BT Openreach-Overhead Cable

soay_2

Can anyone tell me from what point in my telephone line connection I become responsible for the actual cable.

I live in a rural property & my line comes from overhead cables on the road across to a pole on my boundary & then underground up to the house.
The cables along the road pass through mature trees & the cable to my pole passes through a tree on my boundary.
When it is windy the cable rubs on one of the branches & interferes both with phone & broadband.

I phoned Openreach Call Centre & the employee insisted that it was my responsibility to trim the tree or the local council if the tree belonged to them.

I can remember in years previously BT doing a mass tree trimming.

Can anyone inform me so that I know my rights the next time I contact the call centre.

macman

The cable is OR's responsibility up to and including the master socket. But if something on your property (the tree) is causing potential damage to it then it is your job to get it cut back. If the cable does get damaged by tree growth, it is considered user-inflicted damage and will be a chargeable repair.

Mark_In_Hampshire

One technicality - you say the tree is "on your boundary". What actually matters is if the bit of the tree that's rubbing against the line is within your boundary. If the tree is someone elses but overhangs your property and it's that bit which touches, it's up to you to sort it out with the "owner" of the tree (what a strange way to put that!)

Buzby

No - this isn't the case - if it is YOUR tree that is causing the problem, and on your property, you will be held liable just as if you drove a nail through it. The 'Master Socket' demarcation is fine for most situations as the inbound cable is coming in from public areas - if it comes over your land, you will be expected to ensure impediments like trees (as under your control) to be pruned to ensure continued service. Under the circumstances you detailed, you would be charged by Openreach.

FelixDieKatz

This is really a step too far by BT / OR . Talk about dumping your responsibilities. Prior to the formation of OR by BT ( Done by BT to stop OFCOM taking the network off them ) normal engineering practices are now deemed not acceptable and chargable by OR if at all possible. eg Internal wiring issues on wiring installed by BT engineers in the first place. Now wires that have been erected by OR engineers are the responsibility of the customer if damaged by trees. Well stick your wires underground Openreach. And before any OR engineers reply I am ex BT.

soay_2

Husband took ladders down & removed one branch but even though its no longer windy phone light on hub keeps flashing & broadband connection dropping or slow.

Anyway have arranged for OR to come tomorrow. Will report outcome in due course.

Buzby

In this hard-nosed world, BT have insisted on customers paying their contribution for faults on their land NOT caused by themselves. As for the u/g option, the cable isn;t armoured, and needs to be ducted - who is going to pay for that? Even in the days of the PO (pre BT) they would charge for this UNLESS the owner had prepared the trench in advance and would backfill it after they left. The dropwire was always the way an installation went as it was quick and easy, although if a run of poles were required they would be charged for too, so not much has changed.

Mind you these days, I would dig a trench and ask for them to run fibre.....

FelixDieKatz

In this hard nosed world if a "Customer" is going to be held responsible for this part of the Access Network then it should be opened up to competition. If BT / OR continue with this policy then the long term outcome will be private installers up the poles and full access to DP's.
The sooner the better for the customer.

soay_2

OR engineer came today & found 2 faults on line & said overhead cable which stretches from our boundary pole along the lane down to the main road was in such a bad condition that he was surprised that we have been able to receive broadband.

Anyway he summoned assistance & they have replaced approx 300 yards of overhead cable & we do not have to pay for anything.

I have to give OR top marks for service once you can actually speak to the engineers who do the job.

Mark_In_Hampshire

soay wrote: »

OR engineer came today & found 2 faults on line & said overhead cable which stretches from our boundary pole along the lane down to the main road was in such a bad condition that he was surprised that we have been able to receive broadband.

Anyway he summoned assistance & they have replaced approx 300 yards of overhead cable & we do not have to pay for anything.

I have to give OR top marks for service once you can actually speak to the engineers who do the job.

All sounds good. Do, however, check your next couple of bills carefully.

Buzby

Cable degradation is fully covered by your rental - so it there were issues that were additional to that cause by the tree that would mean an automatic no-fee replacement. DO make sure they run all the way in to your master socket, as it is not unknown for them to add an external junction box and only replace up to that!