Telegraph pole advice
Discussion
OP - I'd photograph all the damage and write down a timeline of events whilst it is all still fresh.
I cannot believe the cheek of some companies who think they can steamroller the public and then not take any responsibility. Shame you cannot get them to relocate into the front lawn of the Open reach MD
I cannot believe the cheek of some companies who think they can steamroller the public and then not take any responsibility. Shame you cannot get them to relocate into the front lawn of the Open reach MD
Thanks for the PMs Jobbo - i'll file them in case I need them.
I have had a response from Openreach CEOs PA though. She has appologised for the issue I am having and that he cannot respond personally - but that she has passed the complaint on to a member of the senior service team to investigate.
Fingers crossed that should get things moving.
I have had a response from Openreach CEOs PA though. She has appologised for the issue I am having and that he cannot respond personally - but that she has passed the complaint on to a member of the senior service team to investigate.
Fingers crossed that should get things moving.
55palfers said:
OP - Did you get anything back from Carilion-telent?
I was given a specific contact of a guy who deals with "pole issues" - but his phone went straight to answer phone. I have left him a message but have yet to hear anything back.I'll give him a day or so - and try again.
elanfan said:
I cannot believe the cheek of some companies who think they can steamroller the public and then not take any responsibility. Shame you cannot get them to relocate into the front lawn of the Open reach MD
That's what actually bites more than anything else.Mistakes happen - I of all people know this - i'm married and my wife tells me often enough.
A simple phonecall could have sorted this issue with a simple "sorry our contractor screwed up - we'll have somebody out to take a look and will put it right" and i'm happy for them to do just that - I'm not chasing "compo" or any of that crap.
Instead the company makes you jump through hoops - a system designed, no doubt, to dissuade people from making or pursuing complaints. It's maddening.
voyds9 said:
Would contacting them on twitter be better, as it is in the public domain this may shame them to get a qucker response.
I'll hold off for now - I seem to be getting somewhere at the moment. If I hit another brick wall or feel like they are starting to take the piss - then all avenues are open.Moonhawk said:
That's what actually bites more than anything else.
Mistakes happen - I of all people know this - i'm married and my wife tells me often enough.
A simple phonecall could have sorted this issue with a simple "sorry our contractor screwed up - we'll have somebody out to take a look and will put it right" and i'm happy for them to do just that - I'm not chasing "compo" or any of that crap.
Instead the company makes you jump through hoops - a system designed, no doubt, to dissuade people from making or pursuing complaints. It's maddening.
All these institutions are the same, it appears. Complete Jokes. Mistakes happen - I of all people know this - i'm married and my wife tells me often enough.
A simple phonecall could have sorted this issue with a simple "sorry our contractor screwed up - we'll have somebody out to take a look and will put it right" and i'm happy for them to do just that - I'm not chasing "compo" or any of that crap.
Instead the company makes you jump through hoops - a system designed, no doubt, to dissuade people from making or pursuing complaints. It's maddening.
I have the same issue, plus had the council cut down bushes and remove a fence entirely on my property and had british waterways build something on some other land. I still haven't sorted British Waterways but the only way to get anything done with the others was to be truly obnoxious. they just didnt respond to emails, calls or nice letters.
Tribal Chestnut said:
Jasandjules said:
Write to the CEO of BT (e-mail addresses can be found on-line for these people). Give them seven days to remove the pole.
And if they don't sort it, get it done yourself and send them the bill.
I'm dealing with two different departments of BT/Openreach at the moment, it's like talking to Jekyll and Hyde.
The people in new works seem to be efficient and sensible, in response to my enquiry about lines for our nine house development they sent me a detailed spec of what they required me to do and what they would do along with a quotation for zero, they provide the ducting and we lay it in our trenches then they put their cables in, this was followed up with a site visit by a very knowledgeable and helpful bloke.
On the other hand the poles and cable people are difficult almost to the point of being rude. We have two of their poles on OUR land, we wanted one removed altogether, that was £700 plus vat and to move the other one about two metres was £3,000 plus vat. We then offered to dig another trench so that they could put the cables underground instead and were told that would be chargeable as well.
I've now slightly re-arranged the parking spaces so the pole doesn't have to be moved at all and the other one will probably have an accidental coming together with the demolition contractors excavator next month.
The people in new works seem to be efficient and sensible, in response to my enquiry about lines for our nine house development they sent me a detailed spec of what they required me to do and what they would do along with a quotation for zero, they provide the ducting and we lay it in our trenches then they put their cables in, this was followed up with a site visit by a very knowledgeable and helpful bloke.
On the other hand the poles and cable people are difficult almost to the point of being rude. We have two of their poles on OUR land, we wanted one removed altogether, that was £700 plus vat and to move the other one about two metres was £3,000 plus vat. We then offered to dig another trench so that they could put the cables underground instead and were told that would be chargeable as well.
I've now slightly re-arranged the parking spaces so the pole doesn't have to be moved at all and the other one will probably have an accidental coming together with the demolition contractors excavator next month.
TeeRev said:
I'm dealing with two different departments of BT/Openreach at the moment, it's like talking to Jekyll and Hyde.
I have issues with Virgin-on-the-ridiculous Media on an occasional basis when I move home or am bereaved (that's 4 times in 12 years, all-in) - they 
it up every ing time!! Their most recent stunt is a payment of £94 which has disappeared yet a mysterious cheque for £13 appeared 6 weeks later in the post 
...
But then I do have the luxury of dealing with only ONE department
and not two 
...PS It's BT Openwound
...vanordinaire said:
As far as I know it's a criminal offence to 'interfere with communications equipment'. Not sure if it applies to the poles before the wires are up but once it's up and running you are pretty stuffed.
I suspect that the Communications Act applies. Eg we are not able to move mobile phone masts even after the lease has expired without a long winded complex process. The Act sort of means that if you want to remove equipment, its up to you, the landowner to demonstrate that the service will not be affected for others.Thats why this needs a solicitor ASAP.
blueg33 said:
I suspect that the Communications Act applies. Eg we are not able to move mobile phone masts even after the lease has expired without a long winded complex process. The Act sort of means that if you want to remove equipment, its up to you, the landowner to demonstrate that the service will not be affected for others.
Thats why this needs a solicitor ASAP.
Mobile phone masts are a pain - but they only get the protection of the Telecommunications Code if they have a lease (or at least written agreement) originally. If the mobile operator were to erect a mast on your land without consent (as Openreach have done here) then they wouldn't be protected; it's the same as any other trespass.Thats why this needs a solicitor ASAP.
No need for the expense of a solicitor with Openreach; they will deal with it, though not necessarily instantly. However, as soon as you put them on notice that the apparatus is on your land without consent then they will have to deal with it. The extra problem here is any damage caused, but that again isn't likely to need a solicitor to sort out.
Where I used to work, a mobile phone provider (no names no pack drill, but it wasn't BT) came knocking wanting to put a comms mast on our roof. The company owned the freehold (something the comms provider had neglected to check). When I went through all the proposed contract clauses (2 pages of closely spaced 8pt print!) I knew it would be a ticking timebomb.
Unfortunately the directors were dazzled by the lure of the cash incentive being offered by the 'executive' in a flash suit. It took a great deal of effort to convince them that it was not in the company's long term interests and to let me handle the negotiations. The other side were so keen to secure the site that they upped their 'bribe' 3 times in an effort to persuade me to capitulate (the last of them was double the original offer)!
I wasn't willing to dance to their tune and told them I would only continue the negotiations if certain clauses were removed (which I knew they would never agree to). They got in a right strop and flounced out never to be heard from again.
Unfortunately the directors were dazzled by the lure of the cash incentive being offered by the 'executive' in a flash suit. It took a great deal of effort to convince them that it was not in the company's long term interests and to let me handle the negotiations. The other side were so keen to secure the site that they upped their 'bribe' 3 times in an effort to persuade me to capitulate (the last of them was double the original offer)!
I wasn't willing to dance to their tune and told them I would only continue the negotiations if certain clauses were removed (which I knew they would never agree to). They got in a right strop and flounced out never to be heard from again.
Edited by Red Devil on Tuesday 9th September 09:33
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