which generates 9 or more false alarm calls per financial year will be charged double the standard rate per call. This rate will apply for calls 9 and over.
  To clarify:

• Any paid automatic fire alarm calls up to and including 4 calls, will be charged at the normal rates above per year.

• Where there are 5 to 8 calls in the financial year, the first 4 calls will be charged at the normal rates, and calls 5 to 8 will be charged at £513.50 and £1,027 on Public Holidays, both exclusive of VAT.

• Where there are 9 or more calls in the financial year, the first 4 calls will be charged at the normal rates; calls 5 to 8 will be charged at £513.50 and £1,027 on Public Holidays, both exclusive of VAT; and calls 9 or more will be charged at £790 and £1,580 on Public Holidays, both exclusive of VAT. For this section only, there will be no admin or travel time fee, as they have been associated with the general cost. The above rates are for the initial call, and any delay in attendance by responsible persons may incur additional costs if the call duration extends over a period of one hour

Please quote the reference number 4967697 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.