Phone pole and trees!

LadFromWales85

Hiya all!

Since living in my flat, coming up to 3 years, I have had to get BT out around half a dozen times to fix exactly the same fault.

The pole my telephone line runs from unfortunately was sited around a bunch of trees. My original line rested on a branch, so whenever the weather picked up, the trees would rub and rub on the line until it eventually wore through and disconnected a leg of the pair. It's always the same, no dialtone, but broadband syncs at a dire slow speed far below even 512kbit.

Every time, I'd phone BT, they'd fix the fault at the pole, and charge me for the visit citing that the fault was my fault. I got this fee back every time, but that's besides the point! Last time, I convinced the engineer that the current line had served it's purpose and he run a brand new fresh line from the pole to my house, starting it higher up the pole so as to clear the branches. I also got in touch with the council, who after some arguing, come out and cut away a load of branches.

But, sadly, it's happened again, no dialtone, broadband still syncs at below 512kbit. Had a look at the pole today and see that my line is actually changing direction because of the branches, meaning it must flap about like mad in the wind! I called for an engineer visit on Friday, and was told it'd be repaired by Wednesday 21st July, but was not given an appointment time, meaning that I may never see the engineer. I'd expect him to be clued up enough to notice the route the line is taking but I doubt he'd care! He'll also have a hard time testing the line and confirming whether any fault resides in my property if I'm not home to let him in!

Is there anything I can do to stop this happening in the future? I dread every big storm now simply because I know that by the end of it I'll have no phone line and no broadband, and have to go through the hassle of having BT fix it. Once it's fixed, I am left with broadband slower than it was before because BT apply higher target SNR margin's to lines that have been flapping (resyncing over and over), which it would be if a storm severed the cable! BT refuse to lower this manually.

After thursdays storm, the tree had smashed a container attached to the pole clean off, and it landed in a neighbours garden. They come and fixed that today, but didn't fix my line Is it worth going to BT about this? Is it BT's problem if trees are repeatedly causing damage to their equipment? I don't know through what channel to contact BT. By phone they threaten to charge £127.99 if they decide there is no fault, which there technically won't be when they fix my line, for now!

On another issue, the same trees intermittently block the satellite dish installed by the council.

Torry_Quine

Who owns the tree? As this problem happenened to a friend of mine ans the first time BT repaired it free but were charged subsequently as the tree was causing the problem and eventually cut the tree down to stop it happening again.

LadFromWales85

This has happened to be every summer and every winter, so far. Thought it was fixed for good after the last engineer did an entire re drop of my line from a higher point on the pole, it's always been June it happens, but this year, July

A couple of the trees are in a neighbours garden, but these trees are not interfering with my line, but do brush against the pole. The trees interfering with my line are outside of everyones garden, beside the footpath the pole is erected next to.

I was out looking at the pole and adjacent trees and the neighbour asked if I would contact BT about it as he is with TalkTalk. If that's true, theres one good reason to stick with BT for line rental! He feared they would charge him for the visit. I feel the same, as I know they'll turn around and say there is no fault, though anyone with a clue would see the state of it all and know it will happen over and over again.

BT_company_representative

Hi LadFromWales85

I understand from your post that there has been a fault reported on this and that you have been given the date of the 21st July for this to be fixed. If you have any further issues or the engineer is unable to fix the fault with your telephone line let me know and I will be able to look into this for you.

Regards David

LadFromWales85

Hi BT Rep,

The line was fixed this morning, a pair of engineers turned up! They've got the line working again and broadband is syncing at the correct speed. Just chasing my ISP to get the target SNR margin lowered and my IP Profile raised.

The engineer who went up the ladder informed me that the trees are "knocking lines off the pole", which can't be strictly true as my other line running along the same wire to the pole was still working. The line was snagged on a branch, he said he has tried his best to move it but as he didn't physically disconnect the line from the pole I don't know how much use it'll be. He said the tree needs chopping down and that I should contact the council.

Is there anything BT can do? I doubt the council would go as far as cutting down a tree if I complained that this is happening to my BT line every 6 months, perhaps BT would have more leverage?

Thank you

patman99

Wonder what would happen if a passing 'vandal' were to 'damage the tree such, that it becomes dangerous'. Would the Council come and remove it?.

Owain_Moneysaver

Send a recorded delivery letter to the council (copy your local councilllor) putting them on notice that their tree is damaging the phone line you rent from BT, and you will seek reimbursement of any fees charged to you by BT because of this.

The local paper might also be an option - "Why won't council cut this tree?"

Farway

I contacted my council [Hants] about roadside trees overgrowing and also interfering with phone lines

They came along and removed the overhanging boughs but said I should contact BT about the ones catching the phone lines

SO, I guess it is Open Reach problem to remove snagging branches on roadside trees, my council deny all responsibility.

As they are council trees I guess any bills go to them, as any bills were they private owned trees would be payable by the owner

I never contacted BT BTW because the tree in question seems to by dying anyway, but not killed by passing vandal

LadFromWales85

I've called the council's maintenance department and informed them that there are trees near the telephone pole that are intruding on the pole and the lines coming from it, and that it is costing me time and money to have BT repair my line every 6 months.

They are going to send out an investigator this Monday, to confirm whether or not the trees are their's to cut, and to take further information from me as to the problem. I guess that's a start.
Thanks for the advice RE writing to the council. I will write to them if Monday's visit get's me nowhere, informing them that I will be seeking reimbursement for any fees charged to me by BT due to this issue.

Other people have already suggested damaging the tree, or even damaging the pole so BT were forced to move it, but I'd not take such measures myself! The pole is sited near a footpath that runs through the estate, and the trees are growing very close to it. The intruding trees are just outside a neighbours fenced garden though he has some very tall trees in his garden that don't touch the pole but likely do when it's windy.

The trees are also beginning to affect satellite reception. The dish is communal so will be effecting the entire block (four properties). I used to have my own dish that was installed on the other side of the property using a goose neck bracket to clear the trees. Council took it down without my permission after the communal system was running. I hardly watch TV so it's not as big a problem as faffing with BT about a broken phone line every 6 months. Every time the engineer must be lying on his paperwork as I get charged every time. Of course, I get it back

Farway, it's odd that the council will deny responsibility of certain parts of the same tree?! Perhaps they were afraid they'd cause damage to the equipment in the process and wanted to avoid being billed by BT for repairing the damage.

BT_company_representative

Hi LadFromWales85

I will need to get some more information from you in relation to this to see if there is anything we can do to get this problem sorted out for you. If you check our profile you'll see our contact email, will need your BT account number and telephone number, put a link back to this thread in your email also. We want to take a look at the engineers notes on this case before advising you further

Regards

David
BT Company Representative

Farway

LadFromWales85 wrote: »

Farway, it's odd that the council will deny responsibility of certain parts of the same tree?! Perhaps they were afraid they'd cause damage to the equipment in the process and wanted to avoid being billed by BT for repairing the damage.

Sorry, did not make make myself clear, it is a different tree, there are about 4 on the verge. I suspect you are correct regarding damaging the phone lines if council cut it down ,it would need cherry picker to get up there & disentangle some of the branches from the phone lines