telephone lines across neighbouring property

[woody paul]

If you ring faults now it says some thing about tree-work damage and charging the house owner.

[simonm]

i once did 1 by accident! luckily the bloke whos line it was said weve got cable and dont need a bt phone line so just wrap it round the lamp post

[carlos]

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

 

what you only take out power lines:w00t:

[Grass hopper]

what you only take out power lines:w00t:

 

Just the ONE

And the customer rang up and said the branch fell on to it , and that was that.

[Spruce Pirate]

I've been told by contracts managers - a few, on various occassions - that they spoke to BT to get a line dropped and the response was that BT's position was that they wouldn't drop the line, but if it was broken they'd come and fix it (for free).

 

I always found this very hard to believe, I always thought that as the guy holding the saw, somehow BT would manage to present me with a bill.

 

Always taken great care around BT lines and never damaged one yet, but I'd be interested to hear if this is true - that if you contact them in advance and they refuse to drop the line that they will rectify any damage.

 

On a side note, I've heard that the only way to get a line dropped is to tell them that THEIR line is in YOUR way and you need it dropped or they will be liable. Does anyone know if this is true?

[VEG]

We tried to get them out recently, they wanted something like £150 just for someone to come and look at it. Then to pay for the lines to be dropped after that. We went ahead didnt damage the lines but know what we will do next time.

[Mortimer Firewood]

Done two lines reported both two bt each time one done with in the hour the other at 4pm repaired by 9am billed direct to me on one occasion and the client on the other with me repaying them.

[VEG]

Done two lines reported both two bt each time one done with in the hour the other at 4pm repaired by 9am billed direct to me on one occasion and the client on the other with me repaying them.

 

What did they charge you?

Only asking as if it is cheaper than getting them to look at what you want then it may be the better way.

[Mortimer Firewood]

£140 on both occasions

[DN22 Gardening]

Did a site last year, small garden, 43 40' Conifers, all to come out. Stumps, the lot.

 

Very nice job for us, managed to fell 40 of the 43 with no problems, had a subby helping me cut them up while i felled.

 

I had to nip out in the afternoon to price a job (emptied the chip truck at the same time), got a call from the subby to say he'd taken the phone line out!!!

 

On my way back passed a BT chap sat in his truck, told him the story and he came and fixed it there and then for £60 (cash). Asked the subby to pay half and he was gobsmacked !!!!

"Why should i pay for damages on your site"

 

Suffice to say he got no more work from me.

 

 

The kicker was, if the subby had felled the offending conifer in 358 out of 360 degrees, he'd have missed the line !!!!!!!