telephone lines across neighbouring property

[likeitorlumpit]

We recently took out a telephone line running over a property we were working at.

We had 4 to contend with so it was always a possibility.

The line was to a house 4 doors down.

My thought was... Were we legally liable for this damage as in effect the line was trespassing (maybe a bit harsh but you know what I mean) over our customers garden.

Any thoughts appreciated ( apart from the obvious) especially if you have first hand experience of this sort of thing.

[VEG]

Have you ever had to try to get one taken down by BT to do a job?

Easier to drop it yourself lol (whatever way lol)

[Paul Smith]

:sneaky2:When you say dropped do you mean broken? Ifs thats the case just get the homeowner to ring BT and say the phones not working. They will send someone out to fix it FOC. Do not tell them you did it!

[likeitorlumpit]

:sneaky2:When you say dropped do you mean broken? Ifs thats the case just get the homeowner to ring BT and say the phones not working. They will send someone out to fix it FOC. Do not tell them you did it!

 

Yes thats what I mean= broke

The homeowner was a business down the road who just said. You bust it you fix it when we first went round. They couldn't take credit card payments and shut for the afternoon.

[Stubby]

We did that down the Chichester canal . The line was to a house boat . The bloke was an ex B.T. line man and fixed it himself !

[muttley9050]

If you broke it technically your liable, you may get away with what paul said but unlikely with the business response. You only own the land you own upto a certain height, and after this becomes free airspace, all services running over your land will be running in easements, and have the right to be there as much as you have right to use easements over other propertys to supply yours.

[Rupe]

Yes thats what I mean= broke

The homeowner was a business down the road who just said. You bust it you fix it when we first went round. They couldn't take credit card payments and shut for the afternoon.

 

Tell the business that they need to report a fault, and thats it!! Its not his line (he doesnt own it) so he cant make you fix it. No one can stop you getting in the truck and going home. But you really do need to pursuad the business to report it, and they will have it fixed in 24hrs (thats BT promise to customers) but if you report it your self it can take 2 weeks to get sorted, tell the business that (very politely) and hopefully they will see the sense in them calling bt.

[Grass hopper]

Don't do phone lines , only power lines , sorry I'm no help to you. lol

[muttley9050]

Agree with rupe, but still think that if bt knows it was you they can invoice you for repair, probably worth the risk though.

Aint you got any gaffa tape?

[Rupe]

Yes they can invoice you, and they will!!! But it will take weeks to fix that way. So best to just go home!! If you ring bt you are stating something that you doesnt help anybody, the person who rents the line must report an unknown fault (not say XYZ tree services did it) and bt promise to fix faults in 24hrs so it should work out well.