Who Regulates Openreach?

Davesnave

OK, phoned Head Office, who couldn't supply a telephone number for Pole Objections. There's a surprise.

However, the nice lady did give me an alternative address for Pole Objections.....which is practically the same as the one I wrote to last November 1st....and December 5th....neither of which resulted in any response.

You'd think they'd put a pole on the wrong piece of land, wouldn't you? :rotfl:

Davesnave

Right, phoned Wayleaves on 0800 0232023 but it really didn't help.

Trying the "none of the above" option got me an Indian gentleman I could barely understand. He very helpfully gave me the number I had just rung, so I thanked him and rang off, as it seemed the simplest solution. Off to try Option 4.

Davesnave

Option 4 got me a nice lady with a Brummie accent. She could understand that I'd been having problems, as there was, "a bit of a backlog," but that was with the payment of wayleaves..... Would I like to set one up? :money:
No!

I explained a bit more. "Ah, well, you see all our installations are deemed legal until challenged," she said, more than once, which led me to think it's a stock phrase. What Buzby said, except he didn't hint that they could be challenged.

Trouble is, how does one challenge when the other party won't reply? I gave her the address I'd written to last November 1st and December 5th, and the emails I'd sent on 29th January, 5th, 16th, 21st February, 22nd March...

"Oh, that's right, hmmm....maybe if I give you our complaints email....
I wrote down what she said and read it back to check. Guess what? 'Page not found.' :mad:

....But I have the address of their CEO.

Will update if I ever get any kind of meaningful response.

'Expect Openreach' it says on their web site. Yes, I've learned to expect them to be unaccountable and almost totally unreachable. Kim Jong-un wasn't so far out, eh?

iniltous

Usually when BT put a new pole up, there is a notice attached stating who to contact if you had an objection, it used to be that if an objection was raised, BT had to counter notice within 30 days or it would be deemed to be the objection was legitimate and the pole would be removed or re-sited...if the objection here is that the pole has been installed on private land without permission of the landowner it's removal should be undertaken, in very rare circumstances BT could apply for a compulsory wayleave , but if the pole is in what constitutes the public highway, BT have rights and obligations under NRSWA , to install it's equipment, I presume the OP's complaint is that the pole isn't in public land but private land

DaveAA

The OPs complaint is detailed in post #7 of this thread.

I'd like to have a rational discussion about this pole and the rather odd circumstances in which it arrived here. Then, we might find out a few things, like why it is in a precarious position, and why the cable to it must pass through a drainage culvert, which now cannot be cleared. I wouldn't need to engage in 'vandalism' to cut off the only person that it serves, just clear a waterway.

Davesnave

iniltous wrote: »

I presume the OP's complaint is that the pole isn't in public land but private land

Yes. And there must've been a false declaration, or the installers would surely have made enquiries and subsequent contact here, rather than record that it's owned by the neighbour the pole serves. It's not rocket science to determine the land ownership here.

Anyway, reading around the subject, it seems that the last thing I should do is sign a wayleave agreement. If the Code relating to this has been broken, there is specific action I can take.

Davesnave

For anyone who might have been following this thread (yeah!:rotfl:) I've taken the action mentioned above by asking for an immediate removal of the pole and quoting the relevant section of the Telecommunications Act.

With my request, I've included copies of my own and my neighbour's title documents from Land Registry. The request has been sent by recorded mail and it was successfully delivered and signed-for.

According to Openreach, they have 28 days to act, but I'm not holding my breath.

DaveAA

You'd think it would be quite easy to communicate with a communications company, wouldn't you? :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Davesnave

DaveAA wrote: »

You'd think it would be quite easy to communicate with a communications company, wouldn't you? :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I can reach the two other utility companies with equipment on my land almost immediately.

They are regulated. That's my point.

Davesnave

Update:

Result! A gentleman from Openreach visited today and agreed their treatment of my enquiries had been unacceptable.

While he wasn't in a position to explain the higher workings of Openreach, he could sort out the errant pole. It was definitely illegal, so it would be moved. It could go in a couple of places, either on or off my property.

I chose to move the pole a short distance from its present site, rather than place it where it would affect someone's outlook.

Once moved, it won't prevent me fencing my land and engineers will be able to reach it. I'll have a wayleave payment and a small amount of compensation which will fund the fence. All very sensible stuff.

I like sensible. :A Pity I had to work so hard to get here. Good luck to anyone who finds this thread when faced with a similar problem. Frankly, I think you may need it!