David and Goliath

geordie_joe

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

No the OP suggests they were looking around

I doubt this is the case and im sure they knew fine were it was going all along

We weren't there, so I will take the OP's word for what happened.

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

I also suspect it will have planning permission/council approval to be there

Maybe, but in that very spot? I doubt it, they would have permission to put it within a certain area and I'm sure it could be moved a few feet either way.

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

At the end of the day what sort of idiot builds a drive were it cant be used?

But the OP was told the box could be moved. So they had the drive built thinking the box would be moved. What is wrong with that?

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

To then go and suggest pre existing things should be moved is frankly !!!!!!

No it's not, things get moved all the time. I was watching a program about the high speed rail line and they moved houses and all sorts to make way for that.

Our local war memorial was moved 50 yards down the road because it was in the way of a new road system, and it had been in place since the end of the 1st world war!

To suggest that you can't move something because it is now in an inconvenient place is !!!!!!!

darich

I think some of you are way off the mark in several ways here.

First off - utility companies do not need planning permission for every single item of furniture they position. There will be guidelines and rules but not planning permission - other wise the planning offices would be snowed under with work.

Secondly, things can easily be moved after they've been installed - like your Telewest/Virgin Box.
However, if the box was installed prior to your drive being constructed and the box was causing no obstruction at the time it was installed, then why should it be moved? And even if Virgin did agree to move it, they'd be perfectly entitled to bill you for the work since your drive was built behind their box - effectively you blocked your own drive.

I realise you may have had little option and have every sympathy for your situation but i think if Virgin do agree to move the box then to expect them to do it for free is pure cheek.

geordie_joe

darich wrote: »

However, if the box was installed prior to your drive being constructed and the box was causing no obstruction at the time it was installed, then why should it be moved?

Good customer relations/image. Plain common sense. A large company doing something to help parents who have a daughter with a terminal illness. The OP was told it could be moved at a later date. To prevent it being damaged by the OP trying to squeeze their car past it.

darich wrote: »

And even if Virgin did agree to move it, they'd be perfectly entitled to bill you for the work since your drive was built behind their box - effectively you blocked your own drive.

Yes, but the OP was told it could be moved when it was installed.

darich wrote: »

I realise you may have had little option and have every sympathy for your situation but i think if Virgin do agree to move the box then to expect them to do it for free is pure cheek.

Why? Does Virgin only do things for money? They may think doing it for free is much better than getting into the local papers and news shows for not moving it.

5stey

mpython wrote: »

Unless your front boundary is only 6ft wide, can't you move or angle the 'drive' to access your property elsewhere along your boundary? & If its not too personal a question, what is so imperative about the drive to your daughter's condition.

Hi She has a rare neuro muscular disorder and she needs carrying when she's not in her wheel chair. She's deteriorating really fast. I fell whilst trying to pick her up and cracked my coccycx bone and wasa off work for 3 months. That is why it's imperative to get on the drive and not the path

5stey

Iamthesmartestmanalive wrote: »

No the OP suggests they were looking around

I doubt this is the case and im sure they knew fine were it was going all along

I also suspect it will have planning permission/council approval to be there

At the end of the day what sort of idiot builds a drive were it cant be used?

To then go and suggest pre existing things should be moved is frankly !!!!!!

Well no i did say i asked them to look around and no planning people said they had no knowledge of its precise location, and yes if making sure my child is safe makes me an idiot, so be it!!!!!!!!!

darich

geordie_joe wrote: »

Good customer relations/image. Plain common sense. A large company doing something to help parents who have a daughter with a terminal illness. The OP was told it could be moved at a later date. To prevent it being damaged by the OP trying to squeeze their car past it.

I agree - but that doesn't mean that it will be moved or that it should
Plain common sense? Wasn't the box there before the driveway? Why should Virgin now be accused of not using common sense when at the time of installation it was causing no obstruction?

geordie_joe wrote: »

Yes, but the OP was told it could be moved when it was installed.

Since when did the word of a labourer on site become the official position of a global company?
Like i said - they CAN be moved but whether it will is another matter - that's probably what the labourer was referring to - it is possible to move them rather than it will be moved.

geordie_joe wrote: »

Why? Does Virgin only do things for money? They may think doing it for free is much better than getting into the local papers and news shows for not moving it.

Virgin is a company that exists to make money and profit - it's not a charity. I realise that doing it for free may be better for their PR and image but i still say the'd be entitled to send whoever requested the removal of the box a bill. Whether they would or not is not the point in discussion though.

5stey

Hey thanx for being positive

geordie_joe

darich wrote: »

I agree - but that doesn't mean that it will be moved or that it should

Would you say that if you were the OP?

darich wrote: »

Plain common sense? Wasn't the box there before the driveway? Why should Virgin now be accused of not using common sense when at the time of installation it was causing no obstruction?

I didn't accuse them of not using common sense. But like all big organisations you can ring them and get someone who thinks like you "Why should we do that?" But when you get a bit higher up you find the people look at the bigger picture and take a different view.

darich wrote: »

Since when did the word of a labourer on site become the official position of a global company?

Since they were the only company representative at the time and they were representing the company. Whether they have the authority to or not is another matter, but no objection was raised at the time of installation because a company representative said it could be moved at a later date.

darich wrote: »

Like i said - they CAN be moved but whether it will is another matter - that's probably what the labourer was referring to - it is possible to move them rather than it will be moved.

Well that is all I am saying, it COULD be moved, in answer to the people that said it couldn't and it would be !!!!!! to think it could.

There is no reason why it can't be moved, so what is wrong with trying to contact someone high enough to make a decision based on the current circumstances and not just say "We're not doing that."?

darich wrote: »

Virgin is a company that exists to make money and profit - it's not a charity. I realise that doing it for free may be better for their PR and image but i still say the'd be entitled to send whoever requested the removal of the box a bill. Whether they would or not is not the point in discussion though.

See above, the way I see it most of the posts against this are saying the OP is wrong to even think about getting it moved, or for asking Virgin to move it.

I can't see anything wrong with saying to Virgin "I didn't object to it being put in that exact position at the time because I was told it could be moved later. At the time it wasn't in my way, but things have changed now and it would help me a lot if you moved it a few feet."

Debt_Free_Chick

5stey wrote: »

Hey thanx for being positive

Repeat of my earlier post

Where, exactly, is the cable box ..... on your land? on the pavement immediately outside your drive?

I am guessing it's the latter - that it's on the pavement outside your drive (or even the road).

How can it be obstructing your drive? Are you saying you can't drive over it? If so .... then is it an obstruction to pedestrians?

I'm having difficulty envisaging how it can be an obstruction

Help us to picture the problem and we might be able to offer some other suggestions. I can't see an obstruction - sorry

5stey

Thanx Geordiejoe, I can tell you have a high level of emotional intelligence!!
First of all, for all those readers that think i've lost the plot! In the past 18 months my family and i have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions. When you have children instinct to protect them kicks in. The green cable box may not be an issue to others but it is affecting our lives. After realising our daughter could no longer walk, she was carried, when her condition progressed she needed driving in, as carrying her everywhere was nearly imposssible,especially after i fell. We can access the drive but we have to drive into our neighbours first and if they're parked there we're beggared. To the smartestmanalive you may not share my views but then your not going through what i am!!!!!!! and i hope you never have to.